Is Biglorryblog the only one who thinks that everything looks the same nowadays, especially in the brave new world of light vans? And what better way to illustrate the impact of ‘badge engineering’, than with the arrival of the new Peugeot Bipper and Citroen Nemo. Did some focus group really come up with ‘Bipper’? Why not Zipper, Gipper, or indeed Flipper? Or even the Whipper...for those with unusual leisure activities?
But I digress. Both the Bipper and Nemo compact vans (or is it the Nemo and Bipper?) are clearly very different beasts even if they do happen to have the same body shell albeit with their unique bits inside and sold with their own particular marketing spin.
For example, on the one hand the Bipper (“…the perfect van for the busy urban user”) has a 1.4-litre petrol and 1.4-litre HDi diesel engine with the latter offered with an electronically-controlled manual gearbox. It also offers a load volume of 2.5m3 and a payload of 610 kg
While on the other hand, by way of contrast, the new Citroën Nemo, pictured above, “…is primarily designed for use in urban environments where its compact size, ease of manoeuvrability and low emissions will be of major benefit.”
Surprisingly it also has an internal load volume of 2.5m³ (who would have guessed?) and a payload of (wait for it) 610kg. But the real clincher is that the Nemo is launched with a choice of a 1.4i petrol engine or 1.4HDi diesel engine which has the option of err……a five-speed automated manual transmission. Hmmmmm….
Now don’t get me wrong, it’s not that BLB doesn’t like these two vans (they certainly haven’t done me any harm) or that I don’t think they’re practical, attractive load carriers just right for urban warriors (which they clearly are….). It’s just that when you get two press releases on the same day, extolling the virtues of what’s basically the same vehicle albeit with different badges on the front it does make the heart of an old hack like me slightly dip…and no doubt both will be keen to stress that their van is in fact better than the other's. Or do I do both manufacturers a grave injustice? Are these really, in fact, two totally different vans? No doubt my favourite van PR man Phil Reed will ride into battle if I’ve over-simplified the case!
Comments (4)
How right you are! Everything does indeed seem the same these days. I think the latest Iveco vans are also used by two other manufacteres - The Merc Sprinter is also a VW... Takes the fun out of van spotting now, doesn't it???
Posted by Russ Hurley | October 10, 2007 9:04 PM
Posted on October 10, 2007 21:04
In fact, it's even better (worse?) than you think. The PSA-Fiat alliance is still going strong and I believe that there is a Fiat version, too - the Fiorino...
Posted by Roland | October 11, 2007 11:26 PM
Posted on October 11, 2007 23:26
Well yes, Roland, but the truth of the matter is he's not actually talking about the PSA-Fiat alliance, but rather the PSA-PSA alliance. Both Citoen and Peugeot are the same company and should therefore be entitled to sell the same vehicle if they feel that there is a market for one wearing two different nameplates on the grille. And they're not really saying anything differently in the releases either - they're saying the same thing:'urban environments'. PSA-Fiat, well thats another matter entirely but hey, it's a business right?
Posted by eric | December 7, 2007 11:28 PM
Posted on December 7, 2007 23:28
Just wondering if Biglorryblog is retarded?
The bipper and the nemo are the same van! PSA markets the Citroen and Peugeot brands, and chooses to make a van available for both brands. In some markets the Citroen brand is stronger than Peugeot (and vice versa).
Platform sharing continues throughout the manufacturing world and PSA platform shares not just vans but all their cars too.
Perhaps you should do some research?
Posted by dave | January 28, 2008 3:24 PM
Posted on January 28, 2008 15:24