Citroën is celebrating its 90th anniversary by seemingly coping with the recession better than many of its rivals.
Its share of the UK's crucial September market was 9.74%, and the company has benefitted from the government scrappage scheme to the tune of 18.6%, according to Citroën itself.
Its investment in rebranding the dealer network continues; the plan to have 90 new business centres by the end of this year is on track.
On the product front, it has increased its extensive range of Ready to Run conversions and launched a new line-up of seven added-value Enterprise models, based on Nemo, Berlingo, Dispatch and Relay.
Standard spec on all models includes air-conditioning, electric mirrors and windows, central 
locking and Bluetooth, with rear parking sensors on versions with unglazed rear doors. Dispatch and Relay models also get a full steel bulkhead and SmartNav system.
Among the latest Ready to Run conversions is the KFS Plant & Go, available on the Relay 35 120hp and 160hp chassis. Complete with beaver tail to its 4,000mm-long and 550mm-high load deck and loading ramps which double as body sides, it has a payload of 1,600kg.
Looking forward to enhancing its existing green credentials, Citroën has begun a three-year programme with Ashwoods Automotive to develop hybrid versions of the Berlingo, Dispatch and Relay. In France, trials are underway with La Poste (the French Post Office) of a new-generation electric Berlingo that has developed in partnership with Venturi.
The launch of the van, with sodium nickel hydride batteries giving a top speed of 62mph and range of 75 miles, is expected in early 2010, although Citroën UK is watching the 
trials before committing to sales here.
Off-road in the XTR+
During Citroën's presentation, Commercial Motor tried its Berlingo and Dispatch XTR+ enhanced traction models in extreme off-road conditions.
Although the course wasn't of Land Rover-challenging severity, it still represented the sort of terrain that most operators would expect to encounter, with 100mm-deep mud baths, wet grassland and slippery chalk climbs.
We slightly deviated from the planned programme by stopping on the steepest of the climbs to attempt a restart and were pleasantly surprised by the ease with which the Berlingo coped. It does have its limits, however, and it will never replace a true 4x4 in extreme situations - but for many operators it will be more than adequate.