VW Multivan and California get PHEV, AWD variants

HANOVER: Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles has developed a new plug-in hybrid all-wheel drive system for the Multivan and California: the eHybrid 4MOTION.

They offer up to 95km electric range with a new 19.7kWh battery and quick-charging function.

These bring the iconic VW buses into the everyday electric era.

All-wheel drive offers exactly the traction that a rear-wheel or front-wheel drive vehicle sometimes lacks, even on muddy fields or in winter.

All this is made possible by efficiently combining two electric drive motors and a newly designed, high-tech TSI petrol engine.

For efficiency reasons, the rear electric motor is only coupled when required above a speed of 65kph in the Eco and Comfort driving profiles; in the Sport driving profile, it is coupled up to 130kph, and also in the Individual profile, depending on the setting.

Above 130kph, the rear axle always remains deactivated.

The 1.5-litre TSI evo2 turbocharged petrol engine, is additionally activated at speeds above 130kph if the kickdown function is used or when the battery charge level is no longer sufficient.

During strong acceleration with the kickdown function, the electric drive supports the 1.5 TSI engine like an additional booster.

The engine delivers an output of 130kW (177PS) and a maximum torque of 250Nm.

The 180kW (245PS) eHybrid 4MOTION system is the successor to the plug-in hybrid electric vehicle featuring only a front-wheel drive and a system output of 160kW (218PS) introduced in the Multivan in 2021.

The module consisting of the 6-speed dual clutch gearbox (DQ400e evo) and the front-axle electric drive motor (HEM80 evo) has been enhanced for the new models.

All other components of the eHybrid 4MOTION system are new developments.

The aim was to raise the range of applications and handling characteristics to a new level by designing an additional electrically driven rear axle.