Tag Archives: Citroen

Citroën makes electronic stability control standard on new vans

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Citroën Relay 35 L3H2 (l) and L1H1 (r)

This year’s new Citroën Relay already came with ESC as standard — now all other Citroën vans will do, too.

Electronic Stability Control (ESC) is now standard specification on all Citroën Nemo, Berlingo and Dispatch LCVs produced from 1 July 2014.

With the recent launch of the New Relay, the entire Citroën LCV range now has ESC as standard. In addition to fitting ESC, Nemo, Berlingo and Dispatch LCVs produced from1 July also benefit from further specification improvements.

ESC uses steering angle data and other information from the vehicle to detect if the vehicle is about to travel in a different direction to that indicated by the steering wheel position.

ESC then automatically reduces engine power and brakes the appropriate wheel to help the driver maintain control.

The firm has also announced a number of other minor specification and pricing changes, including:

  • Software improvements to its ETG automated gearbox to provide smoother start-ups and acceleration;
  • All Berlingo models will be fitted with Hill Start Assist as standard from 1 July;
  • Entry level Dispatch models will move from 15-inch rear wheels and drum brakes to 16-inch wheels with disc brakes

Commenting on the changes, Jeremy Smith, Citroën’s Head of Commercial Vehicles & Business Sector Operations, said:

“Citroën continues to improve the specification of its award-winning LCV range. These latest changes to the Nemo, Berlingo and Dispatch, together with the recently launched New Relay, will further enhance the competitive positioning of our LCV range and will significantly benefit fleet and business customers here in the UK.”

Citroën celebrates 100,000th van fitted with Teletrac telematics

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Citroën Relay 35 L3H2 (l) and L1H1 (r)

The new Citroën Relay van — Teletrac telematics is now standard on all Relay, Berlingo and Dispatch vans.

All new Citroën Berlingo, Dispatch and Relay panel vans are now fitted with the Teletrac telematics system as standard, and Citroën recently celebrated the registration of the 100,000th van to be fitted with the system, which was historically an option.

Given that the system is set to become so widespread in UK vans, I thought I should take a closer look at what Teletrac telematics offers van drivers and operators.

Teletrac is part of the Trafficmaster group, the Citroën Teletrac package includes Smartnav satellite navigation and Trackstar stolen vehicle tracking.

It also provides the telematics platform for Teletrac’s optional, low cost, Fleet Director real-time fleet management services.

The latest Teletrac system fitted to Citroën LCVs includes a bigger, higher resolution 5-inch colour screen. This provides greater clarity for the Smartnav map display and the system’s many functions highlighted across the bottom of the screen.

Save 20,000 days per year

Citroën claims that the Teletrac Smartnav package saves the equivalent of circa 20,000 working days per year due to congestion avoidance. During the course of a year, around 4,000,000 routes are downloaded by Citroën LCV drivers. Smartnav Personal Assistants also deal with some 40,000 routing and other queries, including emergency calls.

The Citroën Teletrac system provides significant CO2 reductions and running cost savings through more efficient routing and congestion avoidance. It also reduces driver stress levels by up to 33%, with an associated reduction in risk and improved safety. In addition, the Trackstar stolen vehicle recovery system results in a near-100% recovery rate for stolen Citroën LCVs – the majority of which are recovered within one hour.

Citroën is the only manufacturer in the UK to offer LCVs fitted with stolen vehicle tracking as standard.  Any Trackstar enabled Citroën LCV can be located within moments of it being reported missing. Once a vehicles is confirmed as being stolen, the Trackstar control centre informs the police of the van’s whereabouts – even if it is still moving – allowing the police to have a more detailed and accurate location of the vehicle in order to recover it quickly.

Cut costs

The Fleet Director option provides fleet managers with a full range of services, including optimised routing on multi-drop runs, live vehicle reporting, two-way messaging and vehicle or driver management reports, all of which are usually shown to be highly cost effective. Vans can also be ‘geofenced’ to ensure, and then prove, that they are being used within a specific area and are not used at weekends or out of hours. The system can also be used to record when vehicles arrive and leave specific locations.

As with most technology in the transport industry, its detractors (usually drivers) say that it’s like having a spy in the cab and suggests that their employer doesn’t trust them, or thinks they aren’t competent.

However, to think like this is to miss the obvious problem: all transport is a cost to businesses — high fuel costs and a competitive marketplace mean that all transport operators need to minimise costs, and in many cases the evidence that telematics saves money is very strong indeed.

Another benefit is customer service: in this day and age, being ‘en-route and out of contact’ simply isn’t good enough: both customers and operators expect to know where their vans — and drivers — are at all times.

We will inevitably be seeing much more telematics in years to come — I have little doubt that telematics and navigational systems will become as standard as radios and electric windows over the next decade, thanks to the benefits they provide.

Citroën announces pricing from £19,405 +VAT for new Relay van

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Citroën Relay 35 L3H2 (l) and L1H1 (r)

Citroën Relay 35 L3H2 (l) and L1H1 (r)

The pricing for Citroën’s New Relay range has just been released, allowing orders to be placed prior to its 1 July, ‘on sale’ date.

New Citroën Relay panel vans will be priced from just £19,405 + VAT for the  base model Relay 30 L1H1 HDi 110 6-speed manual — £545 + VAT more than its predecessor, but with additional features that would have cost more than £600 +VAT on the outgoing model, according to the firm.

Jeremy Smith, Citroën’s Head of Commercial Vehicles & Business Sector Operations, comments:

“New Relay is a compelling choice for businesses. This competitively priced and exceptionally well-equipped range delivers the highest payloads in its sector, along with class-leading load carrying practicality and low cost of operation.

With its wide choice of factory-built variants and Citroën’s unique range of Ready to Run specialist bodied models, there is a New Relay to economically and efficiently suit virtually any business transport requirement.”

The new Relay panel vans offer a choice of payloads from 1140 – 1995kg. The two versions forecast to be the best-sellers are the New Relay 30 L1H1 HDi 110 6-speed manual and the New Relay 35 L3H2 HDi 130 6-speed manual.

The durability of the Relay should be improved, thanks to a series of updates to the van’s body. High use, high stress items such as the rear doors have been reinforced, and higher strength door hinges are now used. Similarly, the sliding side load doors have benefited from reinforced rails, re-designed runners and improved door locks, in order to raise durability and security standards.

Underneath the body, the Relay’s shock absorber mountings have been re-designed, and braking performance has been improved, while the new HDi diesel engines all have significantly improved efficiency, with up to 15% better fuel economy and lower CO2 emissions figures. According to Citroën, the new Relay panel vans in the 3.0 – 3.5 tonne GVW sector have combined cycle fuel economy of up to 42.8mpg, and sub-200g/km CO2 emission figures.

Four fuel-efficient, low CO2 emissions HDi 110, HDi 130, e-HDi 130 Airdream and HDi 150 engines can be specified in the New Relay – all with six-speed, all-synchromesh manual gearboxes. These 2.2 litre turbocharged Euro 5 engines offer exceptional performance, alongside impressive fuel economy figures and low CO2 emissions:

  HDi 110 HDi 130 e-HDi130 Airdream HDi 150
Max power Kw(hp) @ rpm 81(110)@ 3500 96(130)@3500 96(130) @ 3500 110(150)@ 3500
Max torque Nm(lb.ft) @ rpm 250(184) @1750 320(236)@2000 320(236) @2000 350(258)@ 2000

Service intervals for the new vans have been extended to two years/30,000 miles, and in a decisive move, Citroën has decided to fit its Teletrac telematics system, which includes satellite navigation, as standard to all new Relay panel vans.

New Citroën Relay & Peugeot Boxer revealed ahead of CV Show

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New 2014 Citroen Relay

The new Citroen Relay will be unveiled at the 2014 CV Show.

Citroën has revealed details of its new Relay van ahead of its official CV Show debut next week (29 April – 1 May).

The new Relay, which will also be sold as the Peugeot Boxer, will be available in 3.0, 3.3, 3.5 & 4.005 tonne gvw formats, as well as in chassis cab format. Citroën’s Relay Specialist pre-built conversion range will be continued, enabling buyers to order Relay tippers, dropsides and Lutons direct from Citroën  dealers.

Peugeot will offer a similar range, along with its ‘back-to-back’ model — two cabs without chassis delivered as pairs for specialist conversions requiring a different chassis. These are typically used for removals vans and large motorhomes, which use larger, lower chassis platforms than conventional conversions.

As is increasingly the trend with large vans, the Relay will be powered by a single engine, a 2.2HDi, which will be available in three power outputs, 110, 130 and 150PS. Peugeot is opting for a slightly different approach, and while the same 2.2HDi engine, in 110, 130 and 150PS formats will power the bulk of Boxer vans, it is retaining a 3.0-litre HDi 180 model for buyers who are looking for a good long-distance, heavyweight performer.

Both firms will market the new panel van models in four lengths, ranging from L1 (8.0 m3 and 2.67m load length) to L4 (4.07m load length and up to 17m3 capacity). Three roof heights, H1, H2 and H3 will be available, although as with payload options, not all combinations will be possible.

New Peugeot Boxer cab interior

Inside the cab of the new Peugeot Boxer, whose sister van, the Citroen Relay, will be unveiled at the CV Show 2014.

The new vans will be front-wheel drive only, but will be available with Intelligent Traction Control/Grip Control, the PSA electronic limited slip differential system that helps provide additional traction in slippery conditions. Electronic Stability Control will be standard on all models, while a Lane Departure Warning System and Hill Descent Control will be optional extras.

Finally, both vans will boast extended service intervals of up to 30,000 miles/two years, although in my opinion, only high mileage users should even consider this: my view is that extended service intervals are one of the reasons that modern diesels suffer so many expensive problems once they get out of warranty.

I also believe that from a safety perspective, all vehicles should have an annual service: honestly, what kind of business can’t schedule half a day downtime for each of its vans, once a year, in the name of safety, reliability and durability (not to mention resale value)?

Citroën conversion programme recognised with industry award

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Citroen Ready to Run range

Citroën’s Ready To Run range has won the VansA2Z One-Stop Shop Award for the second consecutive year.

Citroën’s ‘Ready to Run’ specialist vehicle programme has won the VansA2Z ‘One-Stop Shop’ award for the second consecutive year.

Ready to Run enables Citroën customers to buy readybuilt conversions, directly from Citroën dealers.

The firm’s programme is the most comprehensive in the UK market, and enables businesses to purchase conversions for Nemo, Berlingo, Dispatch and Relay vans, including:

  • Dropside trucks (Relay)
  • Luton vans (Relay)
  • Temperature-controlled (chiller/freezer) vans (Nemo, Berlingo, Dispatch & Relay)
  • Tippers (Relay)
  • Glass carrying vans (Berlingo, Dispatch & Relay)
  • High-cube, low-loading vans (Relay)
  • Minibuses (Relay)

Jeremy Smith, Citroën’s Head of Commercial Vehicles & Business Sector Operations, says that the Ready to Run programme:

“continues to attract new Citroën LCV customers, particularly in the Small, Medium Enterprise (SME) sector.”

This makes sense — while larger companies might prefer to arrange for bulk orders to their specifications from commercial bodybuilders, for smaller companies, the cost and time of doing this isn’t so attractive, and they won’t be able to benefit from volume discounts, either.

Citroën To Unveil New Relay At April’s CV Show

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Citroen Relay

The new Relay is expected to be an updated version of the current model (shown above).

Citroën will unveil an updated version of its popular Relay large van at the Birmingham NEC CV Show this April. The new Relay, which is due to go on sale during the third quarter of this year, will go head to head against the all-new two tonne Ford Transit, which has had outstanding reviews from early press tests.

Full details of the New Relay will be released at the CV Show. However, the range is expected to include all the major model configurations found in the current Relay range.

As such there will be a wide choice of panel vans, chassis cabs, chassis crew cabs and back-to-back cabs. All will be offered in a variety of gross vehicle weights, with a range of low emission, fuel-efficient HDi diesels. In addition the New Relay range will include ready-bodied Specialist Models, such as dropside trucks, tippers and Luton vans – and a full range of Ready-to-Run conversions.

I’ll publish photos and more details when they become available following the launch, which will take place on April 29 2014 at the CV Show.

Renault, Citroën & Volkswagen Collect Awards At Business Van Of The Year

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Several of the UK’s most popular vans picked up a awards at the inaugural Business Van of the Year Awards today, presented by Business Vans. Here are some of the highlights of today’s event.

City Van Award

Citroen Nemo van

Citroen Nemo van

The Citroën Nemo was the judges’ choice in the City Van category, thanks to its compact dimensions, high payload and low running costs — the Nemo is only 3.86m long, but has a high 660kg payload and a large 2.5m3 (extendable to 2.8 m3) load compartment, which can accommodate a Euro pallet, or load lengths of up to 2,493mm with the standard Extenso® front passenger seat folded flat.

Combined cycle fuel consumption of up to 62.8mpg means that fuel costs can be kept under control, while CO2 emissions of just under 119g/km ensure that the van’s environmental credentials aren’t questioned.

The final clincher for the Nemo was probably Citroën’s strong presence in the SME and small fleet markets. Since the Nemo is also available from Peugeot (as the Bipper) and Fiat (as the Fiorino), Citroën’s UK Business Centre network is one of the few ways of differentiating between the three company’s offerings — and there aren’t really any other van models that compete directly in this category.

Small & Green…

Renault Kangoo Van Z.E. electric van

The Renault Kangoo Van Z.E. electric van has already sold more than 11,000 units, making it the best-selling electric van in Europe.

The Renault Kangoo was the victor in two categories, taking home the awards for both Small Trades Van and Green Van of the Year, in the form of the all-electric Kangoo Van Z.E.

Proving that the presence of the Kangoo-based Citan hasn’t reduced the appeal of Renault’s offering, judge Ralph Morton, Business Van Manager’s editorial director, said that:

“The small trades van sector is supremely competitive, but the Kangoo wins for us because it’s the best example of how a small trades van can appeal to a wide variety of users in many business sectors.”

It’s a notable victory against the all-conquering Citroën Berlingo, and the judges acknowledged that Renault’s electric offering, the multi-award winnning Kangoo Van Z.E., is also a strong real-world performer, with Mr Morton describing it as, “an excellent choice for small businesses wanting to operate a green van in city environments”.

The Germans make it five

Volkswagen Transporter Sportline

The Volksagen Transporter was the Business Van judges choice for Van of the Year.

Renault managed two awards, but Volkswagen went three better and left the awards ceremony with no fewer than five titles. The German marque’s ever-popular Transporter van was the judges’ choice in the Van of the Year and Best Large Trades Van categories, with judge Ralph Morton describing the Transporter as “the ideal all-rounder for the trades, offering quality, value and reliability in equal measure”.

Meanwhile, the Crafter picked up the award for Best Heavy Van, beating the ever-popular Sprinter to the title, thanks in part to the reduced running costs provided by its BlueMotion specification.

Finally, the Volkswagen’s big pick-up, the Amarok, romped home with the Best Utility Pick-Up and Best Double Cab awards, with Mr Morton describing the Amarok as “delivering high standards of quality and reliability. Everything you would expect from a Volkswagen”.

Away from the vehicles, Volkswagen also won the Best Service Package for Van Owners award, thanks to the “service offering and back-up provided by the brand’s dedicated Van Centre network”

Today’s Judges included Mark Cartwright, head of vans and light commercial vehicles at FTA (Freight Transport Association), Marcus Puddy, director of commercial vehicles with the biggest leasing company in the UK, LexAutolease, Richard Bunn, director of White Hot Vans, Eddie Parker, fleet LCV consultant at GE Capital Fleet Services, Rod Lloyd, managing director of Low Cost Vans, and chairman Keith Hawes, managing director of Magma Automotive Services.

Citroën Berlingo Is ‘Small Van Of The Year’ For 3rd Time

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The 2014 Citroën Berlingo

Citroën Berlingo has been voted Fleet Van Small Van of the Year

The Citroën Berlingo was crowned Fleet Van ‘Small Van of the Year’ today, at an awards ceremony in London, making it the third time the popular van has laid claim to this prestigious award for the third time.

Recently updated for 2014, the Berlingo is Citroën’s best-selling LCV, and was the UK’s best-selling van in its sector during the first three quarters of this year, according to Scott Michael, Citroën’s Head of Commercial Vehicles & Business Centre Programme.

The Fleet Van awards judges commented that the Berlingo was in:

“A highly competitive shortlist, but new eco models, an electric vehicle derivative and Trafficmaster as standard swing it in the Berlingo’s favour. It also has low cost of ownership, good driver appeal, strong network support and a decent payload. It’s a very likeable van.”

The Berlingo range includes a wide range of models: two load lengths, a Crew Van, enhanced traction versions, choice of payloads and trims levels, as well as a platform cab for specialist conversions. All Berlingo panel vans have a Trafficmaster telematics platform (including Smartnav intelligent satellite navigation and Trackstar stolen vehicle tracking), which also provides access, at low cost, to Fleet Director real time fleet management.

Already one of the most economical and lowest emissions LCVs in its sector, the Berlingo has just gained further fuel economy improvements and CO2 emissions reductions and now boasts fuel consumption of up to 62.8mpg and CO 2 emissions of as little as 118g/km.

In addition, the latest Berlingo now benefits from the availability of a new ETG6 automated six-speed manual gearbox option.

Strong Residuals and Flexible Loadspace Make Nemos A Buy For Motor Factor

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Mill Autoquip Citroën Nemo

The Citroën Nemo’s folding passenger seat mean it can carry full exhaust systems, despite its compact dimensions.

The Citroën Nemo isn’t going to be suitable for every job, but it may be bigger than you think. If you’re about to dismiss the Nemo in favour of a larger, more expensive model, it might pay to check one out in the flesh to see if it could work for you.

For example, motor factor Mill Autoquip finds that the Nemo’s Extenso folding passenger seat means that it can fit full exhaust systems into this pint-sized van — not something you’d expect. The firm recently added 40 Nemo vans to its fleet, taking the total number of Citroën vans it operates to more than 100.

The firm’s accountant and Fleet Manager, Tony Watson, explains that the Nemo is big enough for most jobs:

“The Nemo, with its combination of excellent fuel economy, load capacity and the Extenso folding seat – which allows us to carry exhaust systems – fulfils our requirements for most day-to-day deliveries. We use the Berlingos to transport the heavier items, such as parts from our dedicated commercial vehicle branch in Redruth.”

Each Nemo van will make up to 50 drops each day, delivering parts to customers from its 17 depots across Cornwall, Devon and Somerset. The company purchases most of its vehicles outright and keeps them for three years during which time they will clock up around 100,000 miles over some challenging terrain.

Despite this demanding duty cycle, the firm finds that the vans also have strong residual appeal, and Watson says that “we still have people queuing up to buy our Citroëns when we have finished with them.”

Updated Citroën Berlingo Delivers Up To 62.8mpg

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Updated 2014 Citroën Berlingo

The Citroën Berlingo has been updated for 2014 and now offers fuel consumption of up to 62.8mpg and lower emissions.

The UK’s best-selling sub-2.5t small van, the Citroën Berlingo, has been updated for 2014.

This Berlingo gains further fuel economy improvements and emissions reductions as well as being refreshed with exterior changes, a new gearbox and more in-cab storage.

From November production onwards the Berlingo range gains a new chrome grille, new side rubbing strips and revised side skirts.  Internally, to increase the Berlingo’s already high levels of in-cab storage, all Berlingo vans and platform cabs now gain a full-width, over-windscreen storage shelf with map reading lights on either side for both driver and passenger.

In addition, all Berlingo Airdream models previously specified with EGS6 automated manual gearboxes will now be equipped with a new ETG6 (6-speed Efficient Tronic Gearbox). The ETG6 gearbox has been developed to provide improved driveability.

The ETG6 gearbox has optimised pedal mapping to adjust power effectively for smoother start-ups and acceleration. Gear change speeds are modulated more precisely, based on driver input, for improved performance and comfort, and its optimised gear shift patterns further improve efficiency.  All Berlingo vans specified with the new ETG6 gearbox also have Electronic Stability Control (ESC), traction control with Hill Start Assist, a passenger airbag, cruise control with driver-adjustable speed limiter and a new Gear Shift Indicator as standard.

The firm’s flagship Berlingo e-HDi 90 Airdream ETG6 model, which features micro-hybrid technology with Stop & Start and the new ETG6, six-speed automated manual gearbox, now delivers CO2 emissions from just 118g/km and a Combined Cycle fuel economy figure of up to 62.8mpg.

Most buyers are likely to opt for the standard Berlingo L1 model powered by the HDi 90, which also benefits from improved fuel consumption and lower emissions and now has a Combined Cycle fuel economy figure of 56.5mpg and CO2 emissions that have been reduced from 138g/km to 132g/km.

Citroën has also completed a programme to optimise payloads, which has resulted in an increase for virtually every Berlingo van.  As a result the baseline Berlingo HDi 90 Manual L1 850 models now have a maximum available payload of 896kg.

Scott Michael, Citroën’s Head of Commercial Vehicles & Business Centre Programme, remarked:

“The latest changes to the Berlingo will enable this popular model to maintain its position at the top of the sales charts.  In the first three quarters of this year the Berlingo outsold all of its competitors in the up to 2.5tonne gvw small van category, proof of its continuing popularity and versatility.  Operators of both large and small fleets, appreciate the Berlingo’s excellent fuel economy of up to 62.8mpg, low running costs and wide choice of models.”

The Berlingo range includes L1 and L2 versions, which provide a maximum load capacity of up to 4.1m3, a 3-seater Extenso® multi-function folding passenger seat (excluding X models), payloads of up to 896kg, a 5-seat crew van, an enhanced traction XTR+ van and a platform cab for special bodywork.

All Berlingo panel vans are fitted, as standard, with Citroën’s unique – and recently enhanced – Trafficmaster telematics platform, which includes Smartnav dynamic satellite navigation system and Trackstar stolen vehicle tracking.