Quirky and ready to be loved

“We are extremely proud that our best-selling Berlingo has been revisited by Caselani. Caselani harnessed the wave of the vintage trend, which is well-established in the Italian car culture. This trend is apparent in both vehicles for individuals and professionals – it involves giving a new lease of life to a legendary model from the past, while incorporating all the modern equipment and high performance that you find on a current vehicle.

Caselani entrusted this restyling exercise for Berlingo to David Obendorfer.

The Berlingo 2CV Fourgonnette is a modern “lifestyle” representation, drawing inspiration from the legendary 2CV AU (“U” for “utility”) launched in 1951 – which proved hugely successful in its time with nearly 1 247 000 units sold, and its descendant, the 2CV AZU launched in 1954.

At the time, the 2CV Fourgonnette caused upheaval on its segment because of what it looked like and how it performed. The commercial van could reach average speeds of between 40 and 50km/h and carry up to 250kg of goods (as well as the driver) in an effective volume of 1.88m³.

This new version has done away with all the noise of the two-cylinder engine and the hole in the grille for the crank. Needless to say, the Berlingo 2CV Fourgonnette brings with it the best of its era in terms of comfort, space, modularity and safety.

The Berlingo Van can carry three people (five in the private passenger version) and it can go significantly faster. It is also bigger – its loading capacity has quadrupled: (it can now carry up to a tonne) and its effective volume has practically tripled (it’s now 4.4m³).

Despite being compact – which makes it agile and easy to handle – it still boasts plenty of space aboard, making this utility vehicle the ideal tool for traders and craftsmen. Thanks to its Extenso cabin, the vehicle’s effective length can be extended to up to 3.09m (size M) by retracting the passenger seat.

To make driving, loading and performing manoeuvres easier, the Berlingo Van features up to 18 driver assistance technologies and four connectivity technologies. These include the colour head-up display, hands-free access and start, the overload indicator and surround rear vision, as well as the active safety brake, towing stability control, grip control with hill assist descent and the blind angle monitoring system.

The commercial vehicle is available as a diesel-powered 1.5 BlueHDi, a petrol-powered 1.2 PureTech and an EAT8 automatic gearbox. The electric version has a range of up to 275km per day, delivering a noise-free and vibration-free ride. It has the same effective volume and its battery can be charged to 80% in 30 minutes at a public charging station. The ë-Berlingo Van has a deferred charging function and the temperature of the passenger compartment can be preset.

Source: QuickPic