T7 Multivan Style Hybrid - precursor for the Hybrid California.

[pjm-84]

Agree strange, but it may be to promote the model over standard ICE. Interesting to note that the PHEV is also AWD (so I'll take that one back WG).

 

[WelshGas]

Interesting that the PHEV base price is slightly less than the TSI petrol. I had assumed the PHEV would be more. VW don't seem to have the PHEV/Hybrid on the Multivan configurator at the moment so cant check . Seem to be in a bit of a transition phase at the moment changing from the 1.4 to 1.5 version.

You can only purchase stock vehicles. Virtually all are the Style model, the top model , and most have the panoramic glass roof and most are the 7 seat version.

 

[Aldoi]

I suspect the PHEV being less is a Netherlands specific situation to incentivise over pure ICE. Would be surprised if that were the case in the UK.

 

[WelshGas]

This is my first vehicle with Matrix LED headlights and I’m impressed.
I’ve done a lot of night driving the past few weeks and noted the following.
The Multivan doesn’t have Fog lights and hence doesn’t have the additional lighting when turning at low speed, so I thought.
On the lighting panel it has a Touch switch, all the switches are touch activated, labelled Poor Visibility. The headlights then light up the NS and OS lane markings as if foglights were on with dipped beam.
Low speed turn lighting is also available but has to be turned On with Carista which then puts an On/Off function selection on the Lighting Screen of the Entertainment Screen.
The Automatic Main Beam function is very sophisticated, not just switching off main beam when approaching a vehicle or an oncoming vehicle. The light pattern adjusts, low beam in centre , high beam either side of an approaching vehicle or cutting the OS for an oncoming vehicle or a variation for simultaneous approaching / oncoming vehicles. In the recent fog you can see the beams dancing around .
Hopefully they will be available on the new California.

 

[CaliMac]

This is my first vehicle with Matrix LED headlights and I’m impressed.
I’ve done a lot of night driving the past few weeks and noted the following.
The Multivan doesn’t have Fog lights and hence doesn’t have the additional lighting when turning at low speed, so I thought.
On the lighting panel it has a Touch switch, all the switches are touch activated, labelled Poor Visibility. The headlights then light up the NS and OS lane markings as if foglights were on with dipped beam.
Low speed turn lighting is also available but has to be turned On with Carista which then puts an On/Off function selection on the Lighting Screen of the Entertainment Screen.
The Automatic Main Beam function is very sophisticated, not just switching off main beam when approaching a vehicle or an oncoming vehicle. The light pattern adjusts, low beam in centre , high beam either side of an approaching vehicle or cutting the OS for an oncoming vehicle or a variation for simultaneous approaching / oncoming vehicles. In the recent fog you can see the beams dancing around .
Hopefully they will be available on the new California.

Matrix headlights are good, I have it on my 2018 Tiguan. With deer a danger where I live, they light up the verge considerably better to give more time to see them and brake. Only complaint is they can be a bit slow after a car passes to apply full beam, on mine anyway.

 

[Ch1pbutty]

Matrix headlights are good, I have it on my 2018 Tiguan. With deer a danger where I live, they light up the verge considerably better to give more time to see them and brake. Only complaint is they can be a bit slow after a car passes to apply full beam, on mine anyway.

We have them on a base spec Tesla M3, it didn’t originally have them but the feature was enabled via on over the air software update. Makes a big difference as you see the beam length change as you approach cars from behind, and adjusts for corners before you have even turned the steering wheel. But tend to turn off in fog as it tends to throw out too much light.

It will also auto brake for person, deer(!), wheelie bins that have blown into the road!…and will autosteer to avoid a hazard.

….if the above features came as standard in all cars, I’m sure it would reduce accidents.

 

[WelshGas]

We have them on a base spec Tesla M3, it didn’t originally have them but the feature was enabled via on over the air software update. Makes a big difference as you see the beam length change as you approach cars from behind, and adjusts for corners before you have even turned the steering wheel. But tend to turn off in fog as it tends to throw out too much light.

It will also auto brake for person, deer(!), wheelie bins that have blown into the road!…and will autosteer to avoid a hazard.

….if the above features came as standard in all cars, I’m sure it would reduce accidents.

They were very good in the recent fog. Have yet to be flashed by anyone on the opposite carriageway..

 

[WelshGas]

We didn’t get flashed, just made it harder for me to see. Tesla can’t see the fog, so seems to flick to full beam if it can’t see a car ahead. So had to flick to dipped beam.

Aah, that's probably where the Poor Visibility function did its bit. With more light on lane markings/verge even alongside vehicle in front.

 

[WelshGas]

As with any new vehicles you keep finding little things.
Removable/Rechargeable torch in boot space in place of the side boot light. Lights up for 5 minutes, with the other lights on tailgate etc, when tailgate opened but can be taken out and used as torch.


I've set up a T-Link MiFi in the rear. Phone and vehicle can connect to it via WiFi. Used the rear 12v socket with a switchable plug with built in Voltmeter as the USBc port is always live. The voltmeter confirms the vehicle 12v battery is kept charged when on EV charge.



And here is some mpg data over the last 30 days.

 

[WelshGas]

Well, my 2014 180 4Motion California that I part-ex for my Multivan is back on the road as of 1st March.
Maybe the new owner might join the Forum. It has got the forum website sticker on both rear side windows.

 

[Polobear1959]

Further observations - about the drive system

View attachment 130539

So those are the Technical Specifications and I thought you would be driving on the battery until virtually depleted and then the IC engine would kick in. Totally wrong.

You can select EV and it will run until down to 10% battery and then the IC motor kicks in or Select Hybrid mode from the start.
You can select, which is memorised, a battery range from 90 down to 10% which it will attempt, very successfully to maintain throughout the journey.
Note there is only a 6 speed DSG and it seems the EV is always used for start off or in reverse, also for acceleration and kick down. But the battery is then recharged via Regenerative Braking, IC engine overrun when foot off accelerator and when unto cruising speed on the IC engine then the engine starts charging the battery automatically, very obvious when on ACC.

The vehicle doesn't come with a Type 2 Charger for the domestic supply, £400 Option but was advised by the Salesman to get one off Amazon.
So when I drove to Bristol with the EV battery at 10% I managed to put back 10 miles , about 3KW , into the battery.
Change from EV to IC is seamless not even the usual noise of a starter motor. Mind you I haven't identified an alternator under the bonnet yet, maybe a combined unit, but you done really know which you are using, EV or IC, except from the information on the Infotainment screen, a clever graphic showing where the drive force is coming from and which direction the electrical flow is going.
According to VW sales using 50% Battery setting would give the best overall consumption on long journeys and means you start the return with 50% battery. We'll see, but it does accelerate very well, as good as my former 180.

Charging from a Domestic socket takes 4 hrs. Ive got my charger from Amazon now.

Further observations - about the drive system

View attachment 130539

So those are the Technical Specifications and I thought you would be driving on the battery until virtually depleted and then the IC engine would kick in. Totally wrong.

You can select EV and it will run until down to 10% battery and then the IC motor kicks in or Select Hybrid mode from the start.
You can select, which is memorised, a battery range from 90 down to 10% which it will attempt, very successfully to maintain throughout the journey.
Note there is only a 6 speed DSG and it seems the EV is always used for start off or in reverse, also for acceleration and kick down. But the battery is then recharged via Regenerative Braking, IC engine overrun when foot off accelerator and when unto cruising speed on the IC engine then the engine starts charging the battery automatically, very obvious when on ACC.

The vehicle doesn't come with a Type 2 Charger for the domestic supply, £400 Option but was advised by the Salesman to get one off Amazon.
So when I drove to Bristol with the EV battery at 10% I managed to put back 10 miles , about 3KW , into the battery.
Change from EV to IC is seamless not even the usual noise of a starter motor. Mind you I haven't identified an alternator under the bonnet yet, maybe a combined unit, but you done really know which you are using, EV or IC, except from the information on the Infotainment screen, a clever graphic showing where the drive force is coming from and which direction the electrical flow is going.
According to VW sales using 50% Battery setting would give the best overall consumption on long journeys and means you start the return with 50% battery. We'll see, but it does accelerate very well, as good as my former 180.

Charging from a Domestic socket takes 4 hrs. Ive got my charger from Amazon now.

That is quite a small fuel tank…… here in Australia 45 L could be frustrating. Our 6.1 Beach with 80 L tank is well suited to the distances often encountered..

 

[WelshGas]

That is quite a small fuel tank…… here in Australia 45 L could be frustrating. Our 6.1 Beach with 80 L tank is well suited to the distances often encountered..

350 to 400 mile range. Averaging 67 mpg over last 1250 miles.

 

[Polobear1959]

350 to 400 mile range. Averaging 67 mpg over last 1250 miles.

They’re very impressive figures, I imagine if your trips are shorter in duration, there may be more opportunity to recharge the hybrid battery fully at home or campsites & gain regenerative charge with braking in traffic & metro areas hence helping to achieve these results.
Our drives often involve long open country roads with fewer townships ( my Toyota RAV4 hybrid didn’t fully benefit from its hybrid system due to this on long drives).
I may well be wrong , however a fully loaded T7 hybrid (2500kg +) at 60 -70 mph relying on its 1.4 litre engine , particularly into a strong headwind which we often encounter, I’m guessing would be doing very well to achieve figures over 45 mpg.

 

[WelshGas]

They’re very impressive figures, I imagine if your trips are shorter in duration, there may be more opportunity to recharge the hybrid battery fully at home or campsites & gain regenerative charge with braking in traffic & metro areas hence helping to achieve these results.
Our drives often involve long open country roads with fewer townships ( my Toyota RAV4 hybrid didn’t fully benefit from its hybrid system due to this on long drives).
I may well be wrong , however a fully loaded T7 hybrid (2500kg +) at 60 -70 mph relying on its 1.4 litre engine , particularly into a strong headwind which we often encounter, I’m guessing would be doing very well to achieve figures over 45 mpg.

When cruising the EV battery also gets charged.

 

[Polobear1959]

When cruising the EV battery also gets charged.

Understood, same as my Toyota RAV 4….. impressive concept & technology. We had also always been impressed by the VW California, particularly on visits to Europe, so the RAV4 was sold & the T6.1 340 , 2024 4 motion purchased.
That gives very good fuel economy for a heavy vehicle and realistically deseil is still cheap ($1.75 lt which is 85 to 90 p per litre).

 

[WelshGas]

Decided to have a go with a Cubic Data Plan for the Infotainment System Internet connection. After registering with Cubic purchased the 30 day plan of 5 GB.
Plan registered on unit less than 5 mins after purchase.
2 x Streaming services Apple and Tidal both at £10.99/month.
But hundreds of Internet radio stations and podcasts listed alphabetically, by language, country or Genre and good quality. On a 220 mile trip no drop in quality at any point.
Used 0.2 GB over 5 days and some 14 hrs of Internet radio.
Haven't used it for connecting ipad/phone to Internet via Infotainment WiFi hotspot, as yet.