Peugeot Bipper to take over from 207 van
Peugeot will not make a van version of the new 208 hatchback, according to What Van?
The van buyer website has reported Peugeot will retire the hatchback-based Peugeot 207 van when production ends this year and a new version will not be produced.
Peugeot is believed to be confident the compact Peugeot Bipper is good enough to sell in the small van segment and hopes to move the 208 hatchback more upmarket as a result.
The Peugeot Bipper van is already one of the most popular vans in Peugeot's range. It was named the City Van of the Year 2011 at the annual Fleet Van Awards - a title which will have made the decision to retire the 207 van easier for the French van maker.
Despite being a small, compact van designed for city driving in the same vein as the likes of the Ford Transit Connect and Renault Kangoo van, the Bipper is more upright and offers a boxier rear end than the 207.
Load space is 2.5 metres cubed and the van is capable of a payload of up to 660kg. It boasts a flat floor length of 1.5 metres.
However, it is also one of the most frugal and efficient vans in Peugeot's range. The 1.3-litre, 75bhp diesel engine comes with fuel-saving stop-start technology and an 'e-booster' to ensure the system is more efficient than ever.
The Peugeot Bipper panel van starts from £10,695 before VAT for the basic van but also comes with a 2-tronic gearbox for an extra £500. A higher-spec version, named the Bipper SE, is also available for £11,405 before VAT.