Mercedes-Benz has revealed its new Renault Kangoo-based successor to the long-discontinued Vaneo commercial van in a series of official sketches.
Called the Mercedes-Benz Citan, the new front-wheel drive urban delivery vehicle is scheduled to get its first public premiere at the Hannover commercial vehicle show in September, prior to the start of sales, including right-hand-drive, later this year.
See official sketches of the Mercedes-Benz Citan
To be eventually sold in five different body variants and three different wheelbases, the Citan will be powered by a range of Renault developed, but Mercedes-Benz enhanced, four-cylinder petrol and diesel engines ranging in power from 59bhp to 108bhp. CNG and LPG variants are set to follow.
Mercedes-Benz says the European market for light commercial vehicles has grown to 700,000 annually, of which it is seeking to gain a market share of about four per cent with the Citan – a figure that hints at a conservative sales target of between 28,000 and 35,000 per year.
“We will take advantage of the trend toward city vans,” says Volker Mornhinweg, Head of Mercedes-Benz Vans.
The Citan – a name Mercedes-Benz created from the words ‘city’ and ‘titan’ – is planned to compete both on price and features with a raft of well established vans, including the Volkswagen Caddy, Citroën Berlingo, Fiat Doblo and its sister car, the Renault Kangoo, alongside which the new Mercedes-Benz will be produced in Maubeuge, France.
