The champion of the...
The champion of the cost-conscious motorist is at it again. Citroen is offering every model in its range, apart from the C2, with its "no VAT" deal. This means buyers can save up to í‚á£4,100. Meanwhile, C2 customers can get one year"s free insurance and a í‚á£600 cashback deal on L, LX and SX models.
There"s heavy cladding...
There"s heavy cladding at the rear to hide its identity, but the bonnet reveals this is no ordinary prototype. With a sporty bulge and an air intake similar to that of the Cooper S hatch, there"s a rather special powerplant under the hood.
The fastest Traveller will use a 170bhp 1.6-litre four-cylinder turbo engine, developed by MINI"s parent firm BMW in conjunction with PSA Peugeot Citroen. Although the Traveller will weigh more than the standard car, the six-speed Cooper S version should cover 0-60mph in about seven seconds and hit a top speed of nearly 140mph. Developed alongside the next Cooper S hatch, the Traveller is set to feature similar suspension, as well as uprated disc brakes.
The cabin will get sporty leather seats and a racy steering wheel, plus greater emphasis on quality materials. With a Cooper S already being tested, it seems certain that MINI will develop a Cooper Traveller, too - probably with power from a de-tuned version of the same 1.6 turbo engine. Both are set to go on sale in late 2007.