Citroën will unveil the SpaceTourer, a new large LCV-based MPV and van at the Geneva show in March.
Built on the same EMP-2 platform used by the C4 Picasso and Grand C4 Picasso, the SpaceTourer is the fruit of a joint PSA and Toyota programme similar to that producing the Citroën C1, Peugeot 107 and Toyota Aygo city cars.
Peugeot and Toyota will be launching their own versions of the SpaceTourer MPV under the Traveller and Proace badges, while commercial versions of the PSA duo are likely to stick with the current Dispatch and Expert names.
The new vehicle will be offered in three versions including one XS model with a 4.6-metre length, the shortest of the three but able to seat nine occupants.
Both the M, 4.95 metres long and the 5.3m XL will have longer wheelbases, freeing up more space in the cabin, while the vehicle will also be sold on its ease of access, the side sliding doors producing an opening of up to 0.93m depending on body style.
In five-seat form with the second row at its furthest forward point, boot capacities will be 1,978, 2,381 and 2,932 litres respectively. And despite its capacities the SpaceTourer is described as an agile vehicle, having a width of 1.92 metres, a height of 1.90m and a turning circle of 11.3 to 12.4 metres.
The SpaceTourer will be offered in two distinct trims, the Feel and Business. Both offer all three lengths while the Feel can be fitted with five, seven or eight seats, the Business with between five and nine seats, its predicted major market being transport duties such as hotel shuttles and taxis.
A quintet of powertrains will be on offer, all with BlueHDi diesel engines. Entry level will be the 95 manual, with in XS form combined cycle fuel economy of 51.4mpg and CO2 emissions of 144g/km. Stop-and-Start variants with the ETG6 auto transmission improve these figures to 54.3mpg and 135g/km.
The 115 S&S is offered with a six-speed manual only (55.4mpg, 133g/km), as is the 150 S&S (53.3mpg, 139g/km). Finally the range is topped by the180 S&S EAT6 with 48.7mpg and 151g/km.
Citroën is also promising plenty of driver-and-passenger focused technology in the new SpaceTourer range, including a seven-inch touchscreen tablet making its debut in the model, while the vehicles also include a wide range of active safety measures that have already helped them achieve five-star Euro NCAP crash-test ratings.
