A pair of new clutchless transmissions have joined GM Europe UK brand Vauxhall’s commercial vehicle line-up.
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The Combo 1.3 CDTi Easytronic and Vivaro 2.0 CDTi Tecshift complement existing two-pedal transmissions in Vauxhall’s portfolio, which include an automatic version of Astravan, a 2.5-litre Vivaro Tecshift and a Movano Tecshift.
Built at GM’s manufacturing plant in Luton, Beds – where more vans are built than anywhere else in Britain, including Renault Trafics – Vauxhall says the Vivaro 2.0 CDTi Tecshift is a key new model, as it allows customers to take advantage of the two-pedal transmission at a lower price point than before, when it was only offered on 2.5-litre models.
Available with the 115PS version of Vivaro’s Euro IV-compliant 2.0-litre commonrail diesel engine, the six-speed transmission allows both automatic and manually-operated changes. It is available as an £800 option on all 115PS Vivaros, meaning the entry level 2700 standard roof SWB panel van costs GBP15,590 ex VAT.
The Combo Easytronic uses Vauxhall’s semi-automatic gearbox, pioneered on the Corsa, Meriva and Astra car range. Coupled to the Combo’s 1.3-litre 75PS CDTi engine, the system offers either a fully automatic mode, or a set-up where gears can be individually selected electronically.
Offered as a standalone model, the Combo Easytronic costs from GBP10,665 ex VAT, rising to £11,665 for the five-seater crew van model.
Vauxhall Commercial Vehicles brand manager, Steve Bryant, said: “We constantly monitor the LCV market and respond by introducing new models as and when the market demands. We have identified an increased interest in non-manual transmissions from our customers, and these latest introductions satisfy a small yet very important pocket of demand.”
The UK is currently GM’s biggest market in Europe for commercial vehicles, with almost 40,000 new vans registered between January and September 2007, while the GM plant at Luton is building more vans than ever before, with over 90,000 units forecast for 2007.
