If we study the history of the creation of this model, then we can safely say that it began long before the world saw the car for the first time called Multivan. The birthday of Volkswagen’s T-series commercial vehicles, which the Multivan undoubtedly belongs to, is considered to be March 8, 1950. Initially, the car was named Transporter or T1, and after 13 years, Transporter Kombi or VW Bus appeared, which became the progenitor of the current Multivan.
In 1968, the second generation of commercial vehicles was released. The creator of T2 was the designer Gustav Meyer. This generation was produced before 1979 and sold around the world in the amount of 2.93 million copies. In 1980, the third generation of minibuses replaced the T2.
It retained the concept of previous generations. But the fundamentally new ideas of Volkswagen designers were embodied only in the fourth generation of commercial minivans in 1990. The new generation was notable for its innovative design, monocoque, front-wheel drive and transverse engine arrangement. Since 1996, on the basis of the Caravelle model, a comfortable Multivan has been created. T4 went off the assembly line until 2002. By this time, over 53 years of history, 8.5 million cars were produced.
Then came the era of the Volkswagen T5. The minibus VW Multivan is a classic family transport. "Ven" means roomy. A "multi" means that the interior is relatively simple and can be quickly transformed into a space for the transport of goods. The updated Multivan is quite different from its predecessor - both in body design and interior design. The body has now received a 12 year warranty against penetrating corrosion. The interior has been redesigned and has become more luxurious. The main feature of it is transformation.
For greater convenience on the floor made special runners on which you can move the rear seats, changing the configuration of the cabin. Even at the stage of manufacturing the car, the customer can choose one of several basic seating arrangements in the cabin. It can be either a classic few rows in the passenger version, or placing “face to face” seats in a luxury version. Impressive list of additional options.
If desired, the buyer will install a folding table and sliding side doors on both sides, which can be equipped with an electric drive. The interior has a mass of drawers, pockets and shelves, designed to raise comfort to a new level. If desired, the buyer minivan can be equipped with a variety of options to create maximum comfort. For example, the unique Digital Voice Enhancement (DVE) system, through which all Multivan passengers can communicate without raising their voices. Six highly sensitive microphones located throughout the cabin catch the interlocutor's voice, after which the signal is amplified to the required level and sounded through small speakers located near each seat.
Power windows door side windows have a function against the clamp: with a certain resistance to closing the glass, it automatically goes back. Also, for the first time in this class, side airbags appeared - in addition to the two front airbags installed in the “base”. The total number of airbags reaches six. All seats are equipped with three-point seat belts, and each has mounts for child seats IsoFix system. In addition, the new Multivan is equipped with active safety systems such as anti-lock brakes (ABS), differential lock (EDS) and front wheels (MSR), ASR and ESP. The dimensions of the car are 4.89 in length and 1.91 in width.
The fifth-generation Multivan engine range offers a choice of: 2.5 liter turbo diesel with 174 hp. The maximum speed of 188 km / h, the average fuel consumption of 12 liters per 100 km. Two petrol engines: 2 l / 115 hp and 3.2 l / 230 hp, its maximum speed is 205 km / h, from standstill to “hundreds” of 10.9 s and one more turbo diesel with a volume of 1.9 l and a power of 104 hp. He is able to accelerate more than two-ton Multivan to 159 km / h.
Acceleration to 100 km / h takes 18.4 s. Fuel consumption of about 8 liters per 100 km. As usual, Volkswagen offers a large selection of transmission types. Already, the power units can be combined with a five-or six-speed manual transmission, and the 3.2-liter version can also be combined with a 6-speed automatic transmission. A little later, the appearance of the all-wheel drive version of the 4Motion is expected - with the rear axle drive being connected, in the case of the front wheels slipping. Like the previous generation (model T4), the new T5 family has several versions at once, ranging from economical commercial vans to luxury tourist or office vanes.
Each of these versions has not only external, but also internal features. In 2003, at the Geneva Motor Show, Volkswagen unveiled the business version of the Multivan. The interior is trimmed with precious woods and expensive types of leather. Each seat is equipped with electric drive, in addition, the rear seat passengers can increase the free space for the legs at the expense of the trunk, simply pushing the seat back up to the stop by 18 centimeters. A 15-inch LCD monitor is mounted on the roof of this model onto which both a television signal and a signal from a DVD player installed in the VW Multivan Business can be projected.
An image from a connected laptop can be displayed on the same monitor. In addition, the cabin has a fax and communication system that allows for teleconferencing over the DVE (Digital Voice Enhacement) system.
