New Citroen Berlingo revealed at Geneva with fresh design and tech

Citroen has revealed its all-new Berlingo at the 2018 Geneva Motor Show. The venerable van-based MPV gets a new platform and engines, a range of advanced technology features and a radical exterior redesign.

To bring the Berlingo into line with the rest of its passenger car range, Citroen has introduced a bold front end design similar to that seen on the C3 Aircross SUV. The two-tiered headlights transfer over almost unchanged, the front overhang is shorter than before, while smaller versions of the brand's 'Airbumps' sit underneath the sliding doors (which now feature electric windows). The rear end is more conventional, however, with a similar look to the outgoing model. 

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The interior has been totally overhauled, too, with elements borrowed from Citroen's latest models. The brand claims a "generational leap" has been made in terms of quality, while it's been designed to feel lighter and more airy inside. An eight-inch touchscreen is mounted on top of the dash on high-end models, featuring 3D connected navigation, voice recognition and TomTom live traffic info. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto also feature, while wireless phone charging and a head-up display are also available. 

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The Berlingo has taken a leap forward on the safety front, too, with a total of 19 driver assistance features on offer. These include adaptive cruise control that can operate up to a complete stop on automatic models, autonomous braking, blind spot monitoring and park assist. A five-mode Grip Control system also features, allowing the driver to boost the car's traction levels depending on the road surface. 

Under the skin the Berlingo sits on a combination of PSA's latest EMP2 platform at the front, and for payload and body width reasons an adapted version of the old platform at the rear. It's available in two sizes; the 4.4m long 'M' model, and the 4.75m long 'XL'.

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Both are the same width and height, and available with either five or seven seats. On XL models the third row of seats sit on a sliding rail, allowing you to prioritise boot or passenger space depending on needs. In five-seat mode M models have a 775-litre boot (100-litres more than before) while the XL version provides 1,050 litres of space in five-seat form. The cabin also adds another 186-litres of space with 28 storage compartments. 

Two engines are available at launch, in various states of tune. A 1.2-litre Puretech turbo petrol engine can be had in 108bhp form with a six-speed manual gearbox, or in 2019 in 128bhp form with an eight-speed automatic gearbox. There's also a 1.5-litre diesel in 74bhp, 99bhp and 128bhp forms, with the latter available with an eight-speed autobox. 

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