New engines and a fresh look give Vivaro a boost

The Luton-built Vauxhall Vivaro, voted Van of the Year 2006 by Professional Van and Light Truck Magazine, is set to get revised front and rear styling from August, with a new range of power units debuting in autumn.

The already striking looks of the Vivaro, with its distinctive ‘bubble’ roof, are getting a nip and tuck to make it appear even more modern and dynamic. New teardrop-shaped front headlamps give the nose a smoother appearance, while the indicator lamps have been moved from the bumper to be housed inside the light units. The fresh nose is set off by a wider, more prominent V-grille to bring it in line with the rest of the Vauxhall model range.

At the rear, redesigned clear lens tail lamp units give the van an equally distinctive appearance, while inside the cabin also gets a few changes. Fresh upholstery and fabrics give the interior a smart, clean appearance, while top models will get alloy-effect detailing on the gear lever and door trims, as well as smart chrome rims around the dials. A revised range of infotainment systems will be on offer, including colour sat nav.

Vivaro buyers will also benefit from GM’s latest technology, with standard ABS, optional ESP and alloy wheels.

New powerplants will appear later in the year, and will include two all-new 2.0-litre CDTi units, which are fully Euro IV compliant. The engines develop either 90PS or 115PS – compared to the 82PS and 100PS of the existing 1.9-litre units. They offer higher performance with practically the same fuel consumption, but have up to 26 per cent more pulling power than their predecessors, with torque up to 240Nm for the entry-level unit, and 290Nm for the 115PS engine.

A revised 2.5-litre CDTi powerplant will complete the line up, with 145PS and 320Nm of torque – up 10PS and 10Nm over the existing 2.5 CDTi. All Vivaros will get a six-speed manual gearbox as standard.

British buyers will also be able to choose a long-wheelbase Vivaro Combi for the first time, offering the comfort and space of the SWB 9-Seat Combi, but with added luggage space. The latest addition adds further weight to Vivaro’s claim to have one of the most versatile line-ups in its class, with standard and high roof versions, long or short wheelbases, low and high-floor dropsides, Double Cabs, a 12-seat Minibus and a stylish ‘Sportive’ model.

New engines will also appear in the seriously big Movano range from the third quarter of 2006. The entry-level 2.5-litre CDTi with 100PS will be Euro IV compatible, while the 115PS engine is replaced by a Euro IV 120PS unit. The existing range-topper, a 3.0-litre CDTi with 136PS, is replaced by a further development of the 2.5-litre engine, but this time developing 145PS and 320Nm of torque.

All 2.5-litre Movanos and Vivaros will continue to be offered with optional Tecshift semi-automatic transmission, while the innovative gearbox will also be offered on 2.0-litre 115PS versions of Vivaro for the first time.

Prices and specifications will be announced later in the summer.