New VW Caravelle: SA launch date confirmed

Volkswagen Group Africa has announced the official local launch date of the new Caravelle.

VW Caravelle front

Image: Volkswagen

At Volkswagen Group Africa’s 2026 Indaba, the German marque’s Commercial Vehicles arm announced the new Caravelle is en route to South Africa. The T7 generation employs a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrain comprising a 1.5-litre, four-cylinder turbopetrol engine and two permanently excited synchronous electric motors – the latter sited on the front and rear axles, respectively. The PHEV setup produces a combined system output of 180 kW and 350 N.m of torque, transferred to the road via all four corners.

The internal combustion engine (ICE) component of the PHEV arrangement is coupled with a six-speed dual-clutch gearbox, with a single-speed transmission delivering power to the rear axle, which is automatically engaged or decoupled depending on speed and the selected driving mode to optimise efficiency. VW claims the T7 Caravelle returns between 7.5 and 8.1 L/100 km. The new-energy family bus can travel at speeds of up to 130 km/h on electricity alone. The maximum speed is rated at 190 km/h.

The electric motors are fed by a 19.7 kWh lithium-ion battery, which allows for a claimed emissions-free operating range of up to 91 km when fully charged. While the Caravelle eHybrid 4Motion can be charged at home via 11 kW AC charging, the battery can receive up to 50 kW at a DC fast-charging station. VW says the battery can be charged from 10 to 80% in approximately 26 minutes at the latter facility.

New VW Caravelle SA launch date

Volkswagen Group Africa has confirmed the new Caravelle will launch in SA mid-2026. Pricing and specifications have yet to be announced.

In addition to announcing the T7 Caravelle for our market, the local arm of the Wolfsburg firm also announced the Polo GTI Edition 20 for our market in 2026 and that they are ‘confident’ the Mk8.5 Golf R will arrive on local shores.

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The post New VW Caravelle: SA launch date confirmed appeared first on CAR Magazine.


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