VW launches Bluemotion Caddy at Frankfurt Motor Show

Date: Wednesday, September 11, 2013 | Author: James Dallas

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles focused on fuel efficiency at the Frankfurt Motor Show with the launch of two eco-friendly vans.

First up was the new Caddy Bluemotion, which VW claimed is the greenest version of its light van yet with official fuel consumption of 62.8mpg on the combined cycle for the panel van derivative – more than 7mpg more efficient than the existing Caddy with Bluemotion Technology. The Bluemotion van emits 117g/km of CO2. In passenger carrying mode, official fuel consumption is marginally lower and emissions slightly higher.

The Bluemotion is powered by the manufacturer’s 1.6-litre TDI common-rail diesel engine with power output of 102hp and maximum torque of 250Nm. With a 60-litre fuel tank, VW said the van has a theoretical range of 800 miles.

The manufacturer has reduced fuel consumption through a combination of aerodynamic and engineering features such as stop/start, low-rolling resistance tyres, battery regeneration and by lowering the ride height by 27mm.

The short wheelbase Caddy Bluemotion is available in four trim levels and in panel van, Kombi and passenger carrying modes.

A badge at the rear, unique full-wheel covers and painted side guard strips distinguish the Bluemotion from its Caddy stablemates.

Standard features include hill hold assist and cruise control.

VW also revealed a commercial concept version of its smallest electric vehicle in Frankfurt, which it dubbed the E-Load Up! – a battery-powered city delivery van.

The E-Load Up! Is 3.54m long and contains a driver’s seat, fold-up passenger seat, 1.0m³ of load space and a 306kg payload.

VW argued that operating fleets of small, agile vans with correspondingly small load capacities makes more sense in congested cities than running a single, larger, more cumbersome van.

Branding its idea “collective intelligence”, VW said: “When larger volumes need transporting the operator can rely on a fleet of sister vehicles.

“For reasons of efficiency conventional delivery vehicles are not dispatched until they are full to capacity. This means the first 10 parcels have to wait for the next 100 before they can be delivered. That’s not the case with the E-Load Up!

The plug-in concept is powered by an electric motor with power output of 60Kw (82hp). It has range capacity of 99 miles and top speed of 80mph. Given sufficient demand VW said the electric city van could come to market in the short term and added petrol or natural gas-powered derivatives could also be made available as the Load Up!

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