Earlier we brought you a screen shot of Citroen's website that features a countdown meter until the French automaker unveils its latest vehicle. Although we'll have to wait another couple of days to know for certain, the replacement for the Berlingo utility minivan is shaping up as a strong contender for the slot, with an undisguised photo of the new vehicle surfacing on the internet.

The Berlingo, also badged as the Partner by PSA sister-company Peugeot, has been on the market since 1996 and received a facelift in 2002. Competing with the new Renault Kangoo that was unveiled at last September's Frankfurt show, the little vans are a common site overseas where their utility and compact size prove a popular combination.

[Source: World Car Fans]

click above image for more pics of the VW Toaster Van

You're supposed to get baked in the VW bus, not toasted, but whatever. Volkswagen originally had these promotional toasters done up for its Japanese operation. Buy a new VW or bring your VeeDub in for an inspection, get a toaster. While supplies last, of course. There were only 5,000 produced, and fans of splitties and air-cooled VWs in general are rightfully nutso for them. We're not sure if the 100-volt wiring for the Japanese consumer will be okay on the slightly higher voltage here in the US, but if you torch your house after spending at least $250 on the toaster, please don't hold us responsible. Just in time for Christmas, the ultimate culinary delight for Volkswagen fans. What better way to augment a nice Frühstück of Hazelnussomeletten than with some VW-logo toast?

[Source: eBay via GermanCarScene.com]

Please, let it be so. The current chromed snout on VWs offerings is not only beastly to look at, it doesn't help Audi's cars stand apart, either. We suppose that cuts both ways -- VW probably benefits by a familial resemblance to their cousins. However, the front end on the upcoming Sharan/Touran twins looks to hint at the future face of Volkswagen, we hope.

There's a bumper crop of spiffy van-lets over on the Continent right now, and the Touran/Sharan are latecomers to the party. The vans won't drop until 2010, due to styling tweaks that Martin Winterkorn has reportedly requested.

The Sharan will likely be available with sliding doors, while the Touran will make do with conventional front-hinged points of entry. A healthy selection of powertrain options is expected to be available, from the turbocharged FSI 2.0 liter four cylinder to a 3.2 liter FSI VR6, along with the requesite TDI powerplants. 4Motion will be available, which we'd love to sample hooked up to the gruntiest of the diesels (which will surpass the VR6 in torque output). Being based on the Passat's underpinnings yields a van that's easy to wield while offering great space-efficiency. We like the look of these boxy family haulers, with their crisp edges and large glass areas, but alas, we'll have to take up intercontinental jet-setting if we wish to drive them.

[Source: Autobild via German Car Blog]

It's hard to believe, but there was a time when full-size vans were cool. Custom paint jobs, mag wheels, those groovy circular windows, and plenty of decals ruled the day, and there was even a movie that featured an all-van drag scene. The movie, appropriately titled The Van, featured a yellow Dodge and a black Chevy. This classic van suspense thriller reminds us that aftermarket parts have been around for a long time, as evidenced by the Chevy's flame decals and sweet chain-link steering wheel.

Follow the jump to see the video, as it's pretty sweet. Unfortunately, someone slapped down some music over the movie's soundtrack, but the drag race more than makes up for it. While you're watching, check out the "No Way" t-shirt on the movie's hero. We want one, just not that tight.

[Source: Jalopnik]

click above image to vew high-res pics of the 2008 Ford E-Series van in various configurations

You may have a grown up in a family that used a conversion van for daily transport like I did. If so, perhaps you share my strange appreciation for these haulers of human and commercial cargo. They rarely ever receive redesigns, just updates year after year that evolve them into something resembling modern transports.

The Ford E-Series dominates the van segment, holding court with 49.5% market share. The Blue Oval has given the old Econoline a new face for 2008 that draws heavily on the bold grille design of its Super Duty trucks, which isn't a bad connection to make when many of your customers work at construction sites or warehouses instead of cubicle-bedecked office spaces. All the sheetmetal ahead of the A-pillar is new, and that brick wall of a grille actually improves airflow to the engine, as well. Much of the van was kept the same, however, in deference to the large number of upfitters who take an E-Series and make something else out of it. If Ford were to come out with an all-new van, that entire industry would have to reinvest in tooling, equipment and machinery to work with the new design.

Check out additional impressions of the 2008 E-Series and Ford's official press release after the jump, and view the enw van from all angles in our high-resolution gallery.

[Source: Ford]

Could this portend the impending doom of the SUV as family car? BMW will be adding sportvans to their lineup beginning with the F5 in 2009. The basis for the F5 will be provided by the X5. Following on the heels of the F5 will be a van based on the 3-series called, quite naturally, the F3. Underneath the five-door five-placers will likely be found several power options, as well as available all-wheel drive with rear-wheel drive standard. The rhetoric is that large diameter wheels will be avoided, as they mainly detract from ride quality, add unsprung weight, and don't help handling as much as you'd think. The picture seems to run contrary to that statement, as the wheels fill the openings, but perhaps the graphic artist just got a little crazy.

[Source: Motor Trend via Topspeed]

There's a whole class of small minivans over in Europe that we miss out on here in the US. Ford's got the great new S-Max, and Volkswagen's working on bringing a new version of its Sharan to market.

AutoExpress managaed to nab a new Sharan, due by the end of 2008, with one of its long lenses. These people movers are a smaller alternative for folks who need flexibility and utility coupled with an easy-driving, carlike demeanor. They'd slot nicely into the strata of the US marketplace under the ever-larger minivans we have on offer now. VW's got some catching up to the S-Max to do with their new Sharan.

For the current version of the MPV, VW and Ford teamed up to produce the Galaxy and Sharan models together in Portugal. By resting on its laurels, Volkswagen has been left in the dust while everyone else updated and refined their MPV offerings. Ford, for its part, has since brought out the S-Max and a new version of the Galaxy. Underpinning the Sharan is an adaptation of the Passat platform, and the MPV offers the same powertrain options as the Passat, as well.

[Source: AutoExpress]

click above image to view high-resolution gallery of 22 pics!

WHOA, This thing conjures up images of caffeine and nicotine fueled road trips, the KTel 8-track banging away with the requesite matchbook jammed in there to keep it operating smoothly. The nose says Econoline quite clearly, while the rest of Ford's latest CUV concept is inspired by both space capsules and Airstream trailers. While the styling of the exterior and interior may pay some homage to what has passed, the mechanized bits of the Airstream are definitely space-age and forward looking. Once you digest the styling and the high-tech underpinnings, the old camper and Hal 9000 influences converge neatly. We can definitely picture an A-Team edition with matte black paint, a wing on the back and a red stripe down the sides.

More after the jump including a press release, and check out our gallery of high-resolution images.



Check out all the debuts and galleries from the Detroit Auto Show here.

Ford and General Motors have lost their taste for the minivan wars, leaving the Chrysler Group to stand alone as the sole domestic player in the minivan arena. It's just as well -- DCX always had the best American vans, anyway. Having invented the segment, Chrysler has hunkered down and pushed their minivan to be a contender once again. The Caravan and Town & Country will sport new styling, squaring up the edges of the current look, and front-end appearances will offer more distinction between the Dodge and Chrysler brands. Underhood, four-cylinders are banished, and there's a new high-end 4.0 liter V6 hooked up to a six-speed transaxle. The squarer profile will offer more interior room, and there's been talk of DCX ditching the short-wheelbase vans altogether. Speaking of the interior, of course the Stow 'n Go seats will show up, but there are also some slick surprises inside the new vans.

Continued after the jump

[Source: Allpar.com]

Click to enlarge

Known best here for their bodykits that've aimed to turn a couple of Nissans into Aston Martins, DAMD is actually a prolific manufacturer of styling kits for just about every Japanese automaker. We have to say that their new accessory package for Honda's Vamos, Hobio and Acty vans takes the cake, though.

Once the OE parts are switched out for the DAMD pieces, the little kei-class vans are transformed into miniaturized Dodge A100s. DAMD calls the kit "Locoboy." Honda's Vamos family of microvans certainly lends itself to retro-fication. You may recall the Vamos we featured back in August, which was kitted to look like a 1972 Honda Step Life van.

The Step Life clone was cool, but the Locoboy operates on an entirely different plane. We'd roll in this all day.

[Source: DAMD]