» Get the best price on a new Renault Kangoo We recently reported on the Fiat/PSA family of minivans (more here), and Renualt is set to respond with its all-new Kangoo, which makes its debut at this week's European Road Transport Show in Amsterdam.
Although evolutionary in appearance, the revamped Kangoo differs from its predecessor in that two wheelbase versions will be offered from the outset -- short and standard.
Renault claims the newcomer offers greater comfort, modernity, quality and versatility than before, as it's based on the same platform as the Scenic MPV.
However, its claimed comfort levels don't come at the expense of utility as its payload capacity ranges from 650 to 800kg.
It comes armed with an array of stowage areas, including dashboard storage for A4 documents, an overhead parcel shelf and a large, 15-litre lidded glovebox (depending on version). What's more, multi-media and Bluetooth connectivity mean that New Kangoo Van can also serve as a travelling office.
The new Kangoo Van's length of 4.21m frees up a load capacity of between 3 and 3.6 cubic metres, while its interior width (1.21m between wheel arches) now makes it possible to accept a standard Euro pallet, according to Renault.
Hinged, asymmetrical rear doors and the sliding side loading door (depending on version) are claimed to provide easy access to the cargo area.
The Euro engine line-up will comprise an array of diesel and petrol units. The range includes three diesel powerplants based on the 1.5 dCi block (with power outputs from 52 to 77kW), plus two petrol engines (65kW and 77kW).
Depending on version and market, the new Kangoo Van is equipped with driver aids more commonly associated with passenger cars (cruise control, speed limiter, rear parking proximity sensor, automatic headlamp and windscreen wiper activation).
Its active and passive safety equipment surpasses the norm for an LCV as the latest-generation ABS, plus MSR engine torque overrun regulation and Emergency Brake Assist (EBA) are standard. The new Kangoo Van can also be ordered with ESP (Electronic Stability Programme), CSV understeer control and ASR traction control.
Although yet to be confirmed, we can expect the new Kangoo to debut locally in the second half of 2008.
» Get the best price on a new Renault Kangoo
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