The Daily Car

French marque Citroën have announced the first details of their new Berlingo Multispace, expected to launch in the second half of 2008. The current version has achieved international sales of over 1.75 million, and clearly Citroën will be hoping for even greater success with the new model.

Citroën say that the new car retains the ultra-functional family friendly character of the original, but new features like an independently-opening tailgate window, three separate removable rear seats and a redesigned aircraft-style overhead storage system make it even better.

Also, enhanced comfort is promised, which is good to hear - the last model’s upright driving position kept masseurs busy.

Not content with combining two cars, Volkswgen has - like SEAT and Renault - decided to join in with the current SUV MPV spirit, only VeeDub’s effort is more extreme: it is the Hatchback SUV MPV.

Meet the Golf Plus Dune. It’s based on the Golf Plus but is 2cm higher and gets a few bits ‘n’ bobs plastered around the bodywork to spice things up. There are 400 coming to the UK and if you want to buy one it will cost you £18,495. But why would you want one?

To be honest I think it’s all a bit stupid - we don’t really need new niches of car to be created every time a butterfly sneezes. We’ve coped for ages with the usual selection of machine categories so why the need for change now? Can’t they be busying themselves with other, more important issues, rather than creating pointless niches in the car market?

Last week, Renault unveiled a vehicle called the Scenic Conquest - a beefier (yet two-wheel-drive) version of the Scenic small MPV, with SUV looks. SEAT has been quick to keep up with the Joneses and show off the similar Altea Freetrack, a vehicle based on the Altea XL and the company’s first ever off-road car.

This MPV/SUV thing is not a puny 2WD vehicle, however - it has four wheel drive: take that, Renault! The 4×4 system itself is the VW group’s Haldex four-wheel drive system which has been previously used in the Škoda Octavia Scout. There will be a choice of two different 2.0 litre engines - a diesel and a petrol. The former will have 167bhp and achieve 41.5mpg, whilst both numbers for the latter - which is also found in the VW Golf GTi - rise by 30.

Inside, the cabin remains unchanged but expect a battery of equipment, including a built-in DVD player.

The vehicle will be shown at the Barcelona motor show and is thought to go on sale in September, but there’s no word on pricing yet.

On Tuesday, Subaru announced a new Impreza, complete with a better-looking front end to replace the much-criticised aeroplane-like grille. The new Tribeca, too, announced on Wednesday, will gain that front end, as it too has been critisiced for the ugly looks.

The Japanese company will also address another problem - the engine. It’s size will increase from 3.0 litres to 3.6 litres and the power output will go up by 11bhp as a result. However, there’s still only the option of petrol power - diesel is proving to be a bit of a pipe dream.

The 5-speed automatic gearbox has been improved, and the firm says that the addition of a torque converter will allow quicker and smoother gear ratio changing.

The entire front end has been redesigned to fit in with the hastily re-thought-out new face of Subaru, as you can see. The headlights, rear light clusters, front valance and bonnet have all been redesigned - not just the grille.

The Subaru, which will lose the ‘B9′ part of its name to be just called the ‘Tribeca’, also gets updated rear suspension bushings which will allow folks to slide the second row of seats more easily. Grab handles that allow passengers to get to third row of seats with more ease will also feature.

We’ll have to wait until Spring 2008 for the Tribeca but the USA gets it at the end of this year.

Škoda will take on the likes of the Daihatsu Terios, Fiat Sedici, Suzuki SX4, VW Polo Dune and Fiat Panda 4×4 with this - the enlarged, Scout badged version of the Roomster supermini-MPV.

On sale next summer in the UK, and to be unveiled at the Essen motor show in Germany, the Scout should cost about 14 thousand quid. Apart from the 1.2 litre basic engine, all motors from the normal Roomster will be carried over from the previous car.

This won’t be a proper SUV, however, with just 2-wheel drive at the front. That said, it will at least look the part with 16-inch rims (17-inchers are an option), and roof rails, topped off with underbody protection.