Robot Coupe’s new Vito vans

Robot Coupe probably isn’t a name that rolls of your tongue, unless you happen to work in the catering industry.

The French firm’s upmarket food processers, blenders and vegetable preparation machines are a common sight in commercial kitchens. This equipment isn’t cheap and the company maintains a team of chef demonstrators and service engineers to look after customers around the UK.

To improve load and seating capacity, the firm has just switched a number of its vans from Mercedes-Benz Citan models to larger crew cab Vito vans. These are 114 CDI models which use Merc’s 2.1-litre engine to deliver 136hp to the rear wheels. All of the vans have been specified with optional 7G-TRONIC PLUS automatic gearboxes to make life easier for drivers who spend a lot of time in traffic.

Robot Coupe Director of Sales Paul Easterbrook confirmed:

“The Citans have been very good, but the Vito offers the extra space that allows our chef demonstrators to carry more equipment.

“The second row of seats means we can take fewer vehicles to exhibitions and events, and is also useful when we go out and about with our distributors or customers. The automatic gearbox, meanwhile, makes life at the wheel so much easier for the guys if they’re in stop-start traffic all day.”

Mr Easterbrook says that the vans are expected to cover upwards of 40,000 miles a year across the UK, so comfort and safety — traditional strong points for the German marque — are top priorities.

Having specified crew cab variants, Robot Coupe expects to be able to use fewer vehicles when travelling to trade shows or transporting customers.