As you most of you already know, Renault and Opel/Vauxhall have been jointly producing light commercial vehicles since 2001 under the Trafic and Vivaro nameplates. Since Renault just released details about the Trafic, Opel and Vauxhall have also lifted the veils off their second-generation Vivaro vans.
Arriving in European markets this summer, the new Vivaro incorporates Opel/Vauxhall’s design language on its front end, and two all-new 1.6-liter diesel engines built by Renault – one with a single turbocharger and the other in a twin-turbo setup.
The 1.6 CDTI and 1.6 BiTurbo CDTI. Powered by two turbochargers, the latter unit promises an average fuel economy of under 6 l/100 km (39.2 mpg US).
Just like the Renault Trafic, the Vivaro features a large, prominent grille, distinctive headlights and the flowing blade side feature. The headlamps have high-gloss black moldings with embedded chrome accents, while the LED daytime running lights feature Opel’s wing graphic design.
The new Vivaro will be offered with three body design trim levels and eleven standard colors. Furthermore, the van will have two overall lengths and two roof heights as a panel van, Combi, crew van and bus. In both lengths, the Vivaro is nearly 220mm (8.6in) longer, offering increased space.
Both the Opel and Vauxhall versions will be built at GM’s Luton plant in the UK.
By Dan Mihalascu
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