Short Take: Volkswagen's commercial truck division struts its stuff by showcasing an all-wheel-drive version of their Crafter commercial van (think Sprinter and you have the size down) at the Frankfurt Truck Show this week.

Our Take: VW facelifted their Crafter commercial van this year and it looks far more aggressive and a lot less plain vanilla. The Crafter competes with the Sprinter in Europe in terms of size and features so that should give you an idea regarding its size. Like the Sprinter it is sold in an array of different configurations as well with gas or diesel options with standard and extended wheelbase models. This concept is purely a design exercise at this point but it sure looks good to our eyes. Put a decent TDI engine in it, give it some towing capacity and we'd have a great show/race hauler. Too bad it isn't sold here alongside the Sprinter as we think it looks much cooler to boot.

Full Story...

VWOA .. PLEASE BRING THIS VERSION OVER TO THE U.S. !!

Modified by evil4bc at 2:35 PM 9-20-2006

Modified by evil4bc at 2:35 PM 9-20-2006

90 Mercury Topaz

Depending on price, I would be all over this.

I am saving my pennies right now for a 4wd Sportsmobile (www.sportsmobile.com), and lamenting the fact that I can't get a fuel efficient diesel.

I can get the 6.0L diesel in the Ford E-350, but the mileage won't be great and I don't need the towing capacity. A smaller turbo-diesel would be much better for me.

For me the AWD/4wd is an absolute necessity, which is why I've not been willing to consider a Sprinter (that and the fact that there's no equivalent to the Sportsmobile pop-up roof for a Sprinter).

If this thing were sold as an AWD "empty box" for future customization, it would be killer.

Modified by art vandelet at 10:22 PM 9-20-2006

this thing is awesome. I would definetly buy one!!

Quote, originally posted by Elbows »

So would it be ridiculous for a single 25 year old male to drive a van as his primary vehicle!?

Probably, but who cares?

Here are just a few commercial variations of the crafter so no worries about dressing it down - dressed down it how it normally comes...

Attachment: crafter.jpg (87173 bytes, downloaded 9889 times)

Peace!

2001 Golf GL/Reflex Silver/Black Cloth
1993 Passat GLS VR6/Brilliant Black Metallic/Sahara Beige Velour
1986-2001 Subaru GL wagon/Lightning Silver Metallic/Blue Cloth

Volkswagen would be smart to sell a vehicle like that in North America. Even if they took only 1% of the sales from Dodge, they'd have a successfull model.

The reason is that the US market has not warmed up to VW and W does not have the prestige here that they enjoy in Europe

YEs, on the Vortex, people are going to be crazy about pretty much anything that VW puts out, but I wonder how many people in the US, not VW enthusiasts, would even think twice about this.

People such as MB, BMW can put whatever they want out and people here , because of the name, have a different starting opinion. "oh, its a BMW/ MB, " which is a start in the positive direction usually. With VW its more like" VW?!? What ar ethey thinking?"

Interesting concept but not my cup of tea. I guess it would work great for transporting motorcycles to-from track, but I would really have to be a track junky.

another concept that never go into production

I love soccer http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...edded

which includes the Atacama, a VW Van that cost more than a W12 Phaeton also another VW studie the T5 PanAmerica.

Volkswagen News Blog

Wow - I don't think I'd want my life depending on a VW ambulance...

Another concept? Yawn. I'm so excited. Just another tease.
Getting a little tired of this.

BUY MY JETTA!

20th Ann GTI #0146. GIAC X+ chip, Techtonics downpipe, Milltek catback, ECS pullies, ECS N75, Baileys DV, Neuspeed T.I.P. , Neuspeed shifter, CAI, Alamo hard pipes, Forge SMIC,Neuspeed upper and lower strut, yallowsport upper rear, AutoTech rear hollow swaybar.

VW remains the "Peoples car"... but the "Peoples" need to bring more money (das loot?).

I think this is how it really looks.

Modified by Germanicus North at 1:56 AM 9-21-2006

Modified by Germanicus North at 1:58 AM 9-21-2006

2006 GLI .:. 2008 Rabbit S

MkV Forum New User Information :: MkV FAQ & DIY Guide

But as far as a real vehicle? I doubt we'd ever see it.

Vortex Transaction History

I would rock that van.

stöp ümläüt äbüse

Quote, originally posted by 155VERT83 »

It's, uum...TALL!

Lower it