Let there be lights
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TALBOT Motor Company, the British subsidiary of the Peugeot-Citroen (PSA) group, has released details of the Express range of light commercial vehicles (van driving impressions in CM last week) which will go on sale in the UK in early November.
Three van models, two chassis/cabs and five minibus models will be on offer. The 12seat, 13-seat and 17-seat bus models will be converted to Talbot specifications by Dormobile Ltd of Folkestone, Kent, from various panel vans.
The van and chassis cab models are numbered according to their nominal payloads and have gvws as follows: 1000 van, petrol — 2,450kg (2.4 tons) 1000 van, diesel — 2,550kg (2.51 tons) 1300 van, petrol — 2,800kg (2.76 tons) 1300 van, van, diesel — 2,900kg (2.85 tons) 1500 van, petrol — 3,100kg (3.05
tons)
1500 van, diesel — 3,100kg (3.05 tons) 1300 c/cab, petrol — 2,900kg (2.85 tons) 1300 c/cab, diesel, diesel — 3,000kg (2.95 tons) 1500 c/cab, petrol — 3,100kg (3.05 tons) 1500 c/cab, diesel — 3,7100kg (3.05 tons)
The Express 1000 models are fitted with either a 1,796cc petrol engine or a 2,500cc diesel engine driving through a fourspeed gearbox.
The 1300 and 1500 models have either a 1971cc petrol engine or the 2500cc diesel engine driving through a five-speed gearbox.
All models in the Express range are front-wheel drive with transversely mounted engines, the petrol versions being inclined towards the rear at 10deg. 30min. from the vertical, and the diesel version being inclined towards the front at 23 deg. All three engines are manufactured by PSA and have been used for some time in other car and commercial models made by the French company. For example, the 1796cc XM7T engine is available in Peugeot 504 and J9 models while the 1971cc XNIT derivative of this engine powers Peugeot 504 and 505 models. Two wheelbase lengths will be available for van and chassis cab models, 2.923m (9ft 7in) or 3.653m (12ft). Van models have 2.68m (8ft Bin) of load length behind the seats on swb models and 3.41m (lift lin) on lwb models. Load platform areas vary from 4.47sqm (48.1sqft) to 5.70sqm (61.3sqft) and Talbot quotes load volumes as ranging from 6.5cum (230cuft) ft standard van body to 10: (360cuft) for the long whet high roof 1500 van.
Visitors to the Motor later this month mig: confused to find light cor cials looking remarkably s to the Talbot Express on tf stand (number 548 in Hall E.
The Fiat Ducato, makir British debut at the shoo, the Talbot Express are, ir one and the same model, r factured at the purpost Sevel plant, near Pescara Sangro valley in Southern I This factory covers 42 ac highly automated and is cribed by Fiat as "the mo: vanced light commercial vi plant in Europe".
The vehicle was deve jointly by Fiat and PSA an( became available in Italy in Four Ducato models w availbale in the UK 11 and 1300kg nominal pa vans, a 1500kg payload higl van, and a 1500kg no' payload chassis cab. The engine option offered fo Talbot Express will not be able for the Ducato but the two PSA petrol engines are to the Fiat vehicles. Neithe nor Talbot has yet annot. the prices of their new mod