The rise of the worker
Volkswagen’s mega-van – the Crafter, a name which literally translates from German to ‘worker’ – has come of age. A new design, new levels of technology, new transmission, intelligent and efficient engine selection and most tellingly, a new price positioning, makes for a new Crafter in every sense.
Crafter comes ready to work only applies to the fact that it has and to provides a comfortable blank panels at the back. place for that work to be done. However, Crafter does have Not only has the cabin been a full wrap around sensorbased re-engineered to suit the side protection system requirements of the modern and a reversing camera ‘all-day-in-the-cab’ user, with connected to the standard storage cubbies, power outlet 8-inch multifunction screen, jack-points and a massive to give drivers a greater sense amount of under bench seat of awareness around the stowage, but an all-new vehicle, making them feel this Agr-certified suspension seat is more like a large car than a ensures all-day driveability commercial van. with a familiar, confidenceinspiring And on that note, the Crafter’s seat position providing steering wheel – even in the outstanding headroom, visibility entry level versions – is right up and ease of access. there in terms of equipment.
What’s Agr-certified? Glad Taking on the familiar you asked because I did look multifunctional controls we’re it up: AGR is the acronym so used to seeing, the Crafter’s for Aktion Gesunder Rucken wheel affords access to audio and that’s all German, so the and cruise control switchgear, long-winded translation: an Bluetooth telephony, voice association supported by command, vehicle data – it’s doctors and therapists founded all here, and you can specify a in 1995 to foster research into heated steering wheel too, to preventing backache, and the match the electrically heated seat in the Crafter is endorsed exterior mirrors. by them. The engine is the tried and
Volkswagen has made a few true two-litre powerplant which other changes to the Crafter too. is found in so many Volkswagen While the Crafter is ‘blind’ in its products these days. standard guise, the description Here is an engine which gives fantastic levels of useful power and torque – typically 103kw and 340Nm, though you can get the 130kw and 410Nm should you feel you need something else...
For most applications the 103kw/340nm engine will be more than sufficient – whether the van is carrying its four Euro pallets of cargo or nothing at all.
How so? Well power and torque are all well and good, but its how they’re used that makes the difference and Volkswagen has managed to get that power and torque through to the wheels via the new 8-speed transmission the Crafter has now been imbued with.
This is the same 8-speed as found in the Amarok, which most would agree has been the that vehicle’s greatest advantage. If anything, the 8 speed in the Crafter makes even more sense, using the transmission’s flexibility, perfectly matched to the engine, to make the user experience of the Crafter that much better.
It doesn’t stop there, however. The 2019 Crafter features the latest in driver assist systems, making it one of the best in class for sophistication in this regard.
Side wind steering compensation, automatic post collision braking system, trailer manoeuvring assist, Park pilot and the usual array of safety features are part of the tools of trade for this worker.
There is a Crafter for every application, with front, rear or 4MOTION all-wheel-drive and up to three body lengths and heights – and a raft of tailorable options – to suit your business requirements.