Citroën Berlingo Multispace MPV versatility and the expertise of award-winning GM Coachwork – Motability Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle Partner of the Year 2009 – have combined to produce the new Berlingo Blaze.

This advanced, compact wheelchair accessible vehicle (WAV) has been developed to set new standards of user convenience in this sector. The new Berlingo Blaze is available in two formats – driver, plus wheelchair passenger and two other passengers, or driver plus wheelchair passenger and three other passengers.

GM Coachwork – an expanding business – expects its new Blaze compact WAV, which is based on the Citroën Berlingo Multispace VT or XTR, to be one of its major sellers in the Motability sector during 2010. To prepare for this high level of demand the Trusham, Devon headquartered company has taken delivery of its first 30 Berlingo Multispace MPVs for conversion – with more orders in the pipeline.

To provide the Berlingo Blaze with class leading standards of user versatility and convenience, GM Coachwork has used its 21 years of specialist engineering expertise to best effect. Key to the unique abilities of the Berlingo Blaze, is its low floor conversion of the rear compartment, which not only provides generous rear headroom of 1,372mm (4ft 6in), but also a very shallow angle for the fold-out, non-slip surfaced light alloy ramp. This provides safer and easier entry and exit for the wheelchair and its passenger. The lowered rear floor compartment also provides the width necessary to accommodate a range of full-size wheelchairs.

As standard, the Berlingo Blaze is supplied with a single Citroën folding rear seat for one passenger, enabling the wheelchair passenger to be carried alongside. Or, as an option, GM Coachwork will provide two custom-made rear passenger seats – allowing the wheelchair passenger to be carried centrally.

The Berlingo Blaze, based on the Berlingo Multispace 1.6i VT, is available priced from £13,995 (for Motability customers – £495 advance payment and full Motability allowance), while the Berlingo Multispace 1.6HDi XTR based model is priced from £15,995 (or for Motability customers – £1,195 advance payment and full Motability allowance). All models have a three year, 60,000 mile warranty.

Nigel Collins, GM Coachwork managing director, comments, “GM Coachwork has a reputation for engineering innovation and exceptional customer care, which is reflected in the vehicles we use for our Motability conversions. We chose the Citroën Berlingo Multispace as the basis for our new compact WAV as it met all our criteria. It is stylish, yet practical and well equipped, and Citroën is respected for its engineering and versatility in the Motability sector. The resulting Berlingo Blaze provides a unique range of benefits in the compact WAV sector.”

GM Coachwork is one of the UK’s largest specialist converters in the Motability sector. Its award-winning WAV products range in size from the new Berlingo Blaze upwards, to the largest of minibus conversions. In addition, the company is at the forefront in the design and manufacture of other sophisticated conversions, which allow the vehicle to be driven by a driver seated in a wheelchair.