The Volkswagen Crafter, introduced in 2006 is the largest 3 to 5 tonne van produced and sold by the German automaker Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles. The Crafter officially replaced the LT nameplate first launched in 1975, although it is known as the LT3 as its production plant code.
Like the second generation LT, the first generation Crafter is a rebadged Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, built by Daimler AG, with a VW powertrain. The Daimler variant has been also sold by Daimler as the Freightliner Sprinter and Dodge Sprinter. An all-electric variant, the e-Crafter, is scheduled for retail sales in 2017.
Starting with the 2017 model year the Crafter is designed and built by Volkswagen, and no longer associated with the Sprinter. This new Crafter also sold by VW's MAN Truck & Bus division as the MAN TGE.
Its major European competitors include the Renault Master/Vauxhall/Opel Movano/Nissan NV400, Ford Transit, Fiat Ducato/Citroën Jumper/Peugeot Boxer/RAM ProMaster, Iveco Daily and Hyundai H350.
Video Volkswagen Crafter
Production plants
The Crafter is built in the Mercedes-Benz Ludwigsfelde and Düsseldorf plants, the same German factories where the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter is built.
The New Generation will be built in Wrze?nia, Poland, where the company plans to build a new factory in Autumn 2014. Planned volume of production is 85,000 per year, on a 220 ha sized site (300,000 square metres under roof). The cost of the new plant is about 3381 million PLN. Production is planned to start in the second half of 2016.
Maps Volkswagen Crafter
Design
French car designer Laurent Boulay is responsible for the frontal design of the Crafter, which takes cues from the Volkswagen Constellation.
Engines
All internal combustion engines are based upon Volkswagen Group's re-engineered 2.5 litre R5 TDI. This turbodiesel is an inline-five cylinder (R5) Turbocharged Direct Injection (TDI) diesel engine. It displaces 2,459 cubic centimetres (150.1 cu in), and uses the latest common rail fuel system, with piezoelectric actuated injectors for the cylinder-direct fuel injection. It also utilises a diesel particulate filter (DPF), allowing all engine variants to comply with the latest Euro IV European emission standards. The 2010 version of the 2.5 TDI CR engine was redesigned, correcting the previous problems of turbo failure.
Features
The Crafter is available in three wheelbase options; 3,250 millimetres (128.0 in), 3,665 millimetres (144.3 in) and 4,325 millimetres (170.3 in). It is equipped with front airbags as standard, and side and curtain airbags as options, along with Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Load Adapting Electronic Stability Programme (ESP), Anti Slip Regulation (traction control) (ASR), and Electronic Differential Lock (EDL).
The electronic differential lock (EDL) employed by Volkswagen is not - as the name suggests - a differential lock at all. Sensors monitor both roadwheel speeds across a driven axle, and if one is rotating substantially faster than the other (i.e. slipping) the EDL system momentarily brakes it. This effectively transfers the torque to the other driven wheel which is deemed to still have grip.
Payloads and Gross Vehicle Weights
The Crafter Chassis and Double Cabs have payloads ranging from 1,472 to 3,026 kilograms (3,245 to 6,671 lb), and come in Gross Vehicle Weights (GVW) of either 3.5 or 5.3 tonnes.
Conversions based on the Volkswagen Crafter
The Crafter is an ideal base vehicle for Minibus conversions, and Volkswagen have a list of accredited vehicle conversion specialists.
Awards
The Crafter has won a number of motor industry awards, including:
- 2006 What Van? - Overall Van of the Year (UK)
- 2006 What Van? - Large Van of the Year (UK)
- 2007 Professional Van and Light Truck Magazine - Large Van of the Year (UK)
- 2007 Van Fleet World - Best Large Panel Van (UK)
- 2007 Delivery Magazine - Large Van of the Year (Australia)
- 2008 Professional Van and Light Truck Magazine - Best Van derived Chassis Cab of the Year (UK)
2011 update
Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles released a revised Crafter in April 2011. The design of the grille was changed to the current design language of the Volkswagen brand. New power trains based on the 2.0L TDI producing 80 kW/109 PS, 100 kW/136 PS and BiTDI 120 kW/163 PS with the engine revised the payload was increased by up to 10% on some models.
In March 2012 the Crafter 4Motion variant was released as an option with one engine BiTDI 120 kW (163 PS; 161 hp). The four wheel drive system is supplied and fitted by Austrian specialists Achleitner.
R version
A special order 300 hp variant of the 2.5L motor was custom made in 2010. With an emergency services ECU remap (180kw), the additional 50kw of power is achieved with the use of liquid vapour injection, allowing the diesel fuel to burn more efficiently. 3" mandrel exhaust optimised the power and gives the Crafter R an aggressive sound. This model features high line interior, long range tanks, leather upholstery, xenon headlights, 22" wheels and a Bose sound system with DVD player. End users had the choice of VIP rear interior or empty cargo area.
Electric version
In September 2016, Volkswagen unveiled the e-Crafter all-electric van at the IAA Commercial Vehicles show in Hanover. The concept e-Crafter has a 43 kWh battery that delivers an estimated range of 208 km (129 mi). The van payload is rated at 1,709 kg, and cargo space is listed at 11.3 cubic meters. The e-Crafter has an 100 kW and 290 Nm electric motors, and top speed is limited to 80 km/h (50 mph). The electric van is production ready, and retail deliveries are slated for 2017.
Gallery
References
External links
- Crafter - Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles UK
- VW Crafter Netherlands official website (in Dutch)
- VW Australia's Crafter site
Source of article : Wikipedia
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