Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles has revealed pricing and specifications for the new T7 Multivan, which will replace the existing Caravelle, Sharan and Touran people carriers.

Pricing for the Volkswagen Multivan will start from £43,160, with order books for the new model open ingin January 2022 and deliveries starting at the end of March.

It will be sold alongside the current T6 Transporter, offered as a passenger car only, but doesn’t use commercial vehicle underpinnings. Instead, the Multivan uses an extended version of VW’s MQB platform – that’s the one used by the Tiguan.

The technology-laden new model welcomes a similar digital cockpit layout to the Golf and Caddy, making use of the latest VW operating system and a pair of screens.

A plug-in hybrid (eHybrid) engine leads the line-up, combining a 1.4 TSI 150 PS engine with an 85kW electric motor to produce a combined power output of 160kW / 218 PS.

The 13kWh lithium-ion battery is housed under the Multivan’s flat floor, saving interior space, and lowering the vehicle’s centre of gravity to improve handling. The charging point is located on the right-hand side of the front wing.

From launch, the front-wheel drive Multivan is also available with two four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engines: a 1.5 TSI 136 PS and a 2.0 TSI 204 PS. Both are twinned with a seven-speed DSG gearbox as standard, while a diesel will join next year.

The exterior blends VW’s new styling direction, from the ID range and Golf, with a nod to the past by utilising a two-tone paint finish and curved body lines.

Inside, there’s seating for seven. VW says the seats are now 25% lighter, making it easier to remove them. The interior layout can be reconfigured with sliding and rotating seats, plus a multi-position table.

A full suite of safety systems from VW's car range will be available, along with connected infotainement services.

The Multivan measures 1,941mm wide, 4,973mm long, up to 1,903mm high, and with a wheelbase of 3,124mm. A longer version, measuring 5,173mm is also available. Overall, it means the new generation has a longer wheelbase and wider, lower profile, all designed to improve aerodynamics, lower fuel consumption and increase range.

In base version, the Multivan offers 469 litres of luggage space behind the third row of seats, extending to 1,844 litres (1,850 litres with panoramic glass roof) behind the second row. The full cargo capacity up to the front seats is 3,672, extending to a maximum 4,053 litres in the longer version fitted with the panoramic glass roof.

Prices range from £43,160 for the 1.5 TSI 136 PS Life model to £60,865 for the 1.4 TSI eHybrid 218 PS Energetic model with long wheelbase.

On the entry-level Life model, specification includes 16” alloys, seven seats, two sliding doors with power latching, a digital cockpit plus 10” infotainment system and front assist and lane assist among many other standard items.

Style models, which start at £58,130 for the SWB 2.0 TSI 204 PS model, offers LED matrix headlights, the Discover Media navigation system, park assist, electric sliding doors and tailgate with easy open feature, and 17” alloys.

The special launch edition - Energetic - starts from £59,515 and is available only with the 1.4 TSI eHybrid 218 PS powertrain. Additions include a Harmon Kardon sound system, privacy glass, 18” alloys, and panoramic glass roof.