Volkswagen Transporter (T4)

For the family of large-MPVs from Citroën, Peugeot, Fiat and Lancia, see Sevel Eurovan.

Volkswagen Transporter (T4)

Early 1990s Multivan Allstar
Manufacturer	initially: Volkswagen, later: Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles
Also called	Volkswagen Eurovan (North America) Volkswagen Caravelle
Production	1990–2003
Assembly	Hannover, Germany Poznań, Poland Jakarta, Indonesia (Garuda Mataram Motor)
Predecessor	Volkswagen Type 2 (T3)
Successor	Volkswagen Transporter (T5) Volkswagen Routan (United States & Canada)
Class	Light commercial vehicle
Body style	4-door van 5-door van 6-door van 2-door pickup platform 3-door pickup platform 4-door pickup platform campervan
Layout	Transverse front engine, front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive
Platform	Volkswagen Group T4
Transmission	4-speed automatic 5-speed manual
Wheelbase	Short-wheelbase (SWB) - 2,920 mm (115 in) Long-wheelbase (LWB) - 3,320 mm (131 in)

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by German automaker Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles between 1990 and 2003, succeeding the Volkswagen Type 2 (T3) and superseded by the Transporter T5.

History

Introduced in 1990, the T4 was the first in a line of Volkswagen Transporters to have a front-mounted, water-cooled engine. Prompted by the success of similar moves with their passenger cars, Volkswagen 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.

Variants

Body types

Volkswagen Transporter (T4; Australia)

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), Westfalia (a VW-produced campervan) and either a single or double cab (Doka - deriving from German: Doppelkabine) — with a pick-up style platform behind it.

They were two standard wheelbases available; "short" (2,920 mm/115 in) and "long" (3,320 mm/131 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 1996, when a re-shaped, longer front end was introduced. This was needed to fit the six-cylinder VR6 engine 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.

Engines

A 110 PS (81 kW; 110 hp) 2.5 litre inline five-cylinder petrol engine mounted in a 1995 European specification Volkswagen Caravelle T4

Petrol engines

Model	Engine ID code	Engine configuration	Engine displacement	DIN rated motive power @ rpm	Torque @ rpm	Years
1.8	PD	inline-4 SOHC 8v	1,781 cc (108.7 cu in)	67 PS (49 kW; 66 bhp) @ 4,000	140 N·m (103 ft·lbf) @ 2,200	1990–1992
2.0	AAC	inline-4 SOHC 8v	1,968 cc (120.1 cu in)	84 PS (62 kW; 83 bhp) @ 4,300	159 N·m (117 ft·lbf) @ 2,200	1990–2003
2.5	AAF; ACU	inline-5 SOHC 10v	2,461 cc (150.2 cu in)	110 PS (81 kW; 108 bhp) @ 4,500	190 N·m (140 ft·lbf) @ 2,200	1990–1997
2.5	AET; APL; AVT	inline-5 SOHC 10v	2,461 cc (150.2 cu in)	115 PS (85 kW; 113 bhp) @ 4,500	200 N·m (148 ft·lbf) @ 2,200	1997–2003
2.8 VR6	AES	VR6 DOHC 12v	2,792 cc (170.4 cu in)	140 PS (103 kW; 138 bhp) @ 4,500	240 N·m (177 ft·lbf) @ 3,000	1996–2000
2.8 V6	AMV, AXK	VR6 DOHC 24v	2,792 cc (170.4 cu in)	204 PS (150 kW; 201 bhp) @ 6,200	245 N·m (181 ft·lbf) @ 2,500	2000–2003

Diesel engines

Indirect injection

Model	Engine ID code	Engine configuration	Engine displacement	DIN rated motive power @ rpm	Torque @ rpm	Years
1.9 D	1X	inline-4 SOHC 8v	1,896 cc (115.7 cu in)	61 PS (45 kW; 60 bhp) @ 3,700	127 N·m (94 ft·lbf) @ 1,700	1990–1995
1.9 TD	ABL	inline 4 SOHC 8v	1,896 cc (115.7 cu in)	68 PS (50 kW; 67 bhp) @ 3,700	140 N·m (103 ft·lbf) @ 2,000	1993–2003
2.4 D	AJA	inline-5 SOHC 10v	2,370 cc (144.6 cu in)	75 PS (55 kW; 74 bhp) @ 3,700	160 N·m (118 ft·lbf) @ 1,900	1997–2003
2.4 D	AAB	inline-5 SOHC 10v	2,370 cc (144.6 cu in)	78 PS (57 kW; 77 bhp) @ 3,700	164 N·m (121 ft·lbf) @ 1,800	1990–1998

Turbocharged Direct Injection

Model	Engine ID code	Engine configuration	Engine displacement	DIN rated motive power @ rpm	Torque @ rpm	Years
2.5 TDI	AJT; AYY	inline-5 SOHC 10v	2,461 cc (150.2 cu in)	88 PS (65 kW; 87 bhp) @ 4,500	195 N·m (144 ft·lbf) @ 2,000	1998–2003
2.5 TDI	ACV; AUF; AYC; AXL	inline-5 SOHC 10v	2,461 cc (150.2 cu in)	102 PS (75 kW; 101 bhp) @ 3,500	250 N·m (184 ft·lbf) @ 1,900	1995–2003
2.5 TDI	AHY; AXG	inline-5 SOHC 10v	2,461 cc (150.2 cu in)	151 PS (111 kW; 149 bhp) @ 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, Westfalia-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)

Volkswagen Eurovan (US)

Volkswagen Eurovan VR6 Rialta

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 3,320 mm (131 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 Westfalia 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 Industries 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 Transporter - for an overview of the Transporter generations