Mercedes' Citan panel van to become electric in second generation

STUTTGART: Mercedes plans to start selling the second generation of its small panel van in the coming months, with the new Citan reaching the first customers before the end of the year.

According to the manufacturer, prices in Europe start at just under 23,800 euros for the panel van. The Tourer with five seats and a windowed rear should be available for more than 25,000 euros.

In addition to a version with a stretched wheelbase, there will also be an e-Citan with batteries instead of a petrol tank in 2022.

The small van will also make its debut in the passenger car segment as a T-Class. Mercedes has held out the prospect of two versions with five and seven seats.

Like its predecessor, the new Citan is based on the Renault Kangoo. But since Mercedes was involved in the project from the start this time, the German manufacturer was able to achieve more independence from the Kangoo.

This applies to the body design with a different front as well as to the cockpit. There's now a Mercedes steering wheel and the option of the MBUX infotainment system, as well as an independent ignition key.

The basic version of the Citan measures 4.50 metres in length with a wheelbase of 2.72 metres and offers almost 3,000 litres of storage space with an interior length of up to 3.05 metres.

In the Tourer, more than 500 litres of luggage space remain even with full seating. Access is via split folding doors at the rear and up to two sliding doors at the side.

Mercedes is offering three 1.5-litre diesel engines and two 1.3-litre petrol engines. The diesel engines produce 75, 95 and 116 horsepower. The petrol engines are listed with 102 and 131 hp.

These allow the van to reach top speeds of 152 to 183kph and fuel consumption figures between 5.0 litres of diesel (CO2 emissions: 131 g/km) and 6.5 litres of petrol (147 g/km). In the Tourer, both petrol engines are available, but only the mid-range variant of the three diesels, Mercedes says.

Within a year, all variants of the series will also be available as an eCitan or EQT with a 102-hp electric motor. According to Mercedes, the range is 285km.