Volkswagen Light, Medium and Heavy trucks

[kscarbel]

Most Americans are unaware that VW has been deeply involved in commercial truck production since the early eighties. The flagship is the Volkswagen Constellation, the only advanced European style heavy truck designed to meet the low price needs and operating requirements of developing countries.

The 13 to 45 ton Constellation is available as a straight truck (called “rigids” in the global market) and tractor, in 4x2, 6x2, 6x4, 8x2 and 10x4 configurations.

The “Constellation” was introduced in August 2005 by Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles for the South American market, with plans for export to Africa, Turkey, Russia, the Middle East, and China.

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles has been successful in South America since 1981, building dependable and affordable 5-45 ton light, medium, and heavy trucks in Brazil (Volkswagen took over Chrysler’s Brazilian truck plant in 1980, and moved into a new plant in Resende in 1996).

The “Constellation” was designed by Volkswagen in Wolfsburg, Germany.

Notable features:

• Modern design
• Attractive and contemporary styling
• Excellent driver ergonomics
• Large sleeper cabin (2 meter long bed)
• High roof (a 1.95 meter person can stand in the cabin)
• 6 year anti-corrosion cab warranty
• Onboard trip computer
• Designed to accept manual, AMT and automatic transmissions
• Engine electronic management system with Volkswagen VCO-950 diagnostic tool
• Available with “Volksnet” vehicle location tracking and “real-time” information system

The Constellation was intended to replace the Worker range. However due to the Worker’s continued popularity, several models remain in production.

On the light truck side, the Volkswagen “Delivery” range provides a competitive light truck alternative to the Japanese brands (One wonders why Volkswagen doesn’t enter America’s lucrative light truck market with the “Delivery”, powered by the ISF-derived EPA2010-capable Cummins Euro-6 4.5-liter 4-cylinder ISB).

Originally, the entire range was powered by engines from Brazil-based MWM International* from 3-liter 4-cylinder engines up to the 9.3-liter 367 horsepower VW-badged NGD370 (International HT-570).

* MWM was founded in Brazil in1953 by MWM gmbH (Motoren-Werke Mannheim – acquired by CAT in 2010) and Knorr-Bremse. MWM was purchased by Klöckner-Humboldt-Deutz AG (KHD) in 1985, and sold to Navistar International in 2005. MWM began contract manufacture of MAN 6.9-liter D08 engines in 2011.

MWM is a major diesel engine supplier for light vehicles in Brazil including the Chevrolet Blazer, Nissan Xterra and Ford F-250.

For 2012, MAN* has completely revised the powerplant offering. Now engines range from the 150-160hp 3.8-liter Cummins ISF, 190hp 4.6-liter 4-cylinder MAN D0834 and 280hp 6.9-liter 6-cylinder MAN D0836 (contract-produced by MWM) to the 330-400hp 8.9-liter Cummins ISL.

* MAN, majority owned by VW, purchased VW’s Brazil commercial truck unit in 2008. Under the agreement, the VW truck range remains intact and continues under the VW brand.

Transmissions are ZF and Eaton synchronized units, front axles are Sifco-produced Dana units* and rear axles are Meritor.

* Dana signed an agreement with SIFCO SA in 2011, investing $150 million to acquire the distribution rights for commercial vehicle steer axle systems (I-beams, steer arms, and knuckles). Dana is now responsible for all customer relationships, including marketing, sales, engineering, and assembly. Customers in the Brazilian market include Agrale, Ford, Iveco, MAN, Mercedes Benz, Scania, and Volvo. SIFCO provides selected assets and assistance to Dana.

Note: The Westport Axle facility in Allentown assembles axles for Volvo’s Macungie Mack plant from components produced by SIFCO in Brazil. Westport and SIFCO are both subsidiaries of Grupo Brasil. No U.S.-produced axle components for Mack-branded Volvo trucks.

[kscarbel]

The Volkswagen “Constellation” medium and heavy truck range

13.190 4x2 rigid http://www.man-la.com/images/stories/produtos/caminhao/ficha_tecnica/pdf/2811/Constellation%2013190_nov_13.pdf

15.190 4x2 rigid http://www.man-la.com/images/stories/produtos/caminhao/ficha_tecnica/pdf/2812/Constellation%2015190_nov_13.pdf

17.190 4x2 rigid http://www.man-la.com/images/stories/produtos/caminhao/ficha_tecnica/pdf/2815/Constellation%2017190_nov_13.pdf

17.190 4x2 AMT rigid http://www.man-la.com/images/stories/produtos/caminhao/ficha_tecnica/pdf/16496/Constellation%2017190%20V%20Tronic%20low.pdf

17.280 4x2 rigid http://www.man-la.com/images/stories/produtos/caminhao/ficha_tecnica/pdf/2813/Constellation%2017280_nov_13.pdf

17.280 4x2 AMT rigid http://www.man-la.com/images/stories/produtos/caminhao/ficha_tecnica/pdf/16600/Constellation%2017280%20Vtronic.pdf

17.330 4x2 rigid http://www.man-la.com/images/stories/produtos/caminhao/ficha_tecnica/pdf/2814/Constellation%2017330_nov_13.pdf

24.280 6x2 rigid http://www.man-la.com/images/stories/produtos/caminhao/ficha_tecnica/pdf/2818/Constellation%2019390%20Tractor_nov_13.pdf

24.280 6x2 AMT rigid http://www.man-la.com/images/stories/produtos/caminhao/ficha_tecnica/pdf/16601/Constellation%2024280%20VTronic%20low.pdf

24.330 6x2 rigid http://www.man-la.com/images/stories/produtos/caminhao/ficha_tecnica/pdf/2822/Constellation%2024330_nov_13.pdf

19.330 4x2 tractor http://www.man-la.com/images/stories/produtos/caminhao/ficha_tecnica/pdf/2816/Constellation%2019330%20Tractor_nov_13.pdf

19.330 4x2 AMT tractor http://www.man-la.com/images/stories/produtos/caminhao/ficha_tecnica/pdf/16603/Constellation%2019330%20Tractor%20V%20Tronic%20low.pdf

19.390 4x2 tractor http://www.man-la.com/images/stories/produtos/caminhao/ficha_tecnica/pdf/2818/Constellation%2019390%20Tractor_nov_13.pdf

19.420 4x2 AMT tractor http://www.man-la.com/images/stories/produtos/caminhao/ficha_tecnica/pdf/16605/Constellation%2019420%20Tractor%20V%20Tronic%20low.pdf

25.390 6x2 tractor http://www.man-la.com/images/stories/produtos/caminhao/ficha_tecnica/pdf/2823/Constellation%2025390_tractor_nov_13.pdf

25.420 6x2 AMT tractor http://www.man-la.com/images/stories/produtos/caminhao/ficha_tecnica/pdf/16607/Constellation%2025420%20Tractor%20V%20Tronic%20low.pdf

26.390 6x4 tractor http://www.man-la.com/images/stories/produtos/caminhao/ficha_tecnica/pdf/2825/Constellation%2026390%20Tractor_nov_13.pdf

26.420 6x4 AMT tractor http://www.man-la.com/images/stories/produtos/caminhao/ficha_tecnica/pdf/16609/Constellation%2026420%20Tractor%20V%20Tronic%20low.pdf

26.280 6x4 vocational http://www.man-la.com/images/stories/produtos/caminhao/ficha_tecnica/pdf/2824/Constellation%2026280_nov_13.pdf

31.280 6x4 vocational http://www.man-la.com/images/stories/produtos/caminhao/ficha_tecnica/pdf/2826/Constellation%2031280_nov_13.pdf

31.330 6x4 vocational http://www.man-la.com/images/stories/produtos/caminhao/ficha_tecnica/pdf/2827/Constellation%2031330_nov_13.pdf

31.390 6x4 vocational http://www.man-la.com/images/stories/produtos/caminhao/ficha_tecnica/pdf/2828/Constellation%2031390_nov_13.pdf

[kscarbel]

The Volkswagen "Worker" medium truck range

At one time, the Worker was sold in the U.S. market by both Kenworth and Peterbilt as the Mid-Ranger from 1987, until the Kenworth K300 and Peterbilt 270 utilizing a DAF 45 cab were introduced in 2000 (Paccar bought DAF in November 1996).

The cab originated on the VW "LT" light truck, and was later called the VW-MAN G90 cab when the companies jointly produced 6-10 ton G-series trucks from 1979 to 1993.

13.190 4x2 rigid http://man-la.com/images/stories/produtos/caminhao/ficha_tecnica/pdf/9403/497_Worker_13_190_fev_2013.pdf

15.190 4x2 rigid http://man-la.com/images/stories/produtos/caminhao/ficha_tecnica/pdf/9481/497_Worker_15_190_fev_2013.pdf

17.190 4x2 rigid http://man-la.com/images/stories/produtos/caminhao/ficha_tecnica/pdf/9489/497_Worker_17_190_fev_2013.pdf

[kscarbel]

The Volkswagen “Delivery” light truck range

5.150 4x2 http://man-la.com/images/stories/produtos/caminhao/ficha_tecnica/pdf/2835/498_Delivery_5_150_fev_2013.pdf

8.160 4x2 http://man-la.com/images/stories/produtos/caminhao/ficha_tecnica/pdf/2837/498_Delivery_8_160_fev_2013.pdf

9.160 4x2 http://man-la.com/images/stories/produtos/caminhao/ficha_tecnica/pdf/2838/498_Delivery_9_160_fev_2013.pdf

10.160 4x2 http://man-la.com/images/stories/produtos/caminhao/ficha_tecnica/pdf/7379/322_Delivery_10_160_fev_2013.pdf

[kscarbel]

Volkswagen - Complete trucks (with factory-installed bodies)

"Constructor" vocational trucks http://man-la.com/images/stories/produtos/caminhao/pdf/2783/148_vocacionais_constructor_low.pdf

"Compactor" refuse trucks http://man-la.com/images/stories/produtos/caminhao/pdf/2783/148_vocacionais_compactor_low.pdf

"Distributor" city delivery trucks http://man-la.com/images/stories/produtos/caminhao/pdf/2783/148_vocacionais_distributor_low.pdf

Bank-service Armored Cars http://man-la.com/images/stories/produtos/caminhao/pdf/2783/148_Vocacionais_Valores_low.pdf

[kscarbel]

The “Volksbus” bus chassis range

5.150 OD front-engine bus chassis http://man-la.com/images/stories/produtos/caminhao/ficha_tecnica/pdf/4464/5_150_OD_High.pdf

8.160 OD front-engine bus chassis http://man-la.com/images/stories/produtos/caminhao/ficha_tecnica/pdf/4483/8_160_OD_High.pdf

9.160 OD Plus front-engine 8.5-meter bus chassis http://man-la.com/images/stories/produtos/caminhao/ficha_tecnica/pdf/4487/9_160_OD_High.pdf

15.190 OD front-engine 11-meter bus chassis http://man-la.com/images/stories/produtos/caminhao/ficha_tecnica/pdf/4489/15_190_OD_High.pdf

17.230 OD front-engine 13.2-meter bus chassis http://man-la.com/images/stories/produtos/caminhao/ficha_tecnica/pdf/4495/17_230_OD_High.pdf

17.230 OD VTronic front-engine 13.2-meter bus chassis http://man-la.com/images/stories/produtos/caminhao/ficha_tecnica/pdf/9007/17_230_OD_Vtronic_Low.pdf

17.260 OD front-engine bus chassis http://man-la.com/images/stories/produtos/caminhao/ficha_tecnica/pdf/8242/Volksbus17_260_OD_High.pdf

17.280 OT low entry rear-engine 13.2-meter bus chassis http://man-la.com/images/stories/produtos/caminhao/ficha_tecnica/pdf/4499/17_280_OT_LowEntry_High.pdf

17.280 OT VTronic rear-engine 13.2-meter bus chassis http://man-la.com/images/stories/produtos/caminhao/ficha_tecnica/pdf/4501/17_280_OT_VTronic_High.pdf

17.280 OT rear-engine 13.2-meter bus chassis http://man-la.com/images/stories/produtos/caminhao/ficha_tecnica/pdf/4505/17_280_OT_High.pdf

18.330 OT rear-engine bus chassis http://man-la.com/images/stories/produtos/caminhao/ficha_tecnica/pdf/4503/18_330_OT_High.pdf

26.330 OTA articulated bus chassis http://man-la.com/images/stories/produtos/caminhao/ficha_tecnica/pdf/6978/26_330_OTA_272012.pdf

[Green Dash]

Great info. Thanks for posting all that.

[fifth wheel]

A lot of information, facts, data, and specs.

Thanks for sharing.

FW

[Pawel]

Well, in Europe VW trucks heavier than 7 tons are ABSOLUTELY unknown. I live in Poland and work as a contractor for VW and haven't seen a VW heavy truck in person yet. I believe reading about them being very popular in Brasil - but in Europe? A VW heavy truck just wouldn't feel right. Many of the medium trucks sold in Brasil as VW are designed in Europe by MAN.

I personally drive a VW van - a Transporter 4. I just love that machine.

Thanks for sharing and have a nice day

Paweł

[JTFormula]

Wow that was a full fledged advertisement fir VW trucks. That VW Delivery is kinda cool. Like a Vanagon beefed up. Would make a good camper chassis.

[GearheadGrrrl]

Drove a the KW version of the Worker a bit in the 80s... Was kinda weird to get into the cab and see the same switchgear and such as the VW Rabbit diesel I'd driven to work!

[MackMann85]

Westport does the frame and axle assemblies, but i do not think they make the axles themselves. When did Mack last assemble their own axles, the 70s or 80s?

[Chuck P]

I drove a small tilt cab Peterbilt (260?) tractor a while back for Penske Truck Leasing. I opened the door to see the ID tag and it said "Volkswagen do Brazil".

[kscarbel]

Just for the fun of it, here's some info on Volkswagen's superb new mid-size "Amarok" pickup truck produced by VW's commercial vehicles unit. It's produced in both left- and right-hand drive (These are right-hand drive photos)

This is the 4-door crew cab, the more personal and higher-trimmed version.

With the demise of the Ford Ranger in the U.S. (a stunning new "global" Ford Ranger is sold everywhere else), you'd think VW would bring the Amarok to America to give GM's Canyon/Colorado and Toyota's Tundra some competition. The Amarok is sold just about everywhere, except the U.S. market. The U.S. has a high import tariff on complete trucks (which is why the Ford Transit Connect arrives into the U.S. from Turkey (Ford Otosan) with temporary rear seats fitted so it will be classified as a car upon entry). But VW could add production at its plant in Tennessee.

[REEL ADDICTION]

Thanks for sharing info

[kscarbel]

The 4-door Volkswagen Amarok pickup (continued), with some left-hand drive examples.

The 4-door comes standard with the mid-level "Trimline" package, or the premium "Highline" package.

(I suppose a construction company could special order the "Basic" package).

Needless to say, I'm a fan of the 2.0 liter TDI Biturbo diesel engine. The dual turbo system utilizes one turbo for enhanced low rpm response and a second turbo for increased high rpm power.

Power is 161 horsepower and 295 ft,lb. of torque. Fuel economy is 7.9 liters per 100km, about 30 mpg in combined driving.

[kscarbel]

The 2-door is promoted as the work truck version of the Amarok.

I like the way a company can can get what's called the "Basic" package. a competively priced no-nonsense work truck. Or, you can add some comfort with the mid-level "Trendline" package.

[mack mhe9]

if its a truck is it still a pepoles car?

[kscarbel]

if its a truck is it still a pepoles car?

This is an honest-to-goodness truck with body-on-frame construction and rear (comfort) leaf springs.

They say the ladder chassis frame and standard heavy-duty suspension allows for a 1.2 (metric) ton payload - that's 2,646 pounds.

[Green Dash]

Thanks again for posting those brochures. The 4 door pickup looks like it could be a Ford product.

Wow that was a full fledged advertisement fir VW trucks. That VW Delivery is kinda cool. Like a Vanagon beefed up. Would make a good camper chassis.

I knew it reminded me of a VW from the past.

[41chevy]

Are the VW Buses tied in with Neoplan Buses? A lot of shares looks. Paul

[kscarbel]

Are the VW Buses tied in with Neoplan Buses? A lot of shares looks. Paul

Neoplan does belong to MAN, which is majority owned by VW. However the VW buses are produced by VW Commercial.

Now when we talk about VW buses, there are two sales channels and four versions. For personal use, there's the Multivan and the California. For commercial use, the same basic vehicle is marketed as the Transporter and the Caravelle (the Tranporter being the basic trim level work truck).

And then going larger, the VW Crafter was introduced in 2006. It's a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter with a VW powerrtrain and different fascia. It's produced under contract by Benz for VW and has been quite successful.

[bulldogboy]

In the automotive section of the "Boston Sunday Globe" on March 3, 2013 there is an article about VW and its plans to surpass GM and Toyota as the

world's largest car manufacturer. The VW product manager said that VW has no plans to produce a pickup truck for the U.S. (he said this shortly before

leaving VW to work for Chevrolet). Their feeling is that American pickup truck owners are extremely brand loyal so it would be tough to break into the

market. I saw a new Ford Ranger in St. Maarten last year; it looks a lot like the VW pickup. Maybe when it's time to replace my Ranger I can import one

from SXM (that wouldn't be too expensive, would it?).

bulldogboy

[kscarbel]

It's unbelievable that Ford refuses to sell the impressive global Ford Ranger in the U.S. market because they feel it would steal sales away from the massive F-150. These trucks appeal to two entirely different customer segments.

The individual looking at a mid-size pickup specifically does not want the bulk of a full-size pickup. If Ford won't sell a mid-size pickup, customers will go to GM who is all too happy to accomodate them with the GMC Canyon/Chevrolet Colorado.

[farmer52]

It's unbelievable that Ford U.S. refuses to sell the impressive global Ford Ranger because they feel it would steal sales away from the massive F-150. These trucks appeal to two entirely different customer segments.

The individual looking at a mid-size pickup specifically does not want the bulk of a full-size pickup. If Ford won't sell a mid-size pickup, customers will go to GM who is all too happy to accomodate them with the GMC Canyon/Chevrolet Colorado.

2012 is the last year for the GM Canyon and Colorado. They are working with Isluzu to design a new pickup. BTW, the Canyon and Colorado were designed by Isluzu. Ford nor Dodge make a small pickup anymore. I owned several S10s and loved them. My last "small" pickup was a Dodge Dakota with 4.7 V8 and 5 speed manual transmission....nice truck.