Renault vans, UK-built?
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Talking to the British Press for the first time since, as he put it, "Renault took over Dodge", Renault .president Francois Zanotti said: "It is hoped to build Master and Trafic variants at Dunstable where it will replace the Dodge PB panel van which is approaching the end of its production run."
The PB Spacevan's biggest user is the Post Office, and initial production of its replacement in the UK will depend on obtaining subsequent orders.
Earlier this year Renault obtained a 50 per cent holding in Dodge's commercial vehicle interests above 3.5 tonnes. This proposed move would seem to be an extension of that agreement which is further complicated by the Peugeot involvement in Talbot's car interests.
Master and Trafic models are already direct competitors to the Dodge 50-Series and Peugeot also makes a panel van.
And on CM, we have been subjecting Renault's new vans to closer scrutiny, road testing three of them over our light van test route.
There is certainly no lack of options in the Renault van ranges — a petrol or diesel engines, frontor rear-wheel drive, and an almost endless list of more minor options, and many will need some guidance before making their final choice.
We have matched a petrol and diesel Master (both front-wheel drive) and the full test report will appear in CM, July 18. This is Renault's first venture into the 3.5-tonne class but the design could cause a rethink by the market leaders.
The smaller Trafic has similar lines to its big brother but is built at a different plant, at Creil near Paris. This van impressed us with its petrol economy and the sensible design of load space.
The Trafic T800 test report will appear in CM, August 29.