Volkswagen’s popular in Europe T5 van range, which includes the Transporter, Caravelle, Multivan and California models, is being enhanced for the new model year with the addition of two new engine options, the 138Hp (140PS) 2.0 TDI with the fuel-saving BlueMotion technology package and the 2.0 TSI petrol.

Following on from the 83hp (84PS) 62 and 113hp (114PS) engine variants, the BlueMotion tech package that incorporates star/stop and brake energy recovery systems, low rolling resistance tires, and cruise control, is now available with the stronger 2.0-liter turbo diesel delivering 138hp (140PS) and 340 Nm (251 lb-ft).

The Bluemotion 2.0 TDI 140PS can be had with front-wheel drive and a manual gearbox or DSG dual clutch transmission, and as selectable 4MOTION all-wheel drive. Regardless of the driveline, the fuel consumption savings for all three versions is 0.5 lt/100km.

In particular, the Transporter panel van Bluemotion 2.0 TDI 140PS returns a combined fuel consumption of 6.9 lt/ 100 km (34mpg US or 40.9mpg UK) with corresponding CO2 emissions of 182 g/km.

When combined with 4MOTION all-wheel drive, it consumes 7.5lt/100km (31.4mpg US or 37.7mpg UK) with C02 emissions of 198 g/km (Multivan 7.0 or 7.8 litres with 184 or 206 g/km of CO2 emissions respectively).

The T5’s petrol engine range has also been expanded and now includes the 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder TSI petrol producing an output of 148Hp (150PS) and peak torque of 280Nm (206 lb-ft) coupled to a six-speed manual gearbox driving the front wheels.

With this engine, the Transporter van can go from zero to 100km/h (62mph) in 11 seconds (Multivan 12.5 seconds) and top out at 180km/h (112mph), while returning an average fuel economy of 9.5lt/100km (24.8mpg US or 29.8mpg UK) and CO2 emissions of 222g/km.

In Germany, prices for the Transporter panel van with 2.0 TDI BlueMotion Technology start at €27,450, and with the 2.0 TSI from €25,445.

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