VW is almost ready to unveil the new generation of the Transporter, which will be closely related to the rival Ford Transit/Tourneo Custom. Our spy photographers caught a camouflaged prototype of the van on public roads, revealing a few bits and pieces of its exterior design.
It’s pretty obvious that the profile of the VW looks identical to the Ford, something that is especially common among badge-engineered LCV models. However, the front end of the VW Transporter has been completely redesigned, in an effort to make the new Transporter look less like a Transit in drag.
More: Ford Tourneo Custom Debuts With Diesel, PHEV, And Full Electric Options
The boxy headlights of the Transporter look similar to those in the MQB-based VW Multivan T7, while the large grille is shaped after a smile. The tail is nearly identical to the Ford Transit Custom, with the exception of the VW-specific taillight graphics. The model is expected to be offered in different lengths and roof heights, with barn doors for the panel vans and a proper tailgate for the passenger-friendly versions.
We don’t have photos of the interior but the VW Transporter will reportedly borrow styling cues from the Multivan T7, together with a Ford-sourced digital cockpit. The cabin will be available in different seating configurations, between 2 and 9 seats.
The shared underpinnings allow Volkswagen to offer plenty of powertrains for the new Transporter, including diesel, plug-in hybrid, and fully electric options. Those will mirror the specs of the Ford Transit/Tourneo Custom. Expect manual and automatic versions with RWD and 4WD options for the 2.0-liter diesel.
A few weeks ago, the CEO of VW Commercial Vehicles, Carsten Intra, spoke to Autocar, saying that the new Transporter will be “better” than the Ford. More specifically, he said: “Although they are similar, we have a different car to Ford. We will let you be the judge, but we think ours is better. It has been judged internally too, even at Ford, and everyone has judged it as better.”
While we don’t have a debut date for the VW Transporter, it is expected to arrive sometime in 2024. Production will take place at the Ford Otosan plant in Kocaeli, Turkey, next to the Ford Transit/Tourneo Custom.
The collaboration between VW and Ford in commercial vehicles is not limited to medium-sized vans. The Ford Ranger pickup served as a base for the VW Amarok, while the VW Caddy compact van shares its underpinnings with the Ford Transit/Tourneo Connect.
