Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles Australia is expanding its range specialist turn-key vehicles that are engineered-to-go and fully factory backed.
It unveiled seven variants at the Volkswagen Group Australia (VGA) Southern Region Office and Training Facility at Essendon Fields in Melbourne.
The seven-strong range included the Walkinshaw Amarok and Crafter Kampervan.
A further trio are vehicles about to launch into the market, including a wheelchair-access Caddy Maxi Life, emergency-services Crafter and a ‘box body’ Crafter.
A further two are being evaluated and tested for market suitability by around 2023 or 2024 – the Crafter ‘Cold Goods’ body and Crafter ‘Tipper’ range.
Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles director Ryan Davies says the local division is committed to selecting the best blend of overseas and Australian suppliers to create unique solutions in the market.
“We know from the success of the Australian-engineered Walkinshaw Amarok and Crafter Kampervan that there are great opportunities for Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles to provide even more tailored solutions to a variety of recreational and specialist needs.
“From ambulance fleets to wheelchair access vehicles, from refrigerated transport to tough tipper bodies, the Caddy and Crafter in particular provide the perfect basis to provide versatile and integrated solutions – factory backed with warranty, turn-key solutions that are ready to go.
“These seven vehicles show the clear intent of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles to expand beyond the series production vehicles available in showrooms,” he says.
Caddy Maxi Life with wheelchair access, built by AMF Bruns GmbH & Co. KG Germany
This is the first appearance in Australia of a vehicle from the soon-to-be- available Caddy Wheelchair Accessible Conversion based on the Caddy Maxi.
AMF-Bruns is a third-generation family business. With its headquarters in Apen (Lower Saxony, Germany), several international branches and production facilities as well as approx. 400 employees, AMF-Bruns is the European market leader and vehicle technology specialist for people with reduced mobility.
AMF Bruns GmbH in Germany is a Volkswagen AG (VWAG) “Premium” Conversion Partner.
The Caddy Wheelchair Accessible Conversion is currently be homologated for the Australian market with a target release date of late 2023. In displayed six-seat specification it will cost circa-$25,000 beyond the Caddy Maxi on which it is based.
Crafter 35 Medium Wheelbase (MWB) with Smartbar SpartanBar FPS fitted
The Crafter SpartanBar FPS (polycarbonate bulbar) was developed as a direct request from Local Emergency Services to use in their First Response Fleets. This is also the first example of another win for VGA, as Smartbar ARB have also been awarded a Letter of no Objection (LONO) by the VWAG R&D Team, for their integrated product.
Smartbar are locally known for designing and developing FPS for Fleets, Emergency Services and Mining use.
The strong, lightweight SpartanBar is designed and made in Australia, specifically for the Crafter. The hollow, polyethylene design provides superior frontal protection with the ability to flex and absorb on impact, then return to shape following a small collision. With safety at the forefront of its design, the SpartanBar is compatible with all on-board safety and driver-assist systems.
The Crafter 35 MWB with Smartbar ARB conversion is on-sale now, backed by a five-year/unlimited kilometre warranty and priced from $3,658 beyond the price of the Crafter 35 MWB.
Crafter Kampervan Style by Jayco Corporation Dandenong South, VIC
This vehicle is a live development prototype that is in use by VGA.
The recreational vehicle (or RV) version of the Crafter, Volkswagen Group Australia’s biggest vehicle, the Kampervan is available in three grades.
At 6.8 metres long and 2m wide, the Crafter Kampervan contains all fixtures needed to make life on the road possible.
The Kampervan Style with alloy wheels and two-tone paint is $150,440 plus on-road costs.
Crafter Dual Cab with Tipper Body – conversion by INGIMEX Ltd UK
The Crafter with Tipper by Ingimex is a foray into some additional development and potential market demand for VGA.
It is being used to test and gauge demand in the tough conditions of Australia.
Suitable for both carrying and tipping loads, the Ingimex tipper is a lightweight, high strength body with a market leading payload.
Designed and tested to the latest standards, fitted with an array of features as standard and easily adapted to allow for the addition of optional modifications – the Ingimex tipper is the perfect partner for the Volkswagen Crafter chassis.
Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles is using this example for assessment ahead of any further decision on its suitability for the Australian market.
Crafter Single Cab 50 Box Body – conversion by INGIMEX Ltd UK
The Crafter 50 Box Body is a new entrant to the range with an even higher payload for the sub-4.5 tonne truck class that people with a car licence may drive.
Designed to be lightweight, yet robust, the body itself is almost half-a-tonne lighter than any comparable body. The body is all complete excluding tail lift (an optional extra).
The 4490 model on display has a payload just shy of 1.75 tonnes.
There are also flexible options, including fitting a 500kg column-mounted or a cantilever mounted tail lift with 1.0 lifting capacity.
The Crafter 50 Box Body comes pre-prepared to mount one or the other solution, thanks to the factory tail lift preparation, adapted rear cross-member and with pre-installed 2nd Battery; to meet the highest demands placed on it.
The shutter system is integrated in the roof for maximum security. The Crafter’s flat surfaces make it perfect for signwriting or wrapping.
The Crafter 50 Box Body is going on-sale now, with 22 vehicles set to be in the network by Christmas – and more in 2023 – priced from $79,990 plus on-road costs.
Crafter 55 Single Cab with Eutectic Cold Goods Body – conversion by Carlsen Baltic UAB Lithuania
Another first for Volkswagen is the Crafter with Cold Goods Body, built by Premium Conversion Partner, Carlsen Baltic in Lithuania.
Carlsen Baltic is a manufacturer of light refrigerated truck bodies for food distribution, throughout Europe and the world.
Lightweight, yet strong, it is one of the most thermally-efficient bodies available today. The Crafter with Cold Goods Body is complemented by a Eutectic Cooling System that does not require any engine power to keep the body cold during transport runs. This means that it does not require the vehicle to be running to keep goods at optimal cold temperature, for example.
This solution is perfect for the transition to zero emissions commercial vehicles, as it only requires power via a 3-phase plug “back at base”.
The body on display is a -40 degrees Celsius Frozen Goods Truck.
With a 6-hour pull-down time, the Crafter Cold Goods can stay under its target temperature for between 9 and 13 hours, depending on how many times the doors are opened and closed.
This example today is being used to provide real-world testing data in Australia’s broad and tough conditions, to fine-tune to our particular climate.
It is being sent to a cold goods distributor, then further north in Australia, to provide feedback and real-world climate testing data back to the manufacturer in real time – via the connected GPS tracking system with temperature sensor.
Estimated pricing for this solution, if the decision is made to move ahead with an Australian on-sale date, would be circa-$130,000 plus on-road costs.
Amarok Highline 580 Black – Conversion by Walkinshaw Automotive Group Pty Ltd
A special display is the Amarok V6 Highline 580S, which was used as the VWAG R&D Evaluation Vehicle at its headquarters in Germany for its testing and evaluation, and final Factory Certification.
This vehicle was driven, measured, tested and inspected by the factory team, then ultimately awarded with its Letter of No Objection (LONO) for the conversion.
This is one of the first examples of a Certified Conversion, by an Australian Converter.
