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Peugeot is to import its latest range of Expert people-carriers and compact vans from the middle of 2007 in tandem with the arrival of a revised range of its already locally popular Boxer commercials.
Peugeot SA has also received government permission to do its own recap taxi conversions on the Boxer. They will be available to seat 16 people and be powered by a 2.8-litre diesel engine.
PEUGEOT EXPERT COMBI: Well, that's what it's called in Europe, but there could be a clash with VW over that, so expect another badge... it'll be here in 2007 with a choice of wheelbase.
The Expert ranges will be launched in Europe in February, 2007 as a van and as a minibus with a maximum of nine seats. They will be the third generation, developed by PSA Peugeot Citroën in partnership with Fiat, and the French company describes them as "a turning point for Peugeot, thanks to the improvement in standard equipment levels, performance and the greater versatility offered by both of the new vehicle ranges"
The Expert will have 'equipment levels similar to those found in a modern car'
.
"The new Expert has been designed around all the strengths of the current model - handling, ride comfort and driving position – and will have equipment levels similar to those found in a modern car."
Both the panel van and the Combi will be available with a sliding door on each side.
The Expert van…
…will be assembled with a choice of two wheelbases and two roof heights and with a larger load capacity – both volume and weight – than the current model.
The long-wheelbase/high roof model will be rated for a volume of seven cubic metres and 1200kg but all versions will be equipped with a new pneumatic rear suspension that has made it possible to lower the overall height of the van to 1
Pneumatic suspension will be standard across both the passenger and commercial ranges
.894m – think underground car parks.
Peugeot says the lower ride will also improve handling and that a manual control will be able to raise or lower the load height through the suspension as necessary. The load box, being pretty much square, will easily accommodate a Euro pallet.
Remote-controlled locks will be fitted to the cab doors and the tail door – the latter can be opened from the driver's seat or from a key fob.
Four engines will be available – three diesel and one petrol. Here's how they're listed:
1.6 HDi 68kW
2.0 HDi 90kW
2.0 HDi 98kW DPFS (diesel particulate filter system)
and
2.0 16V 105kW
The two two-litre HDi engines, developed in co-operation with Ford, will be mated to a strengthened version of Peugeot’s ML6C six-speed manual gearbox and, in Europe, require a service only every 30 000km.
The latest active and passive safety systems will (optionally) be available, including traction control, an anti-rollover module, anti-lock brakes and front, side and curtain crash bags. Parking sensors, speed limiter and satnav will also be in the "options" bag.
Peugeot says the van's seats are more those of a modern car than a working vehicle and the driver's "office" – designed, believe it or not, by Pininfarina - will be spacious and airy thanks to a way-forward windscreen.
PEUGEOT EXPERT: Sliding door each side, adjustable pneumatic suspension and a "driver's office" designed by Pininfarina. They'll be in SA in the middle of 2007.
The Expert Combi…
…"represents a new way of travelling" for families with a penchant for sports equipment or rental/chauffeur companies "looking for a luxurious and refined vehicle".
The same range of engines, wheelbases and heights will be available as well as the same gearboxes and pneumatic rear suspension. There will be two rear rows of seats, the rearmost reached through the sliding side doors.
Depending on the internal configuration, Peugeot says, it will be possible to carry from two to nine people. The individual, stepped seats and the double bench seats can be folded, tilted or removed to re-arrange the interior. All the seats are individual, including the double bench seats, so that passengers are guaranteed to travel in comfort.
Curtain crash bags inflating from the roof will protect each row of seats and up to six bags will be available depending on the equipment level. Luggage space in the LWB version can be as much as 1239 litres with all three rows of seats in place.
Three trim levels will be available: Comfort, Leisure and Premium. The higher levels will have a unique interior colour scheme for the fascia panel, seat covers, trim in the rear and different door releases.
Last words from Peugeot: "The Expert Combi provides a safe environment for travelling, combined with a high level of comfort and a well thought-out, large and adaptable interior space.
"It is also exceptionally enjoyable to drive."
By Les Stephenson, November 14, 2006
Source: Motoring.co.za
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