FLEET WORLD - Volkswagen is named manufacture of the year for its commercial side.

• Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles claims top Van Fleet World Honours award
• Brand is named Manufacturer of the Year in 2017 awards
• New services and initiatives aimed at fleets are key to success
• Crafter wins first UK awards: named ‘Best New Van’ and ‘Best Large Van’

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles has taken home the triple crown from the 2017 Van Fleet World Honours, with the brand winning the ‘Manufacturer of the Year’ award and the new Crafter claiming the ‘Best New Van’ and ‘Best Large Van’ accolades.

Van Fleet World judges commended Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles’ work over the past 12 months, with a number of initiatives piloted by the brand now being adopted by the Van Centre network.

Commenting on the win, Dan Gilkes, editor of Van Fleet World, said: “Volkswagen has worked hard over a number of years to develop an outstanding Van Centre network that delivers a dedicated service to fleet and retail customers across the UK. However in the last 12 months the brand has piloted a number of initiatives that are now being adopted by the network, all aimed at improving service for fleet customers. It seems to be working too. 

Volkswagen is number two in the UK light commercial vehicle market with sales having doubled since 2009. More importantly, the company recorded record levels of customer satisfaction in 2016, making it a worthy winner of our Van Manufacturer of the Year Award.”

Initiatives introduced include head of business development support at every Van Centre, with Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles ensuring the needs of trade customers are being fully met through business experts employed at each location. An extended hours offer is also being rolled out across all Van Centres, along with Mobile Service Clinics.

The new Crafter also picked up two key awards – its first in the UK after being named International Van of the Year in September 2016. In awarding the Crafter its Best New Van and Best Large Van accolades, the Van Fleet World judges said: “It’s not often that a van manufacturer has the chance to create a new vehicle, not just from a clean sheet of paper, but with a completely new factory dedicated to its production. Volkswagen has grabbed the opportunity with both hands, to meet the needs of large van users in every sector.”

Praising its wide range of drivetrains, bodies, engines and driver assistance systems, Gilkes concluded: “Volkswagen had one chance to get new Crafter right and it seems to have hit the spot first time.”

Chris Black, head of fleet at Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, collected the awards on behalf of the brand at the ceremony in London.  He said:  “We’re overjoyed to be named Manufacturer of the Year and for all of the brand’s hard work to be recognised. It’s also great for the all-new Crafter to have its first two UK awards, reinforcing the strength of the brand and quality of our products.”

Volkswagen celebrates it's commercial vehicle devision topping 50,000 registrations in the year.

• Record UK registrations for the Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles brand
• Over 50,000* vehicles registered by the brand for the first time
• Market share up to over 12 per cent; brand retains number two position
• Substantial increase in Transporter and Caddy volumes

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles produced a fifth consecutive new UK sales record in 2016, registering over 45,000 new vans. 

The latest generation Transporter and Caddy model ranges saw significant sales increases, while the brand’s passenger carriers and campervan registrations took Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles’ total 2016 registrations to 50,068*, up nearly five per cent on 2015 (47,739). 

This result means the brand has more than doubled its volume since 2009.

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles also not only maintained but strengthened its number two position in the light commercial vehicles sector, recording a market share of 12.1 per cent.

The multi-award winning Transporter accounted for 22,872 registrations, up over 11 per cent on 2015 (50,533). 8,156 Caddys were registered, down 757 compared to 2016, though Caddy Maxi sales were up over 35 per cent to 6,377, giving total Caddy registrations of 14,533.

Both the Amarok and Crafter models saw small declines in sales as the brand prepares to relaunch the refreshed pick-up and all-new Crafter this year. (3,586 Amarok down from 3,908 in 2015; 7,137 Crafter down from 8,009 in 2015.)

Commenting on the brand’s performance, Director of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, Carl zu Dohna, said: ‘2016 was a really successful year for the brand, with the Transporter and Caddy consolidating their positions in the market after being launched in September 2015. I’m really proud of my team and the Van Centre network for achieving this result.’

He added: ‘I’m delighted that customers are getting to know our latest products and appreciating not only their inherent strengths, but also the after sales support and complete mobility packages which we have put around them. The support we give to our customers to help them choose the right vans and minimise in-life downtime, as well as adding value to our range of products remains extremely important to us.’

*SMMT data. Includes passenger carrying models registered as ‘cars’:

• Passenger carriers include: Caravelle, Transporter Shuttle, Caddy Life, Caddy Maxi Life and Caddy Maxi Camper.
• Transporter registrations include California.
• Registrations include LCV/HCV market up to 6.0T.

WHAT VAN ? - The VW Caddy & Amarok are highly recommended & the website wins too !

• Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles extends winning streak at What Van? Awards
• www.volkswagen-vans.co.uk claims Website of the Year Award 2017
• Volkswagen Caddy and Amarok ‘highly commended’ by What Van? judges

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles has finished a very successful 2016 with more awards, this time courtesy of What Van?. The brand’s fully-responsive website claimed the ‘Website of the Year’ Award and both the Volkswagen Caddy and Amarok were highly commended.

The website – www.volkswagen-vans.co.uk – includes comprehensive overviews of the complete range of vehicles offered by the brand, along with links to downloadable brochures and price lists. 

The easy-to-navigate site also offers customers the ability to book vehicle services online and gives full details of offers and finance options available.

Customers can also find information regarding the brand’s conversion programme and available accessories for each model.

The brand’s website has received a number of updates during 2016, including the launch of a new online configurator and the introduction of a revised used vehicle section.

The online configurator offers new vehicle customers the opportunity to define the specification of their new vehicle from the comfort of their own office without the need for a pile of brochures or multiple website pages open. 

The simple step-by-step feature helps the customer choose the right vehicle, specification and options using useful images and descriptions. 

Once completed, the system generates a unique code that can be saved, shared with friends or colleagues via email and social media or taken into a Van Centre for the sales team to make the purchase process more streamlined.

The new used vehicle website allows customers to search quickly and easily from around 2,000 vehicles online from across the entire network. 

Once the perfect vehicle is found, customers can access the contact details for the Van Centre that is selling it, or, new for 2016, ‘Reserve Online’ by making a deposit via PayPal or ‘Make an Offer’ – a simple to use contact facility to start a negotiation. 

James Dallas, editor of What Van? commented: “Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles was a clear winner of the ‘Website of the Year’ Award for 2017. 

The brand’s site is easy to use and offers a strong all-round package that competently covers a wide range of products and services.”

The What Van? Awards judges also highly commended the Caddy in the Small Van category and the Amarok in the Pick-up Category. Dallas added: “The Caddy features a commendably high level of safety features, rock solid build quality and first rate on-the-road performance, which impressed the judges. 

The Amarok offers blistering performance on road for a pick-up and is highly capable when venturing off the tarmac too.”

The New Amarok from Volkswagen comes with a refreshed interior and better tech.

• New Amarok available to order now; first UK customer deliveries due January
• Prices at launch start from £32,493 (RRP OTR) for Trendline with 204 PS
• New 3.0-litre V6 TDI replaces 2.0-litre engine, with up to 224 PS and 550 Nm
• Refreshed exterior and all-new touchscreen infotainment system

Volkswagen Van Centres across the UK have started taking orders for the new Amarok model, with first customer deliveries expected in January 2017.

Replacing the previous model’s 2.0-litre TDI engine, the new Amarok has at its heart a 3.0-litre V6 TDI engine, making it the only six-cylinder model in the segment. 

The top-of-the-range version of this 3.0-litre V6 delivers 224 PS and 550 Nm of torque channelled through its standard eight-speed automatic gearbox, giving a top speed of 119 mph and a 0 to 62 mph time of 8.0 seconds. 

An overboost function on the 224 PS takes the power up to 240 PS. Further iterations of this V6 TDI engine include a 204 PS version which is available to order at launch with an automatic gearbox, plus a manual 204 PS and a 163 PS manual to follow later in 2017.

Combining car-like comfort and technology with full off-road capability, UK customers can choose from selectable (with manual gearbox) and permanent (with auto) 4MOTION four-wheel drive. 

An optional mechanical rear-axle differential lock is also available for demanding off-road use.

From the outside the new Amarok distinguishes itself from the previous model through new front bumper and radiator grille design including front fog lights, new alloy wheels and a third brake light with LED technology.

Inside the cab the changes are more prominent with an all-new dash panel design which incorporates Volkswagen’s MIB infotainment system with touchscreen, radio and new technology including the option of navigation, Guide & Inform, Car-Net and App-Connect systems. Bluetooth and DAB digital radio are also now standard features.

A comprehensive list of safety equipment comes as standard on every new Amarok, including four airbags, Electronic Stabilisation Programme and Volkswagen’s award-winning Automatic Post-Collision Braking System. 

Additional highlights including Park Pilot and a rear-view camera also enhance comfort, convenience and safety.

UK specifications follow the previous model’s pattern and are familiar to buyers of Volkswagen’s other commercial vehicles. As such they range from Startline (later in 2017), through Trendline to Highline. 

Special editions will also be offered during the model’s life, for example the range-topping Aventura, 240 examples of which are available from launch.

The Aventura adds, on top of the Highline’s already generous equipment list which includes items such as bi-xenon headlights with integrated LED daytime running lights, a host of special features including 19-inch alloy wheels with 255/55 wide tyres and arch extensions. 

The bed of the Aventura’s cargo box also has a matt black Durabed coating. The interior is no less exclusive with ‘Discover Media’ navigation system and mobile online services. 

The Aventura also comes with ParkPilot automatic parking system, featuring front and rear parking sensors and a reversing camera. This model is available in exclusive Ravenna Blue metallic paint finish.

At launch, prices for the new model start at £32,493 (RRP OTR) for the Trendline with 204 PS. The limited edition Aventura launch model costs £39,381 (RRP OTR).

New Amarok (prices and specification shown for models available at launch)

Model	Engine	Basic RRP exc. VAT	Total RRP inc. VAT	Total RRP inc. OTR exc. VAT	Total RRP inc. OTR inc. VAT
Trendline	3.0 V6 TDI 204 PS 8spd auto 4MOTION	£26,255.00	£31,506.00	£27,125.00	£32,493.00
Highline	3.0 V6 TDI 204 PS 8spd auto 4MOTION	£29,995.00	£35,994.00	£30,865.00	£36,981.00
Highline	3.0 V6 TDI 224 PS 8spd auto 4MOTION	£30,495.00	£36,594.00	£31,365.00	£37,581.00
Aventura	3.0 V6 TDI 224 PS 8spd auto 4MOTION	£31,995.00	£38,394.00	£32,865.00	£39,381.00

Volkswagen works it's way through September with offers on the revamped Amarok Pick Up truck.

• New finance offers available on great value Amarok pick-up
• 0% APR available on Solutions Personal Contract Plan for £299* per month
• Highline models come with free satellite navigation system
• Attractive finance lease and contract hire packages also available  

Customers wanting to pop a 66-plate on the perfect pick-up need look no further this month than the award-winning Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles’ Amarok. 

Not only do all Highline models registered from now until the end of September come with a factory-fit RNS 315 satellite navigation system** as well as a choice of two chrome packs, but there are also a number of competitive finance offers, including zero per cent finance on Solutions Personal Contract Plans.

This latest offer, available from now until the end of September, means customers can acquire a top-of-the-range Amarok Highline 2.0-litre Bi-TDI 180 PS with satellite navigation system on Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles’ Solutions Personal Contract Plan (PCP) for £299 per month (0% APR representative), based on a 36 month 10,000 miles per annum agreement*.

Available to private buyers, the Solutions PCP provides a flexible and affordable route for individuals to purchase their new vehicle. An agreed future value of the vehicle, flexible annual mileage limits and variable deposit amounts enables customers to reduce monthly repayments.

Extra spec is also standard this month on the Highline: an RNS 315 satellite navigation system is neatly integrated in the Amarok’s dashboard, while two chrome pack options make the pick-up stand out from the crowd. One includes chrome door handle covers, chrome side indicator surrounds and mirror caps plus a polished steel rear styling bar. The second removes the rear styling bar to allow the fitment of a hardtop from the Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles range. With this option, the customer is given a £500 contribution towards a hardtop of their choice.

Businesses interested in the Amarok can take advantage of a number of finance lease deals, for example an Amarok Trendline from £239 per month.

The Amarok boasts car-like driveability and comfort in combination with robust off-road capability. Currently available with a choice of two 2.0-litre engines with 140 PS or a bi-turbo version with 180 PS, all models also have 4MOTION four-wheel drive. Three standard specification levels are offered – Startline, Trendline and Highline (subject to availability).

For more details of the latest offers on the Amarok, please contact your local Volkswagen Van Centre or go to www.volkswagen-vans.co.uk.

*Solutions Personal Contract Plan Amarok Highline 2.0-litre TDI BiTDI 180 PS

4MOTION AUTO BMT representative example

Model	Highline 2.0TDI BiTDI 180PS 4MOTION AUTO BMT
Duration	36 months
35 monthly payments of	£299.00
Recommended on-the-road price	£33,459.00
Customer deposit	£7,880.05
Optional final payment	£15,113.95
Amount of credit	£25,578.95
Total amount payable	£33,459.00
Total amount payable by customer	£33,459.00
Rate of Interest	0% fixed
Representative APR	0%
Excess mileage (inc VAT)	7.2ppm

**Subject to availability