Motoring

Volkswagen confirms T7 in the pipeline for South Africa

In a surprise move, only the plug-in hybrid Volkswagen T7 is being considered for the local market.

An uncertainty for South Africa ever since its world debut four years ago, Volkswagen has officially confirmed that the T7 Multivan is being considered for the local market either next year or in 2027.

Only as a hybrid

The direct replacement for the T6.1, the seventh generation T-series or Transporter rides on the MQB platform, and stands in contrast to the newly launched model that forms part of a joint venture with Ford.

Powered by a selection of TSI petrol and TDI engines in Europe, senior Volkswagen Commercial Vehicle South Africa executives stated that the arrival of the T7 will only involve the plug-in hybrid eHybrid, which combines a 1.4 TSI engine with an 85kW electric motor.

Caravelle’s return

Making the announcement at the market launch of the Ford Transit/Tourneo Custom-based Transporter last week, the automaker further stated that apart, from the mono powertrain, it won’t avail the Caravelle name to the ‘joint venture’ model.

The new Transporter will filter in below the T7 as part of an eventual three-product commercial vehicle range. Photo: Charl Bosch

Instead, it will keep the moniker for the flagship T7, leaving the Style as the top-spec trim grade for the Transporter.

ID. Buzz also being studied

At the same time, Wolfsburg also stated that the all-electric ID. Buzz is under equal serious investigation after teaser unveilings at the Kyalami Festival of Motoring last year and media test drives of the Cargo version brought to the country last year as part of a zero emissions partnership with DHL.

The ID. Buzz, in top-spec Pro guise, made a surprise showing at last year’s Kyalami Festival of Motoring. Photo: Charl Bosch

Accordingly, its confirmation will form of a three model line-up in which it will be the flagship positioned above the T7, with the Transporter becoming the entry-level derivative.

Stay tuned

For the moment, no further are known, though expect more to be revealed next year.

This article was first published by The Citizen.

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Charl Bosch

A self-confessed car nut, Charl started his professional career in journalism in his native Port Elizabeth in 2013. He moved to Johannesburg in 2016 to join Caxton’s digital motoring platforms and has been with The Citizen since 2019. He writes up-to-the-minute motoring news and driving impressions.

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