Manufacturer Mercedes-Benz Class Panel van
Mini MPV | Production 2012–present | |
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Also called Renault Kangoo
Renault Kangoo Evolution (MA) Body style 5-door panel van
5-door MPV Layout Front-engine, front-wheel-drive | ||
The Mercedes-Benz Citan is a panel van and mini MPV introduced in 2012 by Mercedes-Benz as a replacement for the Vaneo and is a badge-engineered Renault Kangoo.
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Production
The Citan, known internally as the W415, is a result of the partnership between Daimler and the Renault-Nissan Alliance and is assembled by Renault subsidiary MCA in the northern French town of Maubeuge, alongside its twin vehicle the Renault Kangoo.
The varied body styles of the Citan are because the vehicle is aimed at both the passenger and light commercial vehicle markets. The Citan is the first Mercedes-Benz to be launched into the commercial vehicle market since the Vito in 1995. Daimler claim the leisure activity vehicle sector is the fastest-growing market area in Europe, accounting for 700,000 sales annually.
Body styles
The Citan is available in three different lengths: compact (3.94m), long (4.32m) and extra-long (4.71m). The vehicle comes in three body styles: Panel Van, Dualiner and Traveliner, with the Panel Van seating up to two people and both the Dualiner and Traveliner seating up to five.
Safety
The Citan Traveliner received four passenger stars in the Euro NCAP safety tests. The Mercedes-Benz CITAN Kombi was first tested by Euro NCAP in April 2013, and was given a three star rating. Mercedes-Benz indicated at that time that they would improve the safety performance of the vehicle, especially the deployment of the side airbag and the installation of child restraints; and that they would provide a seatbelt reminder for the front passenger seat and make the speed limitation device comply with Euro NCAP's requirements. These changes are now in production and Euro NCAP has re-assessed the vehicle. Several tests have been re-done to assess the changes that Mercedes-Benz have made. Where the performance is not influenced by the changes, test results have been carried over from the original assessment.
Marketing
In 2012, Mercedes-Benz began a marketing campaign for the Citan with Richard Dean Anderson reprising his role as the popular TV show character MacGyver. The series of short films, titled MacGyver and the New Citan, is available on the official Citan website, from September 18 onwards. The episodes were shot in Johannesburg, South Africa, in July 2012.