Start Living With The New Caravelle Startline From £299 A Month

MILTON KEYNES, UNITED KINGDOM: March 23, 2009: The good news for busy families who need a versatile and spacious seven-seater is that the ultimate MPV, the Volkswagen Caravelle, is now available from £23,950 (on the road), or £299 a month on Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles Finance Solutions (Personal Contract Plan), for the new Startline special edition. A new long wheelbase (LWB) model also joins the Caravelle range offering one of the biggest passenger and luggage compartments in the large MPV sector.

Prices for the new Startline special edition start at over £5,000 less than the existing entry-level SE models, with a specification that includes unique upholstery, air conditioning, twin sliding rear doors, rubber floor covering and 17-inch steel wheels, plus a folding table which neatly stores in the side sliding door. A choice of two economical, turbocharged diesel engines includes a four-cylinder 1.9-litre 102 PS TDI PD (£23,950 on the road), or a five-cylinder 2.5-litre 130 PS TDI PD model (£25,350 on the road).

A variety of option packs provide further value for money with convenient and affordable ways to upgrade the Startline specification. For example: the £600 ‘Startline pack 1’ includes 16-inch alloy wheels and rear privacy glass (saving £100); while ‘Startline pack 2’ offers body-coloured bumpers, front fog lights and front and rear parking sensors for £672 (worth £984). In addition, to make the Caravelle a camper, the ‘Sleep pack’ (£568) includes privacy blinds and an extension for the rear seat with a cover to protect the upholstery.

Like all Caravelles, the Startline special edition features two individual seats in the middle row which can rotate to face the rear to create a sociable lounge area, plus the third row of seats can fold back to make a flat bed area. Every passenger has the pleasure of plenty of legroom and headroom, plus the Caravelle’s unique floor rail system allows the second and third row of seats to be moved backwards or forwards to optimise passenger or luggage space.

The wheelbase of the new LWB model is 40 cm longer and increases the interior volume by over 15 per cent from 5.8 m³ to 6.7 m³, providing a generous luggage space for seven people.

It is designed for customers, particularly executive chauffeur or private hire businesses, who want to maximise passenger and luggage space. It is available in SE trim level with a choice of two 2.5-litre five-cylinder turbodiesel engines with 130 PS (£30,190 on the road), or 174 PS with a six-speed manual gearbox (£31,790 on the road) or with Tiptronic transmission (£33,385 on the road).

Both new models are available to order now, with first deliveries to Van Centres and customers expected in May.