Volkswagen has unveiled the new 2011 Volkswagen Caddy in Europe. Like the Ford Transit Connect, the Caddy has been overwhelmingly popular for commercial fleets and families alike across the pond. And now the all new re-designed 2011 model debuts with both TDI diesel and gasoline engine options.
Styling is evolutionary of Volkswagen’s new corporate face, looking a lot like a Golf with a tall rear flank. Versions of the new Volkswagen Caddy will range from the plain wrapper cargo van to full blown consumer grade passenger vans. There is even a Westfalia-like camper van version. All versions are available with a removable second seating row too.
Both the cargo and passenger versions of the Volkswagen Caddy are similar in size and proportions to the Ford Transit Connect which has gone on sale this year in America. Competing head to head across Europe, the Caddy and Transit Connect share much in common including their front-wheel drive car based chassis platforms.
Among the available TDI engines is the very same 2.0 liter clean diesel that we can option on the Golf and Jetta here in the United States. So theoretically should Volkswagen look at bringing the Caddy here the natural tendency would be to offer the TDI option. This would make the Caddy a very attractive competitor to the Ford Transit Connect since it is only available with a gas engine.
Like the Ford Transit Connect however, buyers in Europe can option a natural gas version, the 2.0 EcoFuel (CNG), which delivers an output of 109-horsepower. EcoFuel was offered on the previous generation Caddy as well.
In Europe the Caddy sells at a base price of about $17,500. If exported here it would likely be priced similarly to the Ford Transit Connect who’s base price is about $21,200. Volkswagen has not made any announcments that they intend to offer the new Caddy vans here in the States, but with Fiat considering bringing their Euro mini hauler over the thought has to be getting some serious passing around in the office.
