Renault and Opel will premiere a new compact panel van at the 58th Frankfurt LCV Show on September 23, 2000. The van is representative of the new light commercial vehicle which will go on sale in 2001. Jointly developed by the two manufacturers within the scope of a cooperation agreement signed on December 18, 1996, the “X83” project is set to become the new benchmark in the compact panel van segment (class 2).
The LCV market is notable for its strong mix of panel vans, which represent 50% of the European market in 2000. Compact panel vans (MGVW between 2.5 and 2.8 tonnes) make up 50% of the total panel van segment in Europe.
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Renault initiated a proactive strategy in the panel van market with the new Master in 1997. The policy continues with the X83, which will be named TRAFIC.
A vehicle with a distinctive and expressive design, the New Trafic will spearhead Renault’s growth strategy in the Class 2 compact panel van segment. It will be available in panel van and combi (passenger transport) versions and offer two wheelbases – 3,098 and 3,498 mm- a maximum payload of 1,200 kg and maximum loading volume of 6m3. New Trafic will be powered by 80 and 100 bhp variants of Renault’s common rail 1.9 dCi turbodiesel engines and a 120 bhp version of its 2.0 16V petrol engine.
The New Trafic is destined to replace the current Trafic, of which more than 940,000 units have been produced since its launch in 1980. New Trafic will fit into Renault’s light commercial vehicle range above Clio Van and Kangoo Van and below the larger Master above it.
