The Volkswagen Crafter, introduced in 2006, is the largest 3 to 5 tonne van sold by Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles. Crafter replaced the 31 year old LT nameplate.

Production plants

The Crafter is built in the Mercedes-Benz Ludwigsfelde and Düsseldorf plants, the same German factories where the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter is built.

Daimler as a partner

In the 1990s Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles and Daimler AG's Mercedes-Benz Commercial Unit produced the first generation Sprinter and the second generation Volkswagen LT in a joint development project.

The superseded second generation Volkswagen LT, and the current Crafter share the bodyshells with their Mercedes-Benz Sprinter counterparts, but the front grill styling, engine and transmissions remain Volkswagen sourced.

Design

French Car Designer Laurent Boulay is responsible for the frontal design of the Crafter which takes cues from the Volkswagen Constellation.

Engines

All engines are based upon Volkswagen's re-engineered 2,459 cc inline-5 TDI common rail turbodiesel with piezo direct fuel injection and Diesel particulate filter (DPF). All comply with the latest Euro 4 European emission standards.

Individual power outputs are:

max power	@ rpm	max torque	@ rpm
88 PS / 65 kW	3,500		2,000
109 PS / 80 kW	3,500		2,000
136 PS / 100 kW	3,500		2,000
163 PS / 120 kW	3,200		2,000

Features

The Crafter is available in three wheelbase options; , and . It is equipped with front airbags as standard, and side and curtain airbags as options, along with anti-lock braking system (ABS), Load Adapting Electronic Stability Program (ESP), Anti Slip Regulation (traction control) (ASR), and Electronic Differential Lock (EDL).

The electronic differential lock (EDL) employed by Volkswagen is not - as the name suggests - a differential lock at all. Sensors monitor wheel speeds, and if one is rotating substantially faster than the other (i.e. slipping) the EDL system momentarily brakes it. This effectively transfers all the power to the other wheel.

Awards

• What Van? - Overall Van of the Year 2006 (UK)
• What Van? - Large Van of the Year 2006 (UK)
• Professional Van and Light Truck Magazine - Large Van of the Year 2007 (UK)
• Van Fleet World - Best Large Panel Van 2007 (UK)
• Delivery Magazine - Large Van of the Year 2007 (Australia)
• Professional Van and Light Truck Magazine - Best Van derived Chassis Cab of the Year 2008 (UK)

Gallery

References

External links

• VWCV UK's official Crafter website
• VW Crafter Netherlands official website
• VW Australia's Crafter site
• Brick-Yard UK - LT & Crafter Forums
• Dot2Dot - Volkswagen Crafters are used as shuttlebuses by London Heathrow's demand responsive service Dot2Dot, transporting passengers from Heathrow Airport to select central London destinations. They serve as a cheaper alternative to London's taxi fares, and a more convenient form of transportation than the Underground if you are carrying a lot of luggage.