In July 1996, Citroën launched the Berlingo, reinventing the utility van with a single-cab design and broke new ground by creating a versatile, spacious option for private customers: the leisure activity vehicle.
Citroën thus offered the ideal model designed to support active lifestyles, suited to professionals, families, tradespeople, active seniors and outdoor enthusiasts.
Thirty years on, this bold gamble has become a proven success. With over 4.2 million units produced worldwide and sold in nearly 90 countries, Berlingo has established itself as a faithful companion, spanning generations without ever losing sight of the essentials: being useful, ingenious and deeply human. Both a work tool and an everyday partner, for three decades it has embodied a unique vision of mobility: one that adapts to real-world uses, without compromise.
To celebrate this anniversary, Citroën is unveiling the Berlingo 30 years, a special anniversary edition of the people carrier, based on the Plus trim level. An edition designed as a tribute to all those who, for thirty years, have chosen Berlingo out of conviction to champion a different vision of the car. The Berlingo 30 years is now available to order.
Chapter 1: The Anniversary
An intuition that became the benchmark
When Citroën launched the Berlingo commercial vehicle in 1996, the market discovered a new architecture and a completely fresh approach to the compact commercial vehicle. With its 3 m³ of load volume, a payload of up to 800 kg and, above all, a level of comfort inspired by that of a saloon car, the Berlingo transformed the relationship between professionals and their work tools.
A few months later, at the Paris Motor Show, Citroën unveiled several concepts (Berlingo Coupé de Plage, Berlingo Bulle and Berlingo Grand Large) foreshadowing an even bolder evolution. In January 1997, the Berlingo Multispace was launched. With it came a completely new kind of vehicle: compact on the outside, incredibly spacious on the inside, versatile, bright, accessible and designed to cater for all everyday needs. The leisure activity vehicle segment was born, a segment of which it became the face and the benchmark. And the model became a brand within the brand.
Berlingo 30 years: a special edition to celebrate a unique model
To celebrate thirty years of loyalty and devotion, Citroën is launching the Berlingo 30 years, a special anniversary series available exclusively as a leisure activity vehicle, in the M and XL body styles. Positioned between the Plus and Max trim levels, this special edition brings together the features most appreciated by Berlingo customers in a configuration that is generous, elegant and deeply faithful to the spirit of the model.
This special edition is marked by a ‘30’ badge affixed to the front pillar. A simple yet meaningful symbol. It represents thirty years of daily commutes, impromptu holidays, building sites, house moves, early morning departures and late-night returns. Thirty years during which Berlingo has established itself as a faithful partner in real life.
The Berlingo 30 years will be available in Kaolin White, Kiama Blue, Steel Grey and Perla Nera Black, as well as a full range of engines, combining versatility and modernity. Customers will be able to opt for the 110 hp petrol engine paired with a manual gearbox, or choose one of the two diesel variants: 100 hp with a manual gearbox or 130 hp with an automatic gearbox. Finally, this version is also available on the 136 hp electric model, equipped with a 54 kWh battery and an automatic transmission.
Prices
- M Petrol 110 hp Manual – 5-seater: €27,800 incl. VAT
- M Diesel 100 hp Manual – 5-seater: €28,400 incl. VAT
- M Diesel 130 hp Automatic – 5-seater: €31,300 incl. VAT
- M ë-Berlingo Electric 136 hp Automatic 54 kWh – 5-seater: €38,700 incl. VAT
- XL Diesel 130 hp Automatic – 5-seater (7-seater optional): €32,100 incl. VAT
- XL ë-Berlingo Electric 136 hp Automatic 54 kWh – 5-seater (7-seater optional): €39,500 incl. VAT
Chapter 2: The Berlingo Saga
1950 – Citroën 2 CV VAN
It was in fact in this year that the iconic 2CV was unveiled in a van version. The small, compact front-wheel-drive van made its debut with all the advantages of a practical and economical model that would go on to become one of the greatest successes of the 20th century in its category. This model will go down in history as the first mass-produced front-wheel-drive van.
Produced from March 1951 to March 1978, with 1,246,335 units assembled, it has become a cult model, now collected all over the world. It must be said that as soon as it was launched, equipment manufacturers seized upon it. And from the mid-1950s onwards, various suppliers offered accessories to transform 2CV Van into a true forerunner of the leisure activity vehicle.
1978 – Citroën Acadiane
In 1978, Acadiane replaced 2CV Fourgonnette. It was, in fact, nothing more and nothing less than its predecessor restyled with a Dyane front end. It was produced for nine years and was the first to offer an LPG version shortly before production ended in 1987.
1984 – Citroën C15
Following the small two-cylinder engines of 2CV and then Acadiane, the all-new model launched in 1984: C15 featured a water-cooled four-cylinder engine. Derived from Visa, which debuted in 1978, this model enjoyed a very long production run and was manufactured until 2006 – ten years after the launch of the Berlingo!
It was also C15 that served as the testing ground for electric technology, with a first prototype unveiled in July 1987, followed by a production version available from October 1990. Around sixty units of this pioneering version were built. Meanwhile, Dangel offered all-wheel-drive versions between 1991 and 1993. In September 1991, C15 ‘Familiale ’ with its rear bench seat already foreshadowed the versatile use of the future Berlingo. C15 was also available from 1996 with a dual-fuel CNG system. LPG was available as an option.
1996 – Citroën Berlingo 1st generation
Finally, a revolution at the end of the 20th century: the first generation of the Berlingo, launched in July 1996, once again broke the mold and offered a host of innovations. Halfway between a sedan and an MPV, this new Citroën was multi-faceted, and a version designed for family and leisure use, aptly named the Multispace, proved an instant commercial success for those seeking a model more spacious and versatile than a sedan, yet smaller than an MPV.
In 1997, in the spirit of the Citroën 2CV rallies of the early 1970s, Citroën organized a Paris-Samarkand-Moscow rally in which 198 young Europeans undertook this adventure in Berlingos.
As was the case with C 15, the Berlingo diversified: CNG, LPG, Electric… In 1999, at the Geneva Motor Show, the experimental Berlingo Dynavolt was a low-emission model combining an electric motor and a combustion engine running on LPG.
In 2000, the Berlingo was fitted with Modutop®, a clever storage system that maximizes usable space in the cabin, and in 2002, the Berlingo underwent a major facelift, including the front end and dashboard.
In 2003, the XTR version introduced an ‘all-terrain’ variant.
2008 – Citroën Berlingo 2nd generation
In May 2008, the second-generation Berlingo was launched, offering further new features such as three independent rear seats, a rear window that opens and a new Modutop®, for example.
A Grip Control version with all-weather traction control was introduced in 2009. An electric Berlingo was launched in 2013.
In March 2017, after more than 2.9 million units had been assembled since the launch of the first generation in 1996, the Berlingo range expanded further with the introduction of Berlingo Multispace as the E-Berlingo Multispace, an electric version complementing Citroën’s range comprising the C-Zero, E-Mehari and the Berlingo Electric in a commercial vehicle version.
2018 – Citroën Berlingo 3rd generation
In 2018, the latest generation of the Berlingo was launched, set to evolve in March 2024 to incorporate the latest technologies and the brand’s new identity. This is today’s Berlingo.
Chapter 3: The Berlingo Today
Berlingo, the partner for families and leisure
Since its inception, Berlingo has kept pace with changes in society and lifestyles. Blended families, outdoor leisure activities, suburban mobility or the search for a single vehicle capable of doing it all: generation after generation, the Berlingo has adapted with remarkable practical intelligence.
The choice of power
Long before electrification became the norm in the automotive industry, Citroën was already experimenting with practical and pragmatic electric mobility. As early as 1997, the first electric Berlingo was unveiled at the European Electric Vehicle Conference in La Rochelle, boasting a range of 95 kilometers.
Today, this vision continues with the ë-Berlingo and the ë-Berlingo Van. Their philosophy remains true to that of the original model: to offer electric mobility without compromising on space, modularity or load capacity. The ë-Berlingo passenger version delivers 100 kW (136 hp) and features a new 50 kWh LFP battery, enabling a WLTP range of up to 340 km. Thanks to significant work on efficiency, this range has increased by more than 20% compared to the previous generation. Fast charging allows the battery to be recharged to 80% in just 30 minutes at a 100 kW public charging point, whilst an optional heat pump optimizes energy consumption in winter.
For its part, the ë-Berlingo Van offers up to 330 km of WLTP range whilst retaining its load-carrying capacity and modularity. A solution perfectly suited to professionals operating in urban and suburban areas.
Alongside the electric range, Citroën maintains a full range of internal combustion engines to cater for a variety of uses and infrastructure. The Berlingo passenger van remains available with the BlueHDi 100 and a 6-speed manual gearbox, and the BlueHDi 130 with the EAT8 automatic gearbox. The Berlingo Van also offers 110 hp petrol, BlueHDi 100 and BlueHDi 130 engines.
Source: Citroën
Be the first to comment