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Merc pulls covers off Citan light van
Mercedes-Benz has unveiled its new range of light vans to the international press on the eve of this year’s Amsterdam CV Show; although it didn’t make an appearance on Merc’s stand and will not feature at the UK Show next week. It will not receive its official public debut until the IAA Commercial Vehicle Show in Hannover in September and will not be going on sale in the UK until January 2013.Following a deal with Renault, Citan is based on Kangoo and will be built alongside it at the Maubeuge plant in northern France. Along with a completely restyled ‘Merc’ front-end the entire cab interior, including the dashboard, has been redesigned. Sadly, however, it retains the Kangoo’s intrusive L-shaped handbrake lever.
There is a choice of three body lengths, gross vehicle weights peak at 2,200kg and power comes from a trio of 1.5-litre diesels with maximum outputs ranging from 75hp to 110hp. The most powerful benefits from a six-speed manual transmission while the other two drive the front wheels via a five-speeder.
BlueEFFICIENCY models will be available, bringing with them ECO Stop/Start, a battery management system and low rolling resistance tyres. A gearshift indicator is standard on all models and service intervals are set at 25,000 miles or two years.In typical Merc fashion safety is a priority and we are pleased to report that the latest generation load-sensing ESP system comes as an integral part of the Citan package. Other standard features include daytime running lights, driver’s airbag, remote central locking, a full bulkhead in the van models and a height-adjustable steering wheel.
This is the first time in its history that Merc has seriously tackled the light van sector of the market and the addition of Citan completes its LCV range. We are assured that it will ‘feel’ like a Merc to drive, but we will have to wait until September before we get behind the wheel to find out for ourselves.
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