Renault Trafic revealed

Over there, the van will also be sold as the Nissan Primastar as well as the Vauxhall and Opel Vivaro, but of all these models, only the Renault will come to Australia and it will be on sale here next year. Renault is saving much of the detail of its all-important load hauler, but says it features an all new interior and exterior design and will introduce a swag of new technology.

To be built at Sandouville, France, the Trafic will be available with a new 1.6-litre four-cylinder diesel with two turbochargers which help return a remarkable average fuel consumption figure of less than 6L/100km. There will also be a single turbo version of the same engine, which uses a variable geometry turbocharger.  It is not quite as efficient as the double-boosted unit but still uses 15 per cent less than the one it replaces.

Renault says the new Trafic will be available in a wide range of body styles and there will be two different heights, two different lengths, a regular cargo van, passenger van and a cab-chassis ute.

The third generation Trafic features a modern and masculine design that is not as out-there as some French designs.  It has a blunt nose with a deep grille for optimum cooling. The headlights stretch up and away from the grille and a design crease starts just beneath the wing mirror, drops down and then runs along the side of the van, rising up and over the rear wheel arch.

Renault says the new van is more dynamic than ever before, with sharper lines. It adds that the new Trafic  retains the sturdy look of the existing machine thanks to a grey wrap-around plastic bumper that looks like it can take plenty of hard knocks.