With only a month remaining until the all-new Caddy’s world debut, VW feels comfortable ditching the conventional camouflage from its compact van.
Mind you, that doesn’t mean the 2021 Caddy is laying all its cards on the table already. The prototype you see in these latest spy shots may not feature camouflage tape but its key design elements are cleverly disguised.
Starting at the front, VW has applied a fake upper grille and black tape on the bonnet’s lower corners in an attempt to hide the real shape of the headlights. Still, the cutouts for the lamps are clearly visible so only the inexperienced viewer will fall for that trick.
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The cutouts match the shape of the headlights VW showed in the most recent official renderings, which also revealed a slim upper grille with a chrome strip that continues into the headlights. The front bumper is completely covered by a black plastic cover but, in reality, it features a massive lower grille with honeycomb cutouts.
On the sides, the black trim at the lower end of the doors appears fake as well, and we’re not sure the door handles are in final specification either. Another pretty obvious trick is the body-color sticker applied on the third lateral windows. The sliding rear doors remain on both sides, at least in this MPV passenger version.
At the rear, the shape of the vertical taillights is also disguised but a closer look reveals the cutouts eating into the doors for a chunkier final design. Black and body-color sticker is also used to hide the shape of the rear windows.
The all-new 2021 VW Caddy will switch to the MQB platform, enabling it to use new tech including a 48-volt mild-hybrid system, modern gasoline and diesel engines, as well as the latest safety and infotainment systems. The lineup will include a standard-wheelbase Caddy family MPV and long-wheelbase Caddy Cargo urban delivery van.
There’s no official word on the MPV model getting a LWB seven-passenger version and that may be because the upcoming T7 Multivan could take over that role. We’ll learn more at the end of February when VW will unveil the all-new Caddy.
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