21 Nov 08 15:01
Citroen Nemo Multispace
Citroen is to bring a right-hand drive version of its Nemo Multispace mini-MPV to the UK next year.
This dinky little utilitarian vehicle is a passenger-carrying version of the Nemo van, and a sister model to the Fiat Fiorino Qubo , which also goes on sale here in the New Year.
The Nemo and Fiorino (plus Peugeot's Bipper) are all built in the same factory in Tofas, Turkey, in a joint venture between Fiat and Peugeot-Citroen.
Both the two-door van and the seated-passenger models, with sliding rear doors on both sides and full-length windows, have been developed on a version of the Fiat Panda's underpinnings, so they should be car-like to drive and reasonably refined.
And for outdoorsy types, there'll even be a camper van version: Romahome of the Isle of Wight is to offer a single-bed conversion, similar in spirit to the popular C15 van-based model it built in the 1990s.
Engines for the Nemo Multispace are the Fiat 1.4 petrol (73bhp) and 1.3 Multijet diesel (75bhp); the diesel's good for almost 63mpg and the petrol for over 40mpg.
Citroen promises that the Nemo Multispace will be competitively-priced - expect a starting price of under £10,000 - to draw distance between it and the larger C3 Picasso, which will also go on sale in February.
The C3 Picasso is still compact - it's only 3-4 inches longer than the new Fiesta or Corsa, apparently - but its interior is nearly as roomy as that of the Xsara Picasso. It will be priced to take on the likes of the Vauxhall Meriva and Nissan Note, from around £11,000.
Citroen's third new people-carrier, also on sale in February, is a seven-seat version of the popular Berlingo Multispace.
To accommodate the extra pair of rear seats - which slot into the boot - the central row of seats have been raised a little and moved further forwards. All five rear seats fold down on their bases, though not completely flat, and tumble forwards. They can also be removed altogether, to create a large load-bay.
