Volkswagen Transporter Sportline – the most black+red seen on a van since The A-Team

Know about The A-Team?  The action TV series that aired in the 1980s, and a more recent movie, featuring a black and red panel van?

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles will be adding a Sportline trim to its best-selling Transporter range of panel van and crew bus models, as seen here in black and red.  The VW will not have The A-Team van’s diagonal red stripe across the rear roof spoiler, though the interior is the sportiest – in black and red – seen on a production van.

The European kombi is equivalent to the Transporter Crew Bus for the South African market, whereas our Kombi is their Multivan.

Sportline van

Initially available on the Volkswagen Transporter T32 kombi (i.e. crew bus) the Sportline grade will be offered in Transporter panel van from early next year.

Based on the already generous specification of the Highline, the new Sportline combines sporty design features and additional equipment designed to give driver and passengers a sporty-looking van:  the Sportline rides on 18-inch bi-colour alloy wheels, lowered suspension, and deeper front and rear spoilers (aerodynamic sports body kit) for a more dynamic look.  The exterior design package also includes trapezoid styling bars with puddle lights and carbon-fibre mirror caps.

Inside, the Sportline delivers a first-class experience thanks to embossed leather interior trim in red and black, with patterned stitching (see image).  Sportline badging and unique Sportline floormats complete the interior look.

The first Transporter available with Sportline trim will be the T32 2.0 BiTDI 180 kombi model (not available in South Africa) equipped with the brand’s acclaimed 7-speed DSG gearbox, whereafter it will expand the Sportline range further with panel van and additional wheelbase and transmission options.

Introduction to SA is unlikely.  A VW Transporter panel van Sport, with some extra spec like colour-coded bumpers and alloy wheels, is already available in SA.