High-cube shake-up
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by Toby Clark I Peugeot and Citroen have developed a new model which looks set to shake up the highcube market throughout Europe—or at least give other manufacturers a fright.
M49 is the code name for the new van from PSA (Peugeot and Citroen's parent company), which will be built at Citroen's plant in Vigo, Spain and sold as the Citroen Berlingo and the Peugeot Partner. They go on sale in France from July, and throughout Europe within six months—both companies will launch in the UK at the NEC Motor Show in October.
The Berlingo/Partner looks a little like a car-derived high. cube van, and will compete with models such as Ford's Courier on price, but it's a purpose-built van that shares no panels or fioorpan with existing vehicles. The smooth, high-roofed design gives it a load volume of 3.0mJ which beats any highcube except the Fiat Florin°, within similar overall dimensions. Options include three payloads and four engines (two petrol, two diesel); UK buyers will have a more limited choice, probably confined to the more powerful 1.9-litre diesel.
The new models certainly look good, and a glance at the inside confirms that a lot of thought has been put into the design: there's plenty of headroom, reasonable stowage space and a relatively high seating position that makes entry and exit easy. The passenger seat can be folded in two ways to provide a "desk" and cup-holders for the driver, or to make space for loads up to 2.10m long while giving access to a "secret" stowage space beneath the front of the load bed. The standard bulkhead is a ladder frame behind the driver's seat, but half and full-height solid bulkheads will become available.
UK model specs have yet to be decided, but they could well include security systems, driver and passenger air bags and air conditioning. Passengercarrying "combi" versions (the vast majority of Spanish high-cube van sales) will be available on the Continent but are unlikely here.
Citroen will offer the Berlingo alongside the budget-priced C15 Champ high-cube, and it will slot in under the Sevel-built Dispatch van. In fact, the 3/149 will have an interesting relation with the mini-Sevel (also sold as the Peugeot Expert). Their maximum payload and load volume are pretty similar but Citroen CV marketing manager Brian Roskell insists that the two will appeal to different buyers: the M49 will be priced to compete against mainstream high-cubes, suggesting a price of around L8,000-8,500 (ex-VAT), while the Dispatch/Expert will tackle small panel vans such as the Ford Transit 80 in the £10,50011000 (ex-VAT) class.
Assuming the Partner and Berlingo are well priced they should have what it takes to shake up the high-cube status quo. WEIGHTS AND DIMENSIONS GVW: 1,525-1,955kg Payload: 400, 525 or 725kg. Load volume: 3.0m3. Wheelbase: 2,69m. Overall dimensions (Ixwxh): 4 11 xl. 72x1.80m. Maximum loadspace dimensions (Ixwxh):
I .70x1.60x1.25m.