Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles will launch the Caravelle plug-in hybrid 4MOTION in South Africa around mid-2026.
What is it?
The people carrier represents the T7 generation of the nameplate that has been part of South African automotive history for over seven decades.
Drivetrain:
The Caravelle eHybrid 4MOTION is a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle with electric all-wheel drive. One electric motor drives the front axle, delivering 85kW and 330Nm, whilst a second electric motor on the rear axle produces 100kW and 250Nm.
A 1.5 TSI evo2 turbocharged petrol engine provides 130kW and 250Nm. The system produces a combined 350Nm of torque. The high-voltage battery has a capacity of 19.7kWh and consists of 96 cell modules with liquid cooling. The vehicle offers up to 91 kilometres of pure electric range when fully charged. Maximum speed reaches 190km/h in hybrid mode and 130km/h in electric-only mode.
The front electric motor connects to a six-speed dual clutch gearbox. The rear electric motor uses a one-speed gearbox with a dog clutch that can engage or disengage the rear axle as needed. Above 130km/h, the rear axle automatically disengages to improve efficiency.
The vehicle can charge at up to 11kW at AC charging points and up to 50kW at DC rapid charging stations. DC charging takes the battery from 10 to 80 per cent in approximately 26 minutes. WLTP consumption with a discharged battery ranges between 7.5 and 8.1 litres per 100km.
The Caravelle includes electric stationary air conditioning as standard. This system can cool, ventilate and heat the interior when charging, parking or camping without using fuel. With an external power supply, the system operates for up to 30 minutes.
Using the high-voltage battery alone, it runs for 10 minutes. The system is controlled via the infotainment system or smartphone app. Four driving profiles are available as an option: Eco, Comfort, Sport and Individual. Each profile adjusts power delivery, accelerator pedal response and all-wheel drive engagement differently.
Price:
Pricing information for the South African market has not been announced.
Zero Carbon Charge (CHARGE) welcomes the government’s extension of short term fuel levy relief measures aimed at cushioning consumers from rising fuel prices, but cautions that these interventions do not address the underlying structural challenge facing South Africa’s transport economy.
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