Citroën ë-SpaceTourer to hit markets in 2020

PSA is accelerating its push into commercial electric vehicles: Citroën has now announced that it will also launch the compact van Spacetourer as a BEV called the ë-SpaceTourer by the end of the year.

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Peugeot will follow with the sister model Peugeot e-Traveller scheduled to hit the markets before the end of 2020. Both use the same technology with an electric motor of 100 kW, and there is a choice of two battery versions with 50 or 75 kWh. The latter enables a WLTP range of up to 330 kilometres.

The third electric van in the group, the Opel Zafira Life, is announced for early 2021. Like its commercial vehicle counterparts Peugeot e-Expert, Citroën ë-Jumpy and Opel Vivaro-e, the Zafira Life also uses the well-known PSA drive.

Back to the ë-SpaceTourer (and e-Traveller) where charging options are also the same: a single-phase 7.4 kW charger is installed ex-works, a three-phase 11 kW charger is optionally available. With direct current, the small battery is filled to 80 per cent in 30 minutes, the large battery in 45 minutes, which corresponds to an average charging capacity of 80 kW.

Unlike the commercial vehicle versions, these compact vans are designed for private customers (large but flexible interior) and shuttle services (up to nine seats). The big difference to the Peugeot e-Traveller is that Peugeot only offers its e-compact van in the two more extended versions. At the same time, the ë-Spacetourer is also available in the shortest XS version (4.60 metres long) in some trims.

Citroën will offer the model in a total of four versions, two each for private and business customers. The Feel (all three lengths available) and Shine (only M at 4.95 metres and XL at 5.30 metres) are aimed at families or customers who like to travel with friends and offer between five and eight seats. As the seats can be easily moved on a rail system, the interior can be freely rearranged with either more legroom for the passengers or a larger luggage compartment.

The two business suites are simply called Business and Business Lounge. While the former is a vehicle for taxi and shuttle services with maximum capacity (the nine seats mentioned above), the Business Lounge, with six or seven seats, is intended as a “mobile living room or office” according to Citroën. The individual leather seats in the second row can be turned, and a table can be folded out. The particularly strongly tinted rear windows are intended to provide the necessary privacy, for example, for chauffeur services and VIP shuttles.

In terms of equipment, assistance systems and connectivity, the ë-SpaceTourer meets the current PSA standard. Up to 15 assistants are to enhance comfort and safety, and features such as a head-up display or a 180-degree rear camera are also available. The Connect Nav navigation system offers real-time traffic conditions in conjunction with networked services such as TomTom Traffic. Still, the 7-inch display also allows smartphone functions to be used via Android Auto or Apple CarPlay.

Although Citroën has not made mention of prices for the ë-Spacetourer in the press release, Citroën has announced the premiere of the new C4 for the end of June (above). The compact model will also be available in a battery-electric version – simply called ë-C4. Further details about this electric van are not yet available.

Update 3 September 2020

With the opening of orders for the Citroën ë-SpaceTourer in its native France, the first price information has been released. In France, prices start from 55,900 euros (including tax) and Citroën announced a little vaguely that the electric van will be available at dealerships in the second half of 2020, which we are obviously now in. What was also not specified in the price announcement was the exact surcharges for the different body versions and the two battery sizes.

Update 6 October 2020

The company has just released the Citroën ë-SpaceTourer also in the UK where it is available to order, with prices starting from £45,600 in ‘Business’ trim after the Government Plug-in Car Grant (PICG).

Update 5 July 2021

Citroën UK has announced details of its new ë-SpaceTourer range. The changes see the removal of the existing ‘Business’ and ‘Feel’ trim levels, replacing them with new ‘Business Edition’ and ‘Flair’ versions. The introduction of the new ‘Business Edition’ trim means ë-SpaceTourer now complies with the new pricing threshold to benefit from the Government’s Plug-In Car Grant. It also means over £14,000 MRR OTR price difference between the outgoing ‘Business’ and new ‘Business Edition’ models (before PICG).

Update 29 September 2021

Citroën UK has updated its ë-SpaceTourer range, with the electric model now available in both ‘M’ and ‘XL’ forms. The new ë-SpaceTourer electric range starts from £31,995, after applying the £2,500 Government Plug-in Car Grant. The larger XL variant can seat up to nine people in three rows. The second and third rows feature a 1/3 – 2/3 split design and removable seating for added practicality, according to the manufacturer.

citroen.com, citroen.com, citroen.com (UK), (update I) citroen.com (update II), citroen.com (update III)