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The Volkswagen Transporter series, also referred to as the Volkswagen Group T platform series, refers to several generations of motor vehicles from Volkswagen Group, starting with the original Volkswagen Type 2.

These vehicles are traditionally in the light commercial vehicle sector; and comprise vans, minivans, minibuses, pick-ups, campervans, and other derived vehicles, spanning over 60 years of production from 1950. Throughout their generations, they have generally been available worldwide. Its traditional competitors are the Toyota Hiace and Mercedes-Benz Vito.

Though the T1 to T3 generations were named unofficially and retrospectively, the T series is now considered an official Volkswagen Group automotive platform.

T1 – Type 2 (1950–1967)[]

Initially derived from the Volkswagen Type 1 (Volkswagen Beetle), the Volkswagen Type 2 (T1) was the first generation of Volkswagen's hugely successful Transporter family. Known informally by enthusiasts as "hippie buses", "split screens" or "splitties" due to the front windscreen being split in two and their history of being decorated with psychedelic designs.

21 window bay samba

21 Window-bay Samba

T2 – Type 2 (1967–1979)[]

The Volkswagen T2 platform is basically a cosmetically upgraded T1 (since only one vehicle shares the platform at this point, the distinction is used for both the Volkswagen Type 2 generation and platform), with a Volkswagen Type 4 engine optionally available from 1972 on. This generation was informally known as "bay" (derrived from bay window) or "bread loaf".

T3 – Type 2 (1979–1992)[]

The Volkswagen Type 2 (T3), also known as the T25, or Vanagon in the United States, was one of the last new Volkswagen platforms to use an air-cooled engine. The Volkswagen air cooled engine was phased out for a water-cooled boxer engine (still rear mounted) in 1983.

T4 – Transporter (1990–2003)[]

The first officially designated "T platform" vehicle, the Volkswagen Transporter (T4) dramatically updated the Volkswagen van line by using a front-mounted, front-wheel drive, water-cooled engine.

T5 – Transporter (2003–present)[]

The Volkswagen Transporter (T5) is the current variant of the Volkswagen T platform. In North America it is sold in Mexico but not in the United States or Canada. The U.S. market does not receive the T5 range due to it being classed as a light truck, which automatically includes a 25% extra tax (known as the chicken tax) on importation into the US.The Transporter T5 range received a facelift in late 2009. Updated powertrain options include common rail diesel engines, and a world-first usage in a light commercial vehicle of a dual clutch transmission – namely Volkswagen Group's 7-speed Direct-Shift Gearbox (DSG).

Flexible-fuel in Brazil (2009–2014)[]

Brazilian 2010 VW Kombi Total FlexAs of 2009, a modern T2 with a flexible-fuel engine that runs on any combination of gasoline/petrol and ethanol started manufacturing in Brazil, as the Volkswagen Kombi Total Flex. Due to the new safety laws, from January 2014 the Volkswagen won't make the Kombi.

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