Nostalgic Styling Take on 2015 Volkswagen Transporter

Even though the current day Volkswagen Transporter is a descendant of the famous Beetle-derived Type 2 vans, it has never managed to enjoy the same level of popularity among enthusiasts as its predecessors did. One of the reasons why the past two generations of the Transporter (T4 and T5) never caught on as much as VW would have liked, could be that their styling is completely forgettable.

Eduardo Oliveira, a Brazilian designer who you may remember from the 2012 New Beetle study, has come up with a retro styled proposal to fix this issue for the Transporter's successor. Presented here in a variety of models, the conceptual Transporter is inspired by the famous T1 and T2 VW vans. Granted, the renderings need some polishing up but the idea is there. Hit the break for the full photo gallery.

Source / Designer: Eduardo Oliveira

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Volkswagen Launches Rough n' Tough Transporter Rockton 4MOTION

Meet the new Transporter Rockton, the latest member of Volkswagen's extended family of full size vans. As implied by its name and looks, the Rockton is a tougher version of the standard Transporter with increased off-road ability. It is based on the recently facelifted Kombi variant and comes equipped with a Haldex-based four-wheel drive system with a differential lock on the rear axle as standard.

To improve its off-road prowess, Volkswagen's engineers added a reinforced suspension and damping while also increasing the ride height by 30 millimeters. And that's about it for the standard version. However, VW also offers buyers two more options, the Expedition and Protective packages.

The Expedition option adds 16-inch all-terrain tires on reinforced steel rims and a different transmission which the company claims " provides greater pulling power in off-road operation", plus individually sliding and removable seats trimmed in a special fabric inside.

Those that plan to take full advantage of the Rockton off the road, might want to add the Protective Package, which includes underbody protection plates for the engine and transmission, fuel tank, side sills, rear axle and exhaust system. A multi-function container with a desk and a mesh partition for the passenger space is also available.

The Transporter Rockton is offered with a 2.0-liter turbo diesel engine in a choice of two outputs, with 140HP or 180HP. According to VW, in Germany, prices for the standard model start from € 34,545 (plus VAT) and for the "Expedition" from €42,490 (net).

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VW Transporter gets the Low / High Rider Treatment

German tuning firm MR Car Design has released some new goodies for the European market [pre-facelift] VW Transporter. Available mods include an electronically adjustable air suspension kit that allows the driver to raise the van's ride height by as much as 90mm or lower it by 70mm over the standard model. For safety reasons, the ground clearance is automatically adjusted above certain speeds. The suspension kit is priced at €2,500 or about US$3,170.

The tuner also offers a custom-made sport exhaust system for €950 / US$1,204, 20-inch lightweight alloy wheels complete with beefy 275/35 performance tires for €2,150 / US$2,726 per wheel / tire set, and an ECU upgrade boosting the engine's (no word about which powerplant) output to 200-horsepower for €599 / US$760.

2010 VW Transporter, Caravelle, Multivan and California Facelift Officially Revealed

Following last night's leak, Volkswagen went ahead and released the 'Full Monty' on its facelifted T5 line-up that comprises of the Transporter van, Mutlivan, Caravelle people carrier and the California campervan. All models benefit from exterior and interior styling tweaks while according to the German automaker, the new range of common rail TDI engines offers lower emissions and improved economy by an average of ten per cent across the range.

On the outside, the T5 models sport new door mirrors and a similar front grille and headlight treatment to that seen on the latest Volkswagen passenger cars like the Polo, Golf and Scirocco. Furthermore, the Caravelle, Multivan and California also get new rear light clusters and chrome side trims.

Inside, there are new features carried over from Volkswagen's latest passenger cars such as the new three-spoke steering wheels, refined instruments and the latest audio and touchscreen navigation systems.

Other new features include a new generation ESP (Electronic Stabilisation Programme) with hill-start assist and an emergency brake light function plus Volkswagen's Side Assist lane change system that was first seen in the Touareg and warns the driver of anything in the vehicle's blind spot, and a new tyre monitor display (TMD).

Under the bonnet, the 2010MY T5 line-up boast a new range of four 2.0-litre four-cylinder common rail TDI engines, with power outputs of 84 HP and 220 Nm of torque, 102 HP with 250 Nm, 140 HP with 340 Nm, and 180 HP with 400 Nm. Volkswagen claims that fuel consumption levels have decreased by up to 1.9 litres and CO2 emissions have dropped by 52 g/km across the range, with all engines now meeting the EU5 emission standards.

The new models also benefit from the introduction of VW's seven-speed DSG dual-clutch transmission, which will also be available for the first time on selected models with the 4MOTION all-wheel drive system.

The T5 will make its global premiere at the Frankfurt Show in September with sales due to start in the middle of October.