Vivaro moves into the leisure sector

VAUXHALL is planning a bold move into the leisure MPV segment with a pair of new nine-seater models – including a lounge on wheels.

The Vivaro Life will be unveiled at the Brussels motor show next week (January 18th) and will be offered in two lengths, tailor-made to customer requirements - the 4.95m Medium and the 5.30m Large – each of which can be specified with up to nine seats.

The model name is highly appropriate, for this van-based MPV will breathe new life into Vauxhall’s LCV manufacturing facility in Luton where it will be produced, helping to secure 1,250 jobs. Investment in the new vehicle will help increase the plant’s production capacity to 100,000 units per year.

Based on Groupe PSA’s EMP2 platform, it’s aimed both at large families and taxi and shuttle operators.

Stylish, highly-equipped shuttles are in great demand in this market segment, says Vauxhall, and the Vivaro Life will be offered with four, seven or eight leather-seat configurations along with five, six, eight or nine cloth-seat lay-outs.

Luxurious “Lounge” trim is available for the Large versions with a panoramic roof, front seats with a massage function and electric heating and two movable leather chairs behind with 48cm wide seat cushions. A movable table folds away to provide additional storage space for small objects. Passengers can charge their mobile devices using a 230V plug socket.

Numerous driver assistance systems will be available including camera and radar monitoring of the area in front of the vehicle linked to pedestrian recognition and emergency braking at speeds up to 18mph. Other tech systems available include intelligent cruise control, lane-keep assist and drowsiness alert, highbeam assist, a seven-inch multimedia touchscreen and a colour head-up display.