The CV Show in April will see the UK debut of the new Volkswagen Crafter panel van.
The new Crafter, named International Van of the Year for 2017 will be the prime element of the renewed support to the show by Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles. The German brand returned to the event at Birmingham’s NEC in 2016 after five years away.
Displayed on the VW ‘Homely House’ stand, revisiting a concept debuted last year, will be the standard Crafter panel van, and a left-hand drive dropside version.
At-customer servicing
Also new Volkswagen Crafter-based will be the Mobile Service Clinic van. Launched last year, these vehicles are designed to take routine service and repair work to an LCV operator’s premises, minimising downtime and inconvenience for the van customer.
UK orders for the new Crafter opened in January (details here) and first customers will receive their vehicles from May, initially front-wheel-drive panel vans with the range increasing throughout the year.
Like other manufacturers at the show Volkswagen will be increasing its electric vehicle presence with the UK debut of an e-load up! compact van, which is seen as a potential answer to delivery needs in inner cities with potential emissions restrictions.
The left-hand-drive model boasts a 990-litre cargo volume and 360kg payload in a length of just 3.6 metres. However there are currently no plans to make it available to UK customers, though VW admits it will be gauging reaction to the concept from visitors to the show.
Volkswagen claims to have the most up-to-date LCV range on the UK market, having renewed the Caddy and Transporter in September 2015 and launched the latest Amarok pick-up in December 2016. Range-topping versions of all three will be on the stand.
The CV Show takes place at the NEC, Birmingham between 25th-27th April. More details can be found here.
