The Motorist 03 | Page 24

VW Caravelle Corporate Luxury There used to be a time in the UK when I would only ever see a certain type of vehicle used for the corporate/business travel industry. This was normally a Mercedes-Benz Viano, or as it is now called, the Mercedes-Benz V Class. Now I could say that there is a new kid on the block, but their isn’t. The car I’m talking about has always been popular in South Africa but I’ve never really noticed it in my three year stint here, until now. Like the boy “Tom” at school who was never noticed by the girls until he came back after the summer break , six inches taller, no glasses and a new haircut. Now all of a sudden he has become the hot gossip subject of conversation. You just might find yourself reacting the same way the first time you set your eyes on the new VW Caravelle. It looks a lot like the older one, but different, a good different. The VW Caravelle has always been around and it’s been popular for a variety of reasons. Like Tom though, it’s been popular with math books and not the girls, it’s always been a functional car. This has changed recently though. It still has extended family appeal, it’s spacious and has a host of great features. Now though it’s not just the “Cheaper by the dozen” family car, even the lone travelling surfer or artistic explorer may be interested in the new Caravelle, mainly due to its new found slick appeal. These types of vehicles are becoming increasingly popular in the luxury corporate travel space for business people, pop stars, football players and so on. Mercedes have always had a big chunk of the corporate luxury market and other manufactures have tried to get in there too. I believe the new Carravelle is a proper rival to the V-Class now as its stepped up its premium feel inside and out. For example, a few months back I watched my beloved football team Liverpool FC play in Germany. While there, I saw the CEO and other board mem- bers arrive at the hotel prior to the game. Their vehicles of choice? Two VW Caravelle’s. Did it look out of place? Not even a little, It looked fantastic. It had an image which was both stylish, luxurious and most of all, classy. Sometimes these cars can be over the top, especially when they’re “blinged out” but the Caravelle is not that. Inside the cabin you’ll find a comfortable and professional setup, one that suits long distance driving. As we move into the rear of the vehicle we have bolstered Nappa leather seats that without a doubt will be keep you comfortable and relaxed. A rear