Berlingo News and Blog

Citroen took the top two slots for “International Van of the Year” for 2009.  The Nemo edged out the Berlingo to win the award.

More information is here:

Citroen Nemo and Berlingo Make It a 1-2 At International Van Of The Year 2009

Venturi Automobiles is producing a concept car with Michelin, and while they are at it, they are going to crank out more Citroën Berlingo Firsts for the French Post Office.

Details here:

More EV and Hybrid Concepts for Paris: Venturi Automobiles and Michelin; Peugeot

The Daily Record takes a test drive with the Citroen Berlingo Multispace and was pleasantly surprised by what they found:

Multispace Talks The Family Lingo

Some highlights:

• The price is right and you get a lot for your money, especially since it is, “considerably less than most conventional family hatchbacks or estates”
• The two rear doors make getting in and out of it very easy, which is one of the reasons it’s a, “fun-filled family transporter.
• The diesel is the best option by far.  Not only does it get good gas mileage, but it has “punchy performance”.
• Plenty of space throughout the cabin and lots of good storage areas.  Much of that is because this model is based on the C4 Picasso running gear.

The tested used this car as their tester: Citroen Berlingo Multispace 1.6 HDi XTR Engine with 1.6-litre diesel, 110bhp Fuel economy, 50.4mpg, CO2 emissions 147g/km, a Warranty of three years/60,000 miles, and a price of £14,625.

What do you get when you cross a Berlingo van with a roof-mounted freezer unit and an insulated bulkhead?  Throw in some new door seals and you have a fridge on wheels!

Check out the details here:

Citroën Makes it Fridge Van 4000

There’s no need to turn up the air conditioner in these models.  Somers Refrigeration created some 50 Citroën Ready to Run Nemos, Berlingo Firsts, new Berlingos, Dispatch and Relayvans.  Most operate slightly above freezing at 0 to 5 degrees Centigrade and the freezer models can go down to -25 degrees.

Looks like the London Wasps Rugby football club will be provided the new Berlingo LCV and Relay vans and give discounts to the players if they want to buy one.

More information here:

Citroen become official vehicle supplier for leading rugby team

and here:

Citroen Kicks Off Exclusive Deal With London Wasps RFC

CarKeys took a look at the new Berlingo Multispace and yawned at what they saw.  The sub-title was “Even more of the same”.

There’s a good description of the Modutop, which is the overhead storage system.  Well, that’s sort of an understatement because it includes a 12v socket, roof bars, and even a scented air freshener!

Here is the full article: Road Test: Citroen Berlingo Multispace 1.6i 110 VTR

Criticisms included safety, because of a risk of knee and femur injury, as well as to pedestrians.  Not that it’s a crazy hazard on the road, but it’s not the exactly a pile of bubble-wrap.  The safety for kids though was very high, in fact is was the highest in Euro NCAP history.

Many of the criticisms were actually positives.  For example they say it’s very easy to drive and the controls are too light to the touch.  And the engine is quiet, except when you’re on the highway it gets a little louder… as one would expect.

The Independant gives an overview of the new Berlingo Multispace 1.6 and it’s pretty positive.  Some of the highlights:

• It’s much bigger than the original (10 inches), which has been renamed the Berlingo First.
• Some details: the price is £12,375, the engine is a 1.6 litre four-cylinder turbocharged diesel, the top speed is 100 mph with an acceleration of 0-62 mph in 14.3 seconds
• It’s fairly green (even the non-Eletrique version) with an average fuel consumption of 49.6 mpg and CO2 emissions of 150g/km.
• Other similar cars are the Fiat Doblo, Renault Kangoo, Skoda Roomster
• The interior and exterior still have, “cheerful plasticky practicality” although it’s built on a different platform — the C4 Picasso MPV.
• It does not drive like a van as did it’s predecessor.  In many ways it’s more car-like.

Read the full review here which includes some more qualitative impressions: The Verdict: Citroën Berlingo Multispace 1.6

Estonians registered 44% less cars than last year but still bought a bunch of Berlingos: Sales of new cars down by a third in Estonia

Even though they were released in 1996 and production ended in 2005, it’s similarity to the non-electric van — including the power steering, servo brakes, and generous load-bay area — pushed it into the top ten on Channel4.com.

At least the French Post Office will be able to use it.

Click the following title to read the article: The 4Car Top Ten: Electric Cars