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V olkswagen has launched its fourth-generation Caddy
compact van in Europe ahead of an expected Australian
arrival in the final quarter of 2015.
The runaway market leader in Australia in the sub-2.5t van
segment, the Caddy raises the bar with a new exterior design,
fully overhauled cabin, improved load space and some of VW’s
latest powertrains and technology, including new driver-
assistance systems and safety features.
The Australian line-up is still to be confirmed, but with petrol
and diesel engines currently available, along with eco-focused
BlueMotion tech and a 4Motion all-wheel-drive option at the top
end, the new-generation Caddy – in regular, stretched Maxi and
five-seater Maxi Crewvan body styles – is expected to continue
covering all bases.
Tougher regulations have brought all-new EU6-compliant
TDI turbo-diesel engines to the fore, based on a 2.0L 16-valve
four-cylinder design with four power/torque output options
in Europe: 55kW/225Nm, 75kW/250Nm (in both standard and
BlueMotion spec), 90kW/300Nm (reserved for 4Motion variants)
and 110kW/340Nm.
All come standard with a fuel-saving automatic engine
idle-stop system. The 75kW BlueMotion variant consumes just
4.2L/100km on the European combined cycle, while the top-
spec 110kW diesel pulls from 1,750rpm and can reach 100km/h
from rest in just 9.2 seconds.
There are several TSI turbo-petrol engines in service
overseas, ranging from a 62kW/160Nm 1.2L four-cylinder to an
energetic 75kW/175Nm 1.0L three-cylinder and a 92kW/200Nm
1.4L four at the top of the range.
All engines are coupled with either a five- or six-speed
manual gearbox, while a six- or seven-speed DSG dual-clutch
automatic is available as an option.
The regular Caddy and longer Caddy Maxi retain the same
wheelbase of 2,681mm and 3,006mm respectively, and while
overall width and height remain approximately the same,
VW has built in some additional length (up to 470mm) that
produces extra cargo space of around 1m3.
The cabin now carries up to six airbags as standard, a speed
limiter is integrated into the cruise control system, and a
reversing camera and heated windscreen become available
along with a host of other driver-assist safety features.
The latter includes active cruise control, a 360-degree
optical parking system, automatic high beam dipping,
fatigue detection, and ‘front assist’ monitoring that works in
conjunction with ‘city emergency braking’ to reduce stopping
distances and help prevent collisions.
Volkswagen
VOLKSWAGEN CADDY