by Kevin Swallow After months of speculation and hype the
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Frankfurt Show saw the long awaited unveiling of the Vauxhall Vivaro and its near identical twin, the Renault Trafic.
The launch marks the start of a straight fight between Vauxhall and Renault over sales of the midvan market. This is already a heavily populated sector which is arguably dominated by the VW Transporter and Mercedes Vito. Other tough competitors include the three sisters of Citroen Dispatch, Peugeot Partner and Fiat Scudo; Toyota's Hiace; the Nissan E-Series; and the new Ford Transit.
The Vauxhall Vivaro has a choice of two engines. A 1.9-litre turbo-diesel engine with common-rail fuel infection produces 79hp/190ftm or 99hp/240km; a 2.0-litre 16-valve petrol engine is rated at 120hp/190Nm. There will also be a 2.5-litre four-valve turbo-diesel with common-rail fuel injection putting out 131hp/310Nm.
This version of the Vivaro will have a sixspeed transmission like the petrol model and the more powerful 1.9 diesel.
The Renault Trafic has three 1.9-litre Renault common-rail diesel engines producing 79hp, 99hp, and 133hp. Additionally a 2.0-litre petrol model will be available soon.
Both versions of the 2.8-tonne van will be available in wheelbason of 3.1m and 3.5mm. Maximum volume is close to 6rtr3 with up to 1,200kg of payload. The short-wheelbase van has a 2.41m-long by 1.38m-high loadbay with a capacity of 5m3. The range also has 90-litre fuel tanks; 10 litres more than the average in this class,
The Vauxhall version will have ABS on all models, two front airbags and three-point seat belts. Both models have the gearstick mounted onto the dashboard with front-wheel drive.
General Motors subsidiary IBC Vehicles will build the Vivaro and the Trafic in Luton, where the factory has been re-equipped and modernised, with an investment of £185m for production of the new models,
• See Frankfurt Show report, pages 10-12.