France: New Peugeot Partner and Citroen Berlingo delivery vans
Thursday, January 03, 2008, AutomotiveWorld.com
PSA Peugeot Citroen has announced all-new versions of the Citroen Berlingo and Peugeot Partner (Peugeot Ranch in Italy) delivery vans. They will supplement the 1996-to-present shape Partner/Ranch and Berlingo, which are to continue in production, renamed 'Partner Origin' and 'Berlingo First' in certain as yet unnamed markets.
In the case of the Berlingo, Citroen notes that the current model is the most successful commercial vehicle it has yet sold, with over 1.75 million produced since its launch in 1996.
The new Berlingo and Partner will offer a claimed payload of up to 850kg, together with a load length and space of 1.8m and 3.3 cubic metres respectively, whilst the availability of a so-called 'Extenso' (Citroen) or 'Multi-Flex' (Peugeot) modular cabin allows larger loads of 3m and 3.7 cubic metres to be carried, PSA notes. This feature allows three people to sit in the front - the first time this option has been available in the small panel van segment, the company says. Both vans are 4.38 metres long.
PSA states that both vehicles will be available with ESP and hill start assist - two features absent from the current models. Engine and other mechanical details are yet to be divulged.
While the newly renamed Partner Origin and Berlingo First will continue to be built at PSA's Mangualde plant in Portugal, the new vans will be made at the Vigo (Spain) factory alongside the Citroen C4 Picasso with which they share the OEM's front-wheel drive PF2 architecture.
The new vans will go on sale in France and other markets from the third quarter of 2008, with Mexico continuing as the sole market in North America (Partner only).
Published on Thursday, January 03, 2008
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