Vauxhall freights in reworked Vivaro
We're by no means experts on European commercial vehicles, but it would seem that White Van Men on the continent are about to be inundated with new product choices, while their Stateside counterparts continue to make due largely by choosing between a Dodge/Freightliner Sprinter, Chevrolet Express/GMC Savana, or Ford's jurassic Econoline. In just the past month or so, we've seen a fresh-faced Volkswagen Crafter and Fiat's new Ducato (along with its Citroen Jumper and Peugeot Boxer twins), and now Vauxhall is set to market a revamped Vivaro.
The Vauxhauler receives an exterior once-over, keeping its distinctive bubble roofline, but adding new light fixtures front and rear and a new V-shaped grille.
Inside, upholstery and trim materials have been upgraded, with faux metal trim and chrome-ringed gauges, and a new range of infotainment options available.
Later in 2006, buyers will have their choice of a revamped engine range as well, including a pair of new 2.0-liter common rail turbodiesels or a tidied-up 2.5-liter CDTi, all yoked to six-speed manual gearboxes.
[Source: Transport News Network]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Howard Kerr 10:58PM (6/05/2006)
The Citroen JUMPER....you are kidding? I don't know, but I suspect most people driving this kind of vehicle here in the 'states wouldn't want a 4 cylinder Vauxhauler even if their ONLY other choice was an Econoline van...unless they were buying the gas.
My company (before it went bust) had Dodge vans, Astro vans and Aerovans. You couldn't drive faster than 30-35 mph in the Dodges without the rear axle starting to scream...and they ALL did that. The Astros were cramped for the driver and because we didn't have extended Astros, they were cramped for cargo carrying. The Fords were the best, they went long distances with poor treatment and still ran faithfully. The 3 liter Aerostars were pretty good, at least as RWD compact vans go.
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Clarence 11:08PM (6/05/2006)
I have a thing for vans. A box is a good way to carry stuff. This vehicle looks kinda cool. I would consider one. My first van was a 61 Ford Falcon Econoline Club Wagon. How is that for a name? It was Ford's first mass produced van. I bought it used and cheap before hippies were hip. I almost wore it out and then sold it for more than I paid. Hippies got hip and had to have old vans.
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PJ 3:18AM (6/06/2006)
I've had a thing for vans, too, ever since a band I was in toured England in a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter. There was room for us and another three-piece act, plus enough leftover space to throw a mattress in back.
U.S. vans, by contrast, are dinosaurs. I've rented an Astro and noticed the same tiny front footwells that Howard mentioned. My neighbor's Econoline blew up (really) last month and burned down our carport. I'm sure it wasn't all the van's fault.
On a slightly less irrelevant note, the Dodge Sprinter seems to be selling quite well in the States, so maybe there is a market for sissified Euro-vans here. Or is it just because they're one of only four choices? Any other van fans better-informed than I?
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Max 11:23AM (6/06/2006)
Opel (and its UK twin Vauxhall) does not make its own vans. Instead, they get Renault's Trafic with Opel/Vauxhall badge on it and a couple minor differences. Nissan in Europe also puts its badge on the same van and calss it Primastar. Go to the Renault Trafic page for more information.
By the way, it is possible that this same vehicle will come to the US as part of Nissan's push into market for commercial vehicles.
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Nicolas 11:47AM (6/06/2006)
As per partnership agreements between GM and Renault, the Vauxhall is a clone of the Renault Trafic.
http://www.allcarpictures.com/pictures/renault/trafic/renault-trafic-002.jpg
More info at:http://www.renault.co.uk/Vans_TypeHome.aspx?v=traficPanelVan
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Stphane Dumas 11:53AM (6/06/2006)
http://www.gminsidenews.com/forums/showthread.php?t=32260 note then their Renault counterparts (it was a GM-Europe/Renault joint-venture) Traffic and Master are also restyled. http://www.globalautoindex.com/news.plt?no=1468#
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Mike from Scarborough 11:12PM (6/06/2006)
Bring them all here,let the people decide what to buy.Can you imagine the furl savings???My V6 Tundra work PU gets barely 18 MPG.I'd love to get into a cargo again like the old caravan cargo,it got 25MPG.But I used to carry a spare trany with me at all times...Doe's anyone know if VW is at least cosidering the T5 for export here???
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tio 9:00PM (7/17/2006)
I thought I had seen that van in Paris marked as a Renault.
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cars 4:33AM (7/25/2006)
I don't know how fiabile it is, but it seems to be a perfect commercial truck for a small company.
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