Volkswagen Eurovan
Encyclopedia
The Volkswagen Transporter T4 (marketed in North America as the Volkswagen Eurovan) is a van produced by German automaker Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles
between 1990 and 2003, succeeding the Volkswagen Type 2 (T3)
and superseded by the Transporter T5
.
had toyed in the late 1970s with the idea of replacing their air-cooled, rear-engined Type 2
vans with a front-engined, water-cooled design. The reasons for deciding in 1980 to instead introduce a new rear-engined Type 2 (T3)/Vanagon
are unclear. Thus, the introduction of a front-engined layout was delayed until the arrival of the T4.
Although its predecessors are also referred to casually as Transporters, the T4 is the first Volkswagen van to officially use the 'Transporter' title.
After a production run of nearly 14 years, T4 production ceased in 2003, making it second only to the T1 for length of production in its home market.
(a VW-produced campervan) and the Doka — either a single or double cab with a pick-up style platform behind it — Doka deriving from German: Doppelkabine.
They were two standard wheelbase
s available; "short" (2920 mm (115 in)) and "long" (3320 mm (130.7 in)) and a variety of different roof heights, including a pop-top roof for campers.
into the T4's engine bay. Initially, only Caravelles and Multivans were available with the longer nose, since these were the only models available with the VR6 engine. The commercial variants continued to be produced with the shorter nose until 1999. However, campers and other specialist vehicles produced between 1994 and 1999 may have either the short or the long nose, depending on which model was used as the base vehicle. In keeping with the Type 2's
naming convention, the short and long-nose versions are also informally known as T4a and T4b, respectively.
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Turbocharged Direct Injection
-Werke.
In May 2010, the German enthusiasts of the T4 held a celebration of the 20th anniversary of the production of the first T4. Several hundred T4s took part with vans from far afield as Russia, France, Spain, central Europe and the Nordic countries.
The Eurovan Camper by Winnebago was introduced in the USA in 1995 with the five-cylinder engine, and was upgraded to the VR6 for the 1997-2003 models. These were only available on the longer 3320 mm (130.7 in) wheelbase T4. These small pop top camper vans are unique in the USA and have developed a cult following.
Winnebago also built three small Class C motorhomes with the forward cab of the T4/Eurovan called the Rialta, Vista, and Sunstar(Itasca branded). The Rialta was available in 1995-1996 with the five-cylinder engine, in 1997-2001 with the AES version of the VR6, and in 2002-2005 with the AXK engine. The Vista and Sunstar were only produced in 2002-2004, all using the AXK engine.
In the U.S., the models were:
Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles
Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles , , is a German manufacturer of commercial vehicles. Originally part of the Volkswagen Passenger Cars company, it is now a separate brand and marque of the Volkswagen Group....
between 1990 and 2003, succeeding the Volkswagen Type 2 (T3)
Volkswagen Type 2 (T3)
The Volkswagen Type 2 was the third generation of the Volkswagen Transporter and was marketed under various nameplates worldwide – including as the Transporter or Caravelle in Europe, Microbus in South Africa and as the Vanagon in North and South America.Larger and heavier than its...
and superseded by the Transporter T5
Volkswagen Transporter (T5)
The Volkswagen Transporter T5 range is the fifth generation of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles medium-sized light commercial vehicle and people mover Caravelle/Multivan range...
.
History
Introduced in 1990, the T4 was the first in line of Volkswagen Transporters to have a front-mounted, water-cooled engine. Prompted by the success of similar moves with their passenger cars, VolkswagenVolkswagen
Volkswagen is a German automobile manufacturer and is the original and biggest-selling marque of the Volkswagen Group, which now also owns the Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, SEAT, and Škoda marques and the truck manufacturer Scania.Volkswagen means "people's car" in German, where it is...
had toyed in the late 1970s with the idea of replacing their air-cooled, rear-engined Type 2
Volkswagen Type 2
The Volkswagen Type 2, officially known as the Transporter or Kombi informally as Bus or Camper , was a panel van introduced in 1950 by German automaker Volkswagen as its second car model – following and initially deriving from Volkswagen's first model, the Type 1 , it was given the factory...
vans with a front-engined, water-cooled design. The reasons for deciding in 1980 to instead introduce a new rear-engined Type 2 (T3)/Vanagon
Volkswagen Type 2 (T3)
The Volkswagen Type 2 was the third generation of the Volkswagen Transporter and was marketed under various nameplates worldwide – including as the Transporter or Caravelle in Europe, Microbus in South Africa and as the Vanagon in North and South America.Larger and heavier than its...
are unclear. Thus, the introduction of a front-engined layout was delayed until the arrival of the T4.
Although its predecessors are also referred to casually as Transporters, the T4 is the first Volkswagen van to officially use the 'Transporter' title.
After a production run of nearly 14 years, T4 production ceased in 2003, making it second only to the T1 for length of production in its home market.
Body types
The T4 was produced in five basic body types: Panel Van (without any windows behind the b-pillar), Kombi Van or Half-Panel (with windows between the b and c-pillars), Caravelle/Multivan (with windows all round), WestfaliaWestfalia
Westfalia is the designation of various specially converted Volkswagen camper vans. It is named after Westfalia-Werke, the contractor that built the vans, which is headquartered in the town of Rheda-Wiedenbrück located in the Westphalia region of Germany....
(a VW-produced campervan) and the Doka — either a single or double cab with a pick-up style platform behind it — Doka deriving from German: Doppelkabine.
They were two standard wheelbase
Wheelbase
In both road and rail vehicles, the wheelbase is the distance between the centers of the front and rear wheels.- Road :In automobiles, the wheelbase is the horizontal distance between the center of the front wheel and the center of the rear wheel...
s available; "short" (2920 mm (115 in)) and "long" (3320 mm (130.7 in)) and a variety of different roof heights, including a pop-top roof for campers.
Long and short-nose
There was one major facelift to the T4, in 1994, when a re-shaped, longer front end was introduced. This was needed to fit the six-cylinder VR6 engineVR6 engine
The VR6 engine is an internal combustion engine configuration, consisting of six cylinders. It was developed by the Volkswagen Group in the late 1980s, and evolutions of the original variant are still produced by them....
into the T4's engine bay. Initially, only Caravelles and Multivans were available with the longer nose, since these were the only models available with the VR6 engine. The commercial variants continued to be produced with the shorter nose until 1999. However, campers and other specialist vehicles produced between 1994 and 1999 may have either the short or the long nose, depending on which model was used as the base vehicle. In keeping with the Type 2's
Volkswagen Type 2
The Volkswagen Type 2, officially known as the Transporter or Kombi informally as Bus or Camper , was a panel van introduced in 1950 by German automaker Volkswagen as its second car model – following and initially deriving from Volkswagen's first model, the Type 1 , it was given the factory...
naming convention, the short and long-nose versions are also informally known as T4a and T4b, respectively.
Engines
Petrol engines
| Model | Engine ID code | Engine configuration Engine configuration Engine configuration is an engineering term for the layout of the major components of a reciprocating piston internal combustion engine. These components are the cylinders and crankshafts in particular but also, sometimes, the camshaft.... | Engine displacement Engine displacement Engine displacement is the volume swept by all the pistons inside the cylinders of an internal combustion engine in a single movement from top dead centre to bottom dead centre . It is commonly specified in cubic centimeters , litres , or cubic inches... | DIN Din DIN or Din or din can have several meanings:* A din is a loud noise.* Dīn, an Arabic term meaning "religion" or "way of life".* Din is one of the ten aspects of the Ein Sof in Kabbalah .... rated motive power Motive power In thermodynamics, motive power is an agency, as water or steam, used to impart motion. Generally, motive power is defined as a natural agent, as water, steam, wind, electricity, etc., used to impart motion to machinery; a motor; a mover. The term may also define something, as a locomotive or a... @ rpm Revolutions per minute Revolutions per minute is a measure of the frequency of a rotation. It annotates the number of full rotations completed in one minute around a fixed axis... | Torque Torque Torque, moment or moment of force , is the tendency of a force to rotate an object about an axis, fulcrum, or pivot. Just as a force is a push or a pull, a torque can be thought of as a twist.... @ rpm Revolutions per minute Revolutions per minute is a measure of the frequency of a rotation. It annotates the number of full rotations completed in one minute around a fixed axis... | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.8 | PD | inline-4 SOHC 8v | 1781 cc | 67 PS @ 4,000 | 140 N·m (103 ft·lbf) @ 2,200 | 1990–1992 |
| 2.0 | AAC | inline-4 SOHC 8v | 1968 cc | 84 PS @ 4,300 | 159 N·m (117 ft·lbf) @ 2,200 | 1990–2003 |
| 2.5 | AAF; ACU | inline-5 SOHC 10v | 2461 cc | 110 PS @ 4,500 | 190 N·m (140 ft·lbf) @ 2,200 | 1990–1997 |
| 2.5 | AET; APL; AVT | inline-5 SOHC 10v | 2461 cc | 115 PS @ 4,500 | 200 N·m (148 ft·lbf) @ 2,200 | 1997–2003 |
| 2.8 VR6 | AES | VR6 VR6 engine The VR6 engine is an internal combustion engine configuration, consisting of six cylinders. It was developed by the Volkswagen Group in the late 1980s, and evolutions of the original variant are still produced by them.... DOHC 12v |
2792 cc | 140 PS @ 4,500 | 240 N·m (177 ft·lbf) @ 3,000 | 1996–2000 |
| 2.8 V6 | AMV, AXK | VR6 DOHC 24v Multi-valve In automotive engineering a multi-valve or multivalve engine is one where each cylinder has more than two valves. A multi-valve engine has better breathing and can operate at higher revolutions per minute than a two-valve engine, delivering more power.- Multi-valve rationale :A multi-valve design... |
2792 cc | 204 PS @ 6,200 | 245 N·m (181 ft·lbf) @ 2,500 | 2000–2003 |
Diesel engines
Indirect injectionIndirect injection
In an internal combustion engine, the term indirect injection refers to a fuel injection where fuel is not directly injected into the combustion chamber...
| Model | Engine ID code | Engine configuration Engine configuration Engine configuration is an engineering term for the layout of the major components of a reciprocating piston internal combustion engine. These components are the cylinders and crankshafts in particular but also, sometimes, the camshaft.... | Engine displacement Engine displacement Engine displacement is the volume swept by all the pistons inside the cylinders of an internal combustion engine in a single movement from top dead centre to bottom dead centre . It is commonly specified in cubic centimeters , litres , or cubic inches... | DIN Din DIN or Din or din can have several meanings:* A din is a loud noise.* Dīn, an Arabic term meaning "religion" or "way of life".* Din is one of the ten aspects of the Ein Sof in Kabbalah .... rated motive power Motive power In thermodynamics, motive power is an agency, as water or steam, used to impart motion. Generally, motive power is defined as a natural agent, as water, steam, wind, electricity, etc., used to impart motion to machinery; a motor; a mover. The term may also define something, as a locomotive or a... @ rpm Revolutions per minute Revolutions per minute is a measure of the frequency of a rotation. It annotates the number of full rotations completed in one minute around a fixed axis... | Torque Torque Torque, moment or moment of force , is the tendency of a force to rotate an object about an axis, fulcrum, or pivot. Just as a force is a push or a pull, a torque can be thought of as a twist.... @ rpm Revolutions per minute Revolutions per minute is a measure of the frequency of a rotation. It annotates the number of full rotations completed in one minute around a fixed axis... | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.9 D | 1X | inline-4 SOHC 8v | 1896 cc | 61 PS @ 3,700 | 127 N·m (94 ft·lbf) @ 1,700 | 1990–1995 |
| 1.9 TD Turbodiesel Turbodiesel refers to any diesel engine with a turbocharger. Turbocharging is the norm rather than the exception in modern car and truck diesel engines... |
ABL | inline 4 SOHC 8v | 1896 cc | 68 PS @ 3,700 | 140 N·m (103 ft·lbf) @ 2,000 | 1993–2003 |
| 2.4 D | AJA | inline-5 SOHC 10v | 2370 cc | 75 PS @ 3,700 | 160 N·m (118 ft·lbf) @ 1,900 | 1997–2003 |
| 2.4 D | AAB | inline-5 SOHC 10v | 2370 cc | 78 PS @ 3,700 | 164 N·m (121 ft·lbf) @ 1,800 | 1990–1998 |
Turbocharged Direct Injection
Turbocharged Direct Injection
TDI or Turbocharged Direct Injection is a design of turbodiesel engines, which feature turbocharging and cylinder-direct fuel injection, developed and produced by Volkswagen Group. These TDI engines are widely used in all mainstream Volkswagen Group marques of passenger cars and light commercial...
| Model | Engine ID code | Engine configuration Engine configuration Engine configuration is an engineering term for the layout of the major components of a reciprocating piston internal combustion engine. These components are the cylinders and crankshafts in particular but also, sometimes, the camshaft.... | Engine displacement Engine displacement Engine displacement is the volume swept by all the pistons inside the cylinders of an internal combustion engine in a single movement from top dead centre to bottom dead centre . It is commonly specified in cubic centimeters , litres , or cubic inches... | DIN Din DIN or Din or din can have several meanings:* A din is a loud noise.* Dīn, an Arabic term meaning "religion" or "way of life".* Din is one of the ten aspects of the Ein Sof in Kabbalah .... rated motive power Motive power In thermodynamics, motive power is an agency, as water or steam, used to impart motion. Generally, motive power is defined as a natural agent, as water, steam, wind, electricity, etc., used to impart motion to machinery; a motor; a mover. The term may also define something, as a locomotive or a... @ rpm Revolutions per minute Revolutions per minute is a measure of the frequency of a rotation. It annotates the number of full rotations completed in one minute around a fixed axis... | Torque Torque Torque, moment or moment of force , is the tendency of a force to rotate an object about an axis, fulcrum, or pivot. Just as a force is a push or a pull, a torque can be thought of as a twist.... @ rpm Revolutions per minute Revolutions per minute is a measure of the frequency of a rotation. It annotates the number of full rotations completed in one minute around a fixed axis... | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5 TDI | AJT; AYY | inline-5 SOHC 10v | 2461 cc | 88 PS @ 4,500 | 195 N·m (144 ft·lbf) @ 2,000 | 1998–2003 |
| 2.5 TDI | ACV; AUF; AYC; AXL | inline-5 SOHC 10v | 2461 cc | 102 PS @ 3,500 | 250 N·m (184 ft·lbf) @ 1,900 | 1995–2003 |
| 2.5 TDI | AHY; AXG | inline-5 SOHC 10v | 2461 cc | 151 PS @ 4,000 | 295 N·m (218 ft·lbf) @ 1,900 | 1998–2003 |
Campervans
The T4 is a very popular base for building a small to medium-sized camper and day-vans, both as self-build projects and for professional conversions. Volkswagen themselves also sold campervan versions of the T4, made by and named after their contractor, WestfaliaWestfalia
Westfalia is the designation of various specially converted Volkswagen camper vans. It is named after Westfalia-Werke, the contractor that built the vans, which is headquartered in the town of Rheda-Wiedenbrück located in the Westphalia region of Germany....
-Werke.
Enthusiasts' groups
Due largely to its versatility, as well as popularity as a campervan, the Volkswagen Transporter (including the T4) has an extensive following amongst enthusiasts. Meetings are held regularly throughout the year in countries across Europe and there are several Internet forums dedicated to T4 owners and enthusiasts.In May 2010, the German enthusiasts of the T4 held a celebration of the 20th anniversary of the production of the first T4. Several hundred T4s took part with vans from far afield as Russia, France, Spain, central Europe and the Nordic countries.
T4 in the U.S (Eurovan)
The Transporter T4 was exported to North America from 1992 until 2003 under the moniker Eurovan. In the USA, the short wheelbase Eurovan 5-cylinder passenger models (CL, GL, GLS, and MV) were only sold for model year 1993. Smaller than a standard American delivery van, but larger than an American or Japanese passenger minivan, Volkswagen played up its size with the slogan, "EuroVan: There's nothing mini about it". VW only imported them to the USA for one year because sales in the USA were disappointing, but sales continued in Canada and Mexico. VW reintroduced the Eurovan passenger models in the USA for model year 1999 with a VR6 engine as standard, and discontinued it again with worldwide T4s after 2003.The Eurovan Camper by Winnebago was introduced in the USA in 1995 with the five-cylinder engine, and was upgraded to the VR6 for the 1997-2003 models. These were only available on the longer 3320 mm (130.7 in) wheelbase T4. These small pop top camper vans are unique in the USA and have developed a cult following.
Winnebago also built three small Class C motorhomes with the forward cab of the T4/Eurovan called the Rialta, Vista, and Sunstar(Itasca branded). The Rialta was available in 1995-1996 with the five-cylinder engine, in 1997-2001 with the AES version of the VR6, and in 2002-2005 with the AXK engine. The Vista and Sunstar were only produced in 2002-2004, all using the AXK engine.
In the U.S., the models were:
- the seven-seat Eurovan CL,GL, and GLS
- the Eurovan MV, in which the second row of seats face the rear and are removable, the third row converts into a bed, a folding table in the passenger area, window curtains, and a fluorescent lamp above table.
- the Eurovan MV Weekender, an MV plus a WestfaliaWestfaliaWestfalia is the designation of various specially converted Volkswagen camper vans. It is named after Westfalia-Werke, the contractor that built the vans, which is headquartered in the town of Rheda-Wiedenbrück located in the Westphalia region of Germany....
conversion that adds a pop-top roof, a second overhead bed, bug screens for side windows and rear hatch, utility battery, and standard refrigerator. - the Eurovan Camper, which is the long wheelbase commercial van converted by Winnebago IndustriesWinnebago IndustriesWinnebago Industries Inc., , is a manufacturer of motor homes, a type of recreational vehicle or RV, in the United States. It is based in Forest City, Iowa.-Corporate history:...
to include a pop-top roof, two two-person beds, seating for four (plus optional single or two-person center seats), a one cubic foot refrigerator that runs on propane, DC, or AC, a propane furnace, a closet, cabinets, sink with cold water and a gray water tank, a two-burner propane stove, two two-person dinette tables, coach battery, house lighting, and the two front bucket seats made to swivel around to face the dinette/kitchen area. The 2000 EVC is 17 feet long (5,189 mm.)
See also
- Volkswagen TransporterVolkswagen TransporterThe Volkswagen Transporter, based on the Volkswagen Group's T platform, now in its fifth generation, refers to a series of vans produced over 60 years and marketed worldwide....
- for an overview of the Transporter generations