BUZZ ISN’T LIGHT YEARS AWAY…

With a consistent lineage stretching back 70 years, the Transporter’s success has been built on its consistency. But it’s not immune to wider industry trends, and big changes are coming in the future.

For one thing, the California is growing into a full family, with the Crafter-based Grand California launched in 2018 and a Caddy-based compact camper set to follow.

Then, VW’S long-time dream of producing a true successor to the original T2 will be realised by the production version of the electric ID Buzz concept. Built on the MEB electric platform, it will be a key part of the new ID family, with both passenger and commercial versions offering what VW Commercial Vehicles UK boss Cian O’brien calls “unashamedly retro” styling, while being “fitted with cutting-edge electric tech”.

But the next generation of the T Series itself is arguably making an even more significant change, due to the new global alliance between VW and Ford. The Transporter will be twinned with the next-generation Transit, with development led by Ford. It’s a profound change, but O’brien is adamant that it won’t dent the Transporter’s appeal, promising that “a Volkswagen van will continue to feel like a Volkswagen van”.