THAT trusty and stylish workhorse of the Volkswagen van portfoio, the Transporter has taken on a blue tinge to help operators save money.

A high-economy BlueMotion version of the sixth-generation Transporter panel van is now available to order from Volkswagen Van Centres, adding impressive fuel savings to the multi-award-winning van's already long list of credentials.

The most frugal edition of the T6 short wheelbase panel van has at its heart the proven 2.0-litre TDI 102 PS Euro 6 common rail diesel engine. Even in standard Startline form with five-speed manual gearbox, this van returned impressive economy and CO figures: 47.9 mpg and 153 g/km.

The BlueMotion model is capable of returning 51.4 mpg on the combined cycle (a seven per cent improvement) and CO emissions reduced to 145 g/km.

In order to achieve these improvements, the new BlueMotion Transporter adds aerodynamically improved wheel spoilers and lowered suspension, modified gear ratios, low friction tyres, cruise control and a speed limiter (to 62 mph) to the standard BlueMotion Technology modifications which come as standard on all T6 models.

These include Stop/Start and battery regeneration systems.

The new Transporter BlueMotion has a gross vehicle weight of 2.7 tonnes, and a payload of 839 kg, which is up to 121 kg more than that of the short wheelbase T26 2.0-litre TDI 102 PS five-speed manual. It costsfrom £19,670 excluding VAT.