UK escapes the AX unti11989
Page 33
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
• Citroen has sold its first C25-based Luton van but, despite the promises, the UK will not get the heavyweight Visa van or the AX-based hatchback van until mid-1989 — but the Visa van should get the AXtype petrol engines soon.
The first Hawson Garnerbuilt Luton van is based on the C25 1800 3.5-tonne model with the 2.5-litre turbo-diesel DI Sofun engine. The load volume is 17.360 and the payload is around 1,625kg. The distinctive Luton van is priced at around 212,675 plus VAT, although prices vary according to final specifications.
Citroen hopes to sell the vehicle through its dealer network, although marketing the C25 Luton may well be hampered by the supply problems from the SEVEL factory that also supplies Fiat and Peugeot Talbot.
Supply problems have also hit the launch date of the AX van and the 760kg-payload version of the Visa van (CM 6 June, and 10 August 1987).
The Visa van has proved very popular with European markets, particularly in Spain, but the heavy Visa will not be seen in the UK until the release of the facelifted models next year. The Visa will be getting the AX 1,360cc petrolengine this year, although sales of petrol Visas have been small in the UK.
The AX passenger car has also proved very popular in Europe, with the factory producing the vehicle with three shifts a day. The van-version of the AX will now have to wait until the launch of the diesel-engined version, also next year.
The company will be revising the SEVEL-built C25 range later this year, in a bid to rationalize the range. The current sprawling model list will be reduced to only fifteen basic models, with one petrol engine, seven turbo-diesel models and the rest 1.9-litre and 2.5-litre naturally-aspirated diesel models.