New Launches
Show Report: CV Show 2012
What a cracking event the 2012 Commercial Vehicle Show turned out to be, thanks in no small part to Ford… Read More
Mitsubishi L200 4x4 Long-Term Test 1
We has just taken delivery of a Mitsubishi L200 4x4 Club Cab for long-term appraisal… Read More
Ford Transit ECOnetic Brief Test
We’ve been putting a SWB 100hp 2.2TDi Euro 5 Transit 280 ECOnetic through its paces… Read More
Renault Kangoo ZE 2011 European Launch
Renault is at the forefront of manufacturers offering a mass produced factory-built electric van… Read More
Fuso Canter 2011 European Launch
Fuso has completely revamped its range of light and heavy truck Canter chassis and chassis crew cabs… Read More
Iveco Daily 2011 European Launch
Iveco has introduced new, latest generation diesels to its Daily range, along with detail changes inside and out… Read More
Ford Transit 2011 European Launch
Ford takes the iconic Transit to the next stage with an all-new range of 2.2-litre Euro 5 diesels… Read More
Volkswagen Crafter 2011 UK Launch
VW’s large panel van has undergone a serious makeover with changes to the front-end styling and the cab interior, as well as new Euro 5 diesels… Read More
Ford Transit Connect Electric Brief Test
We spent a day with the battery-powered Connect to get a better idea of what it’s like to live with in its natural, urban environment. Read More
Mercedes-Benz Vito E-CELL Brief Test
Currently undergoing trials with selected fleet customers in the UK, we managed to get behind the wheel of a battery-powered Vito E-CELL… Read More
Berlingo First gets heavyweight upgrade
Citroën has revised the original Berlingo, taking the gross payload from 600kg to 749kg. Now called the Berlingo First 750, the 3.0m3 load capacity old-stager has received a package of upgrades which include the addition of a sump guard and revisions to the suspension. As a consequence the gross vehicle weight has risen to 1,955kg from 1,730kg. As it remains under 2.0 tonne, however, it is still subject to the same speed limits as passenger cars, rather than those for light commercials.The front and rear axle weights are now 1,000kg and 1,080kg respectively and the maximum braked trailer towing weight has risen to 1,070kg.
Power comes from a 75hp, 175Nm 1.6HDi Euro 4 diesel and the standard specification includes a nearside sliding side door, remote central locking, electric windows and electrically adjustable nearside door mirror.
Berlingo First has a basic retail price (excl VAT) of £11,435.
Fleet Deal
On the fleet side Citroën has scored an impressive solus replacement deal with Wakefield and District Housing (WDH). Supplied by dealer Springfield Citroën in Gateshead the Nemo, Berlingo, Dispatch and Relay vans — there are also some chassis cab-based conversions of the latter — are being operated on Lombard 48 month, 10,000 mile per year, with-maintenance contract hire agreements. WDH will take delivery of around 217 Citroën LCVs in 2010, followed by a further 130 in 2011, some 40-plus in 2012 and a smaller, unspecified number in 2013 as necessary to meet fleet requirements. Robert Handyside, Citroën’s Commercial Vehicle Operations Manager, commented: “This major WDH order reflects the benefits of Citroën's versatile, low emissions and fuel efficient approach to the LCV sector. Across the board, Citroën offers an unrivalled choice of low whole life cost, green business transport solutions.”