Opel presents a brand new large van. Again, the name is Movano, but instead of the Renault Master, the three Fiat Ducato, Peugeot Boxer and Citroën Jumper now serve as the basis. The Movano is also available as an electric Movano-e.
Shortly after Opel was taken away from General Motors by Groupe PSA, various models were put on a French basis. The Grandland X shares its basis with the Peugeot 3008 and the Corsa is now technically a twin brother of the Peugeot 208. The Opel Combo was helped to a new generation and exchanged its Fiat Doblò genes for the DNA of the Citroën Berlingo and Peugeot Partner. The Vivaro also changed base, the middle Opel commercial vehicle has been associated with the Peugeot Expert and Citroën Jumpy for several years now. Opel is now adding a new Movano to its delivery range. This too is now based on a model within the Stellantis family.
Goodbye Master
The transformation is explicable, yet somewhat striking. As a member of the Stellantis family, Opel naturally has the option of using a Fiat commercial vehicle as a base again, and the Ducato is an obvious choice for the Movano and Movano-e in that respect. The current Ducato is in fact older than the Master. After all, the current Fiat Ducato dates from 2006, while the current generation Renault Master was presented in 2010
Diesels
The Movano will be available with two different variants of a 2.2-liter diesel engine. The entry-level version delivers 120 hp and 300 Nm to the front wheels, the more powerful version comes to 165 hp and 370 Nm. There is no automatic transmission: they all have a manual six-speed gearbox.
Movano-e
The Opel Movano-e is clearly based on the electric version of the Fiat Ducato: the e-Ducato. This also makes it a brother of the almost identical Peugeot e-Boxer and Citroën ë-Jumper. Despite the on paper older Ducato base, Opel is undoubtedly satisfied with its new electric Movano-e. The e-Ducato is capable of driving a greater number of kilometers on a single charge than the electric Renault Master ZE. The Master ZE, limited to 100 km / h, achieves 120 kilometers from its 33 kWh battery. Depending on the chosen body style, the Opel Movano-e is available with a 37 kWh and a 70 kWh battery. With the smallest package, the Movano-e goes up to 117 WLTP kilometers. With the 70 kWh package, the range is 224 kilometers. The electric motor is in all cases 122 hp and 260 Nm strong. The top of the electric Movano is limited to 110 km / h.
Form
The new Movano is available in various shapes. Opel talks about four lengths and three heights, with a load volume of 8 to 17 square meters. The payload is up to 2.1 tons. Naturally, there is also room for variation when it comes to the layout. In addition to the standard three-seater single cabin, a double cabin is also available, with the rear seat having four seats for a total of seven. The Movano is also available as a ‘chassis cabin’, where a separate cabin can be combined with a unique body developed by third parties.
On the outside, the Movano differs from its Fiat brother only in detail. Rüsselsheim gives the Movano its own grille with a large Opel logo centrally above it. At the rear, only the problem and the model name reveal that you are driving behind a Movano. It will come as no surprise to anyone that the interior also corresponds almost one to one with that of the Ducato. However, the automatic gear lever in the Movano-e has been replaced by three selection buttons that have been placed in the place of the old selection stick. By the way, do not be surprised if Peugeot and Citroën also launch electric versions of their ‘Ducato buses’ on the market.
The new Movano and Movano-e will be released later this year. Prices will follow soon.