Volkswagen released some teaser sketches for its 2020 Caddy city van. Could it be the blueprint for the next Ford Transit Connect?
Volkswagen’s latest teaser sketches of its next-generation Caddy city van may be the next benefit that Ford Motor Co. derives from its partnership with the German automaker: The next-generation Transit Connect minivan.
The Caddy is derived from the Golf, and the new model, according to VW, will be offered as a cargo hauler as well as a people hauler — just like the Transit Connect is in the U.S., Autoblog notes. Also just like the Transit Connect, the Caddy has a larger sibling, the Transporter.
VW hasn’t revealed much more about the next-gen Caddy, which will debut in February. However, it’s safe to assume that the next version of the Transit Connect will be based off the Caddy, if the original press release announcing the link-up between VW and Ford is accurate.
(Ford debuts new Transit Connect cargo van)
“Ford and Volkswagen both have strong commercial van and pickup businesses around the globe, with popular nameplates such as the Ford Transit family and Ranger as well as the Volkswagen Transporter, Caddy and Amarok,” the release states.
The next-gen VW Caddy gets a sporty look in these teaser sketches.
The two companies expect demand for medium pickups and commercial vans is expected to grow globally in the next five years. By working together, the two makers will cut costs and improve efficiency while “maintaining distinct brand characteristics.” Next is the important part in this prediction by Autoblog.
“Through the alliance, Ford will engineer and build medium-sized pickups for both companies which are expected to go to market as early as 2022. For both parties, Ford intends to engineer and build larger commercial vans for European customers, and Volkswagen intends to develop and build a city van.”
(Ford updates Transit Connect min, er, small van)
Assuming that’s true, let’s hope that the Caddy retains at least some of the aggressive styling it has in the sketches and that those trickle down to the next version of the Transit Connect. The van gets a sporty look with bigger wheel arches, large air vents and red tow hook so often found on race cars jutting out of the front bumper.
The Ford Transit Connect Wagon gets an optional 1.5-liter diesel engine.
“It can be assumed that in future more customers involved in sport and active leisure pursuits will consider the new Caddy an interesting, practical alternative,” the company said in the release accompanying the sketches.
However, it been suggested by several media reports that the Caddy will likely be toned down a bit, with the front end drawing some design inspiration from the next-gen Golf. How that will be transferred to the Transit Connect remains to be seen.
(First Look: 2020 Volkswagen Golf)
The new Caddy is expected to ride on VW’s modular MQB platform, meaning more car-like ride and handling as well as the latest in infotainment technology. Additionally, using the MQB platform means it can be offered as a hybrid, which seems likely given Volkswagen’s concerted effort to be a leader in the electric vehicle movement. The rest of the powertrain options, including a European diesel, remain to be seen.