Test Drive Citroen Berlingo since 2008 Minivan

Neevklidova Geometry

Peugeot and Citroen own and independent promotion structures on the market and retail sales. However, the brands belong to the same concern, and therefore develop and produce cars mainly by shared forces. The birth of cargo-passenger twins Ber-Lingo and the partner at the plant in Vigo watched Vladimir Solovyov. Photo: Citroen and Peugeot.
 
Berling - first and partner
Long time Spanish Vigo did not see such a breath of journalists from all over the planet. There were not only North American - in the United States, the European Peugeot and Citroen products have not become popular yet. But guests from Latin America, Japan, China, and, of course, from all, without exception, there were plenty of European countries. In Vigo, all the leadership of the concern led by Kristan Streff is arrived. Cause? World premiere of cars capable of satisfying the requirements of the widest range of consumers.
Once from this Galissian port, now largest in Spain, conquistadors went to conquer new lands. Approximately the same to make a new Berlingo and partner, only on a global scale. The tasks are not completely simple, given that sales of precursors exceeded 3 million copies, they confidently leaded in their class in the European market for 11 years. Newcomers need to be simultaneously cars for professionals and for lovers. Being extremely accommodated and at the same time not to frighten your size of people accustomed to ordinary passengers. Well, and to all, everyone should keep branded traits. And this, you see, is not so easy when all the details except the elements of the hood, head light devices and the emblems of brands are common.
I will say more: Before the beginners there is a superfolder - to establish themselves in the market in the conditions when their predecessors are strained from the conveyor and sold at more attractive prices. And make them on the same factory in Vigo. In order not to create confusion in models, the newcomers got the names of Berlingo's predecessors and a partner without any additions. But the old men will receive the consoles. The Berlingo-Föst - Berling-first and partner-origin will appear on the light. Agree, it sounds noble than vice-bullingo or ex-partner.
Space and tradition
Today, it seems, the world is crazy from total motorization. The process is growing not only quantitatively, multiplying the park, but also qualitatively. The variety of types of machines, cars are crushed and created again. Remember, it cost a golf class with a marked roof noticeably - it turned out a new CD-Wane class. Complied with comfortable seats to a delivered van and enriching his interiors, Peugeot and Citroen got Ludospas. This French-speaking neoplasm Morphologically dates back to the words Ludique - game and Espace space. It turned out a large car for recreation: bulk, funny, practical and economical. So it was with the first partners and Burling.
The second generation of cargo-passenger cars of the concern gave the life of CD-VEN C4 Grand Picasso, more precisely, his platform. As the creators recognize, the task of drawing a modern stylish car around the specified huge internal volume was set. Moreover, so that it is round from the outside, and inside the square (this is for the sake of those who carry the goods with the palets and uses the car for professional purposes).
Taking into account the fact that Citroen C4 Picasso in 5 and 7-seater versions is made at Vigo in Vigo, it becomes clear why this plant is selected for new Burling and partner. But, on the other hand, this Spanish city continues the long-standing traditions of the production of commercial cars of the Peugeot Citroen group. Back in 1958, a van was used here on the basis of the famous de SCSO, which existed on the conveyor until 1970. Here were started in the 1996th Berlingo and partner, and here was destined to cross the interests of two brands, offering the same model under different names.
According to the creators, new Berlingo and partner are more perfect in terms of passive security, as for electronic assistants, ABS will be installed serially, ESP - for extra charge. Owners of new machines will be available such pleasant little things as the automatic inclusion of headlights in the dark, the rain sensor. In other words, Burlingo and partner are full-fledged cars from the point of view of comfort and equipment, and in the possibilities of loading - real merchants.
At the intersection point
Euclide taught that two parallel straight crossing on the plane cannot. But the Earth itself in the representation of the ancients was a flat saucer. Much has changed when the space has become three-dimensional, and the earth is a ball. Designers and Marketers Peugeot and Citroen protrude on the side of the Euclide and make it all so that parallel models of Peugeot and Citroen are sold in different salons and have not intersect anywhere.
It is curious to find out who from the participants of this intramearily confrontation of passenger and cargo-passenger heels is over: supporters of the king of animals on the hood or technocrats with a double chevron? And the same company prepare a lot of surprises to customers. In particular, it is supposed to produce versions with an increased 10 mm clearance, 16-inch wheels and a powerful engine crankcase. The drive will be saved only on the front axle. For Peugeot, this version will receive a romantic name Outdoor, Citroen is just an overvoltage package. Prepared for the production of a model with an increased body volume - up to 3.7 m. And it will be parallel to both brands.
The success of Burling and the first generation partner turned out to be impressive: since 1996, 3.2 million cars have been released. The share of these machines in the park of delivering vans in Europe was 29% in 2007, and among the vans only for passengers or Ludospasov reached 44%. Will it be able to keep this high bar newbies?
Christian Stref, President of PSA PSA PSA-Citroen
The concept of Citroen Berlingo and Peugeot Partner contributed to the emergence of a new passenger car market segment for individuals - compact, economical, spacious, practical. The total investment in the creation of new models on the Platform of Group No. 2 amounted to 660 million euros, of which 334 million are spent on research and development. At the plant in Vi-go, it is planned to produce 300 thousand Burling and partners per year. With their launch, the PSA group will receive the widest range of compact commercial vehicles among European manufacturers.
In 2008, each of them will have five families from small city vans Citroen-Nemo and Peugeot Bipper to Citroen Jumping Compact Vans and Peugeot Expert, as well as Citroen Jumper Commercial Cars and Peugeot Boxer.
 
 


 
 

 

A source: Journal "Behind the wheel"