We had the honor of joining Volkswagen in the latter part of last week for the 2026 Indaba Conference, and upon unfolding all their plans and industry progress, they added the cherry on top by showcasing some interesting upcoming vehicles for the year in the form of the all-new T7 Caravelle and T-Roc.
The new Caravelle is here, and the latest news is that it has New Energy integration adopted from the I.D. Buzz for improved fuel economy on long trips with you and yours. The looks have been updated, as can be seen with the new partially closed-off fascia with honeycomb openings to feed air into the engine. You also get the newest IQ lights and the addition of a light bar, which looks good at night. The car keeps its dimensions all around and is still available in the beautiful two-tone colorway.
Beneath the skin are the most significant changes as this new Caravelle comes equipped with plug-in hybrid tech that will drive all the wheels via one electric drive motor per axle, driving the front and rear axles. VW ensures that these electric motors will provide enough drive-off performance and traction.
When and if the battery is sufficiently charged (it has a capacity of 19.7 kWh, energy recovery settings, and fast charging functions), you are provided with pure electric distances of up to 91 kilometers. The Caravelle has four driver modes: Eco, Comfort, Sport, and Individual in the hybrid models. For efficiency reasons, the rear electric motor is only coupled when required above a speed of 65 km/h in the Eco and Comfort driving profiles; in the Sport driving profile, it is coupled up to 130 km/h, and also in the Individual profile, depending on the setting. Above 130 km/h, the rear axle always remains deactivated.
The engine powering the Caravelle is a new 1.5 TSI evo2, a high-tech turbocharged petrol engine, paired with a 6-speed dual-clutch gearbox. The engine produces power figures of 130 kW and a maximum torque of 250 Nm. The electric motors produce an output of 85 kW, and the torque is 330 Nm. No word on pricing yet, so we will have to wait for more specifics closer to launch timing.
The first to be showcased was the T-Roc, which debuts the new Volkswagen progressive design concept look. This design features illuminated VW logos, new IQ.LIGHT LED matrix headlights, and some elongated proportions that the German designers call a "hockey stick" due to its shape.
The rear has also been completely redesigned with its full-length LED strip, which is also illuminated in the middle where it also features a red illuminated VW logo.
The interior of the T-Roc also adopts a number of details from the larger Tiguan and Tayron - such as the new Digital Cockpit Pro in a large rectangular format, which is available for user-oriented technologies. Some additional features you gain on the inside include an electrically adjustable 14-way ergoActive seat with massage functions. A longer length means the luggage compartment volume has now increased by 30 liters to 475 liters when loaded up to the height of the rear seat backrests.
The new T-Roc is the third Volkswagen SUV to be based on the modular transverse matrix: the MQB evo platform, meaning it has a new level of technology and adopts numerous "top-down" systems from the larger Tiguan and Tayron, and has the same quality as these Volkswagen models. It will be interesting to see when this car will launch in our market, but we are awaiting the introduction eagerly.