The Volkswagen Crafter, winner of the International Van of the Year 2017 award, has landed in New Zealand.
Specifically designed with the requirements and demands of its diverse customer groups in mind, the all-new Crafter is expected to transform the large van sector of the light commercial market.
The entire vehicle concept was redeveloped from the ground up – based on specific customer wishes.
“The new Crafter represents a fusion of product focus and customer focus,” Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles management board chairman Dr Eckhard Scholz says. “In other words, we developed this vehicle from the customer’s perspective.”
A variety of model applications are offered that can be tailor-made for business solutions.
The Crafter provides practicality, safety and functionality. Electromechanical steering is used for the first time in its class. The van provides a wide array of active driver assistance systems, such as Automatic Post-Collision Braking System, Servotronic steering with side wind-compensation, sensor-based side protection and trailer manoeuvring system.
Passive safety systems – along with front, side and head airbags for the driver and front passenger – include a reversing camera, Rear Traffic Alert, and sensor-based side protection specially developed for the new Crafter.
Its engines are designed for both short-distance and long-distance transportation, equipped with an eight-speed automatic gearbox suitable across front-wheel drive, rear-wheel drive and 4Motion all-wheel drive.
The New Zealand market will have the full range of Crafter models – the Crafter panel van from $59,990 plus on-road costs (orc), the Crafter Minibus from $83,980 plus orc (12-20 seat capacity available) and the Crafter cab chassis from $55,990 plus orc.
The New Zealand model range starts with 3-3.5t GVM front-wheel drive and manual transmission derivatives. Additional drive trains, auto transmission and GVM rating follow through late 2017 to early 2018.
