• The Volkswagen Kombi was one of two models of the original "Type 2" line of vans made by the German car manufacturer. Introduced in 1950, along with the Commercial model, the Kombi featured removable middle and rear seats, and windows on each side of the van. The VW Kombi, which takes its name from a shortened version of the German word for "combination motor vehicle," was intended to transport either passengers or cargo. Over the years, Volkswagen has updated the Type 2 van -- known now as the Transporter -- to include modern, environmentally-friendly features such as a turbocharged, direct-fuel-injected engine.
  
  

Engines and Power

• 2010 model Volkswagen Transporter vans, including the Kombi, are available with three versions of a 2.0-liter, four-cylinder turbodiesel TDI engine. The base engine provides 101 horsepower at 3,500 rpm and 184 foot-pounds of torque between 1,500 and 2,500 rpm. A second engine option provides 138 hp at 3,500 rpm and 251 foot-pounds of torque between 1,750 and 2,500 rpm. The third option generates 177 hp at 4,000 rpm and 295 foot-pounds of torque between 1,500 and 2,000 rpm. The 101-hp engine is paired with a five-speed manual transmission. The 138-hp and 177-hp engines are available with either a six-speed manual or a seven-speed automatic transmission.
  
  

Suspension, Steering and Brakes

• 2010 VW Kombi vans are equipped with independent McPherson struts on a sub-frame with coil springs in the front, paired with a semi-trailing independent rear axle with coil springs and an anti-roll bar. Rack-and-pinion steering is standard. The 101-hp and 138-hp models come with 12.1-inch disc brakes in the front; the 177-hp model has 13.4-inch front disc brakes. All three models have 11.6-inch rear disc brakes.
  
  

Physical Dimensions

• The Kombi comes in a variety of roof heights and wheelbases. The 101-hp and 138-hp models are available in 78.3-inch or 85.7-inch heights, with a 118.1-inch wheelbase. The 101- and 138-hp models are available with a 133.9-inch wheelbase and an additional roof height option of 97.5 inches. Kombis with the short wheelbase measure 192.6 inches long; models with the long wheelbase are 208.3 inches long. All models are 75 inches wide.