2023 VW Crafter
No, the plant in Wrzesnia (Poland) did not produce up to 100,000 vehicles per year, as one had imagined in 2016. But by the end of last year there were at least 354,000.
After the separation from Mercedes, it was pretty much redeveloped. Now it has received a slight facelift. This refers to the cockpit rather than the face. You have to look very carefully yet.
In principle nothing happens electrotechnically. There's not even any mention of 48V technology, let alone hybridization or EV variants. One is proud of the new dashboard with a free-standing center display of up to 12.9
inches.
The Crafter can enjoy the new Modular Infotainment Baukasten, recently presented for the first time in the long ID.Buzz. Two new, permanently visible touch bars should be directly available at all
times. The most important vehicle functions can be selected using a new car control button.
So it's about untangling the handling. To assess their importance, the buttons (tiles) also have different sizes. The touch sliders for temperatures and audio volume are now illuminated, as promised. The steering wheel
was allowed to keep its buttons.
The floor has become very free for a possible corridor to the rear or swivel seats. The handbrake is now electric and has disappeared there. A possible gear stick remained, but was always very much integrated into the
dashboard.
If you choose the new eight-speed automatic transmission, you are getting closer and closer to the operation of electric cars. Then the location of the gear lever contains a compartment for drinks. The display behind the
steering wheel is also digital for the first time and as standard.
If the vehicle weighs over 3.5 tonnes, there is a warning system for pedestrians and cyclists, also effective directly in front of the vehicle. Active braking and steering are also standard equipment. Roadside maneuvering and
braking are extras.
