GENEVA MOTOR SHOW: Citroen Berlingo renewed
French van goes high-tech and upmarket for its third generationCitroen's third-generation Berlingo has broken cover at this week's Geneva motor show, bringing big advances in design, technology and size.
Making its world debut in five- and seven-seat passenger forms, the new French people-mover (pictured here in Multispace XL form), provides a solid pointer to the replacement for the compact Citroen Berlingo commercial van currently sold in Australia.
Like its predecessor, the MkIII Berlingo has been co-developed with the Peugeot Partner and Opel/Vauxhall Combo, both of which were previously sold here — the latter by Holden.
However, only the Berlingo is expected to make it Down Under this time, given GM's sale of Opel to Groupe PSA and a renewed focus on light commercial vehicles for Citroen - rather than Peugeot - under both French brands' new Australian importer Inchcape.
Taking the fight directly to compact vans like the Fiat Doblo, Renault Kangoo and Volkswagen Caddy, the new Berlingo combines PSA's latest EMP2 platform at the front with the rear of the outgoing model.
Citroen says this brings improved manoeuvrability — thanks to electric power steering and a tighter turning circle — and the latest driving assistance technologies, while maintaining load volume and width between the wheel-arches.
Due on sale in Europe in the second half of 2018 (and therefore Australia sometime next year), the new Berlingo brings a new body shell with a higher and shorter front-end, 'faster' windscreen, sliding side doors, two-tier front lighting design and — for the 'Leisure Activity Vehicle' version — 'Airbump' bodyside panels from the C4 Cactus.
The new Citroen Berlingo people-mover (and likely the LCV version) will be available in two sizes — M and XL — measuring 4.40m and 4.75m in overall length and offering a flat load floor up to 2.7m and 3.05m long respectively.
Citroen claims class-leading boot volume of 775 litres (up 100) for the M version, which is augmented by an opening rear window in the tailgate and 28 large storage spaces including the Top Box glovebox and Modutop multi-function roof.
To be built in two European plants -- Vigo in Spain and Mangualde in Portugal -- the next Berlingo will be powered by a range of engines including PSA's new BlueHDi 130 1.5-litre turbo-diesel and PureTech 1.2-litre turbo-petrol powertrains.
It will be fitted with up to 19 driver-assist technologies, including Colour Head-up Display, Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop function, Electric Parking Brake, Reversing Camera with Top Rear Vision, Grip Control with Hill Descent Assist and Trailer Stability Control.
Other features that may also flow through to some versions of the 2019 Berlingo LCV include the choice of four infotainment systems led by an 8.0-inch touch-screen with Citroen Connect Nav and wireless smartphone charging.
Citroen has produced more than 3.3 million Berlingo vehicles since 1996, including more than 165,000 examples last year.
The outgoing, second-generation Berlingo Multispace and LCV was Citroen's top-selling model in 17 countries in 2017, and remains the brand's second best-seller behind the C3.
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