VW commercial vehicles in the driving report
Off-road? Certainly!
Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles has been offering its icon, the “Bulli” - back then as the “T1984” with all-wheel drive with the additional designation “syncro” - since 3. The commercial vehicle manufacturers from Hanover undertook a technical realignment of the all-wheel drive in 2003 with the model change "T4" to "T5". The viscous coupling "syncro" had to give way to the more modern multi-plate clutch and the name "4MOTION". In the current year 2017, VW Commercial Vehicles will not only expand its portfolio around the subject of "4MOTION" with the Caddy, Transporter and Amarok. With various engines, transmissions and additional systems, they will prove their off-road capability in the future.
Commercial vehicles for business and private customers
In the section of those responsible at Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, the stated sales and sales figures read with a certain “wow” effect. Accordingly, the customer base of business and private customers is growing equally. Of the 477.000 commercial vehicles delivered by the brand, 88.500 vehicles were equipped with a "4MOTION" all-wheel drive system. Conversely, this was almost every fifth vehicle in the Caddy, T-Series and Amarok series. The biggest numbers are the so-called four-wheel drive markets such as Norway, Switzerland and Austria.
Transporter Rockton and Co. in difficult terrain
The product communication team headed by Jens Bobsien, Andreas Gottwald and Miriam Heuchler invited guests to test the all-wheel drive and off-road suitability of their models in the vicinity of the tranquil Wächtersbach (Main-Kinzig district in Hesse). Around the “Weiherhof” estate, a private forest with approx. 9.000 square meters of forest area, there are approx. 800 kilometers of forest paths that were at least partially accessible. From the vehicles available, the Caddy Edition 35 and Alltrack, Transporter Rockton and Amarok, we choose the last two vehicles for a guided tour through the forest. In the morning it starts with the Transporter Rockton, which rolls off the production line with the "4MOTION" all-wheel drive. Also on board as standard is a chassis that is 30 mm higher and a mechanical rear axle differential lock. Separate underrun protection elements for the engine, transmission, rear axle differential, main silencer, side skirts and tank are optionally available. In summary, Volkswagen also offers these elements in the “Protection” package for all four-wheel drive vans. The variably designed interior of the Rockton is criss-crossed with optional rails. For example, three additional individual seats or a sliding mesh partition can be integrated here. Our convoy vehicles are presented with a 2.0 liter TDI and a combination of 110 kW (150 PS) and a six-speed manual transmission. The 340 Newton meters of torque at 1.500 - 3.000 revolutions are completely sufficient for road traffic on generally permitted roads, but will always push us to the limits in the course of our "off-road trip".
Guided tours
Heiko Schultze from the “Driving Experience” team at Volkswagen Nutzfahrzeuge AG gives us the first tips for driving off-road. Then we set off with three vehicles directly onto the nearest forest path, which quickly turns out to be a deep mud path. Various mud passages, hills and descents as well as wading through larger water holes. Not really a challenge with the Rockton Transporter. Yes, because the packhorse from Hanover digs a little tight in layers of mud that have gotten a little too deep. Under the guidance of our tour guide Heiko, it goes on again. His motto is not to rummage through haphazardly until the last minute. With the rule: let go in time, roll backwards and get going again with more momentum, you can always go a little further. The ride on the Rockton comes to an end after an entertaining 90 minutes and we arrive back at the starting point.
Amarok with V6 unit
The second tour of the day leads into the area in the early afternoon with an Amarok. Coming on the market as a classic pickup, the Hanover-based carmaker prescribed a six-cylinder engine for the Amarok in 2016 in order to bring it closer to the classic SUV segment. The convoy sets off with three vehicles, all of which are equipped with a V6 TDI with an output of 150 kW (204 hp) and 500 Nm of torque. The 3.0 liter diesel unit is combined as standard with a 4MOTION drive and an automatic 8-speed automatic transmission. The permanent all-wheel drive in the Amarok automatically distributes the engine power between the front and rear axles via a central Torson differential. In addition, the German pickup has an electronic differential lock (EDS). Active braking action prevents a wheel from spinning on one side and always directs the drive power to the wheel with the best traction. Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles optionally offers a mechanical rear axle differential lock for all Amaroks. The two-hour tour with the Amarok is just as entertaining as the previous tour. The Amarok is more likely to “swim through” passages with deep ground, because the V6 engine makes it heavier than the Rockton.
And finally ... With the addition of the additional models Caddy Edition 35 and Alltrack, Transporter Rockton and the Amarok, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles AG expands its portfolio once again. This is not just about vehicles that can just drive along a dirt road. The commercial vehicle manufacturer from Hanover supplies its customers with high-end vehicles for professional use.
The off-road commercial vehicle fleet is almost perfectly equipped with the Transporter Rockton, Caddy and Amarok. An absolute MUST for the professional everyday life and for business and private customers indispensable.
Text: Stefan Beckmann, Entry picture: Manufacturer, Image: Stefan Beckmann and manufacturer