What we used to know as the Golf Plus is now turned, for its new generation, to the Volkswagen Golf Sportsvan. The car will make its debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show as a concept before going on sale in mid-2014. Volkswagen will retain the Golf Plus nameplate for the new model in some markets like the UK.

Considerably larger than the Golf Plus – 134 mm longer and 80mm wider – the Volkswagen Golf Sportsvan is based on the firm’s MQB platform incorporating new technologies. In terms of practical stuff, the Sportvan has a 2,685 mm wheelbase, features 60:40 split bench rear seats that move back and forth, and boasts 498 litres of luggage space, which can be increased to 1,512 litres by folding the rear seats.

The Volkswagen Golf Sportvan will come with a range of Euro 6 petrol and diesel Euro 6 engines featuring Stop/Start and battery regeneration systems. You get four turbocharged 1.4-litre petrol engines with 85, 110, 125 and 150 PS and three turbodiesels: a 2.0-litre 150 PS, a 1.6-litre 90 PS and a 1.6-litre 110 PS for the Sportsvan BlueMotion.

Then there is the long list of technology features which include Pre-Collision and an automatic post-collision braking system, Adaptive Cruise Control, Front Assist and City Emergency Braking, Driver Alert System, a camera-operated Lane Assist system and a Dynamic Light Assist system, as well as a Blind Spot Monitor.