By Dave Abrahams
Hannover, Germany - Volkswagen has brought its Caddy van smartly up to date - in both senses of the word - with crisp new styling and raft of clever driver aids.
But perhaps the smartest feature of the fourth-generation caddy is that it will be built with two different engine ranges, depending on the intended market.
European Union customers will get to choose from three EU6-compliant two-litre turbodiesels - in 55kW, 75kW and 110kW formats - of which the 55kW Blue Motion variant sets the fuel-consumption benchmark with a combined-cycle rating of lessx than four litres per 100km.
The rest of the world will get EU5-compliant 2.0 TDI power in 55kW, 75kW and 103kW flavours; VWSA says these are most likely to be on the menu when the new Caddy makes its South African debut in the fourth quarter of 2015.
ONE SMART VAN
Headlining the safety parade is a front assist system that detects and warns the driver of obstacles ahead and, if the Caddy is moving at less than 30km/h and the driver doesn't react, automatically applies the brakes.
What's really new, however, is multi-collision braking. VW says about 22 percent of all crashes involving injuries are with more than one obstacle so, if the Caddy hits something and keeps on going with no attempt by the driver to brake (possibly due to injury or unconsciousness), it will automatically start braking.
Don't use a Caddy as a getaway car, Cyril.
Optional driver aids include automatic headlights, driver fatigue warning, a heated windscreen, and adaptive cruise control that uses radar sensors to hold station in traffic and works from 0-160km/h in DSG models and 30-160km/h in manual versions.
Also available are a reversing camera (in conjunction with certain infotainment spec levels, and park assist that works for vertical as well as parallel parking bays - very useful for a courier service.
The interior has also been styled with crisper lines and stronger shapes, including trim elements with built-in air vents and a whole new generation of infotainment choices.
Full South African specs and pricing will be released closer to the SA launch of the new Caddy.