MAN has released the first pictures of its new panel van and confirmed spring time orders for the new van. The MAN TGE will be based on the Volkswagen Crafter, details of which were first made public two weeks ago, and built at Volkswagen’s brand new plant in Poland in time for summer deliveries.
Powered by a 2-litre TDI engine, the MAN TGE will have four power ratings with 101hp, 121hp, 138hp models from a single turbocharged unit, and 174hp from a bi-turbo engine. Like the Crafter, the TGE range will span 3- to 5.5-tonnes, but importantly for MAN it now means their portfolio spans 3 to 44 tonnes GVW.
Production will start in April 2017, with order books opening a month earlier.
Expect a staggered launch throughout Europe with deliveries beginning in the early Summer, and UK models arriving sometime in the autumn.
Front-, rear- and all-wheel-drive models will feature in the MAN TGE’s range, with two wheelbase lengths, three roof heights and three vehicle lengths of 5,983 mm, 6,833 mm and 7,388 mm.
Maximum payload for a 3.5-tonne van will be close to 1,500kg, with a load volume on the largest vans in excess of 18m3 thanks to vehicle heights of 2,340 mm, 2,575 mm, and 2,800 millimetres.
The TGE is the sister-van to the Volkswagen Crafter, which was revealed last week as a direct rival to the Ford Transit.
Like the TGE, a brand new front-wheel-drive version will be added to the range along with rear-wheel-drive versions and Volkswagen 4Motion all-wheel-drive variants. It will be launched with three vehicle lengths and three vehicle heights, with single and double chassis cabs, there will also be bodied dropside and tipper models direct from the factory, as well as Luton van and caged tipper vehicles through the newly introduced Converter Recognition programme.
The new model has been developed with the help of a number of large fleets, including TNT, the RAC and National Grid, with more than 900 customer group representatives from across Europe involved in the process. Â
Specific attention has been paid to the courier and logistics sectors, and the servicing and mobile workshop fleets which represent 44% of Crafter’s current sales. Leasing companies and existing and past customers have also been involved in the process, with customer group requirements leading to the introduction of specific features such as automatic transmissions, telematics or shelving and racking system preparations.
Orders will start in November 2016 with additional variants added throughout 2017
Volkswagen says the introduction of a front wheel drive (FWD) Crafter van, something not previously available on outgoing Mercedes-Benz-built Crafters, will allow them to approach new customers and improve upon the model’s current 7.4% market share.
FWD models will occupy a 3-tonne to 4-tonne GVW range, while rear-wheel-drive (RWD) vans will start at 3.5-tonnes and reach up to 5.5-tonnes. Towing capacity has increased by 500kg to 3.5 tonnes.
All-wheel-drive Crafter vans will be limited to just 3.5 to 4 tonne GVWs, with 138hp and 174hp the only two engine outputs available. FWD customers can specify the new 101hp engine output, 138hp or 174hp, while RWD buyers get the full range.
Orders for the FWD vans will start in November this year, with deliveries expected during Q1 of 2017. Additional models will then be added to the range throughout 2017 with the RWD and automatic versions available by the end of the year.
MAN's version of the van, the MAN TGE, will be released in mid 2017, with UK models expected to arrive in the autumn.
