FRANKFURT: No, it's not a new model of human-hunting Terminator: The T7 is the latest from long line of people carriers from Volkswagen that has its origins in the flower-power hippie camper vans of the 1960s.

An old-school favourite from the VW range that even makes the Golf look like a fresh new car, the Multivan is getting ready to enter into its seventh generation.

With the new generation, the Multivan is switching to VW's so-called Modular Transverse Toolkit (MQB) platform, essentially making it a more spacious offshoot of the Golf. This also brings significant advances in electronics and the drive system, VW promises.

There are now digital instruments and online entertainment including extensive touch controls and an assistant that can drive the van largely autonomously in traffic jams.



Things are also changing under the bonnet, and for the first time VW's Multivan is available as a plug-in hybrid, running with a 1.5-litre petrol engine and an electric motor with a dual-clutch gearbox and 13-kWh battery — standard for all variants.

This should be enough for a purely electric drive of almost 50km. VW gives the system output as 218hp. VW has not yet specified the fuel consumption.

In addition, two petrol engines with 136hp and 204hp will be available. A diesel with 150hp will follow a few months later.

All engines are supposed to be much more frugal and consume up to 1 litre less than in the predecessor — also because VW has dramatically reduced air resistance.

At the same time, the new edition of the Multivan is even bigger and is offered as a long version of 5.17m or a short version of 4.97m, while the wheelbase grows by 12cm to 3.12m. The width is increased by almost 4cm, but thanks to slimmer mirrors it takes up less space when parking.



And although the width and height have shrunk, the interior offers more space for passengers and luggage. VW puts boot volume at 469l to 4,053l.

In addition, the Multivan is more variable than ever: the individual seats are 25 per cent lighter and can therefore be removed or turned around more easily.

The folding table in the middle can also be moved along the entire longitudinal axis of the vehicle and used as a table or centre tray, VW says.

The T7 is launching at around €45,000 (RM225,000) in its home market from mid-2021 onwards and is set to go on sale at the turn of the year, VW says.

In the second half of 2022, the old T6.1 and the new Multivan will also be joined by the fully electric ID Buzz. The transporter version T6.1 and the camper California will continue to be built on the old basis.

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