CITROEN Xsara prices will start at under £12,000 on the road with a special fleet-oriented model exclusive to the UK market available for less than £13,000. The all-new lower medium contender replaces the ZX and has a six-month window of opportunity to woo fleets before Vauxhall and Volkswagen enter the fray with the new Astra and Golf.

The model range extends from a 1.4 petrol engine to a brace of 1.8 engines plus both naturally aspirated and turbocharged 1.9 diesels and Citroen UK insisted its French parent build a 1.6 version specifically for the UK market. It also campaigned for the LX trim level so popular with fleets and also unique to the British market.

Hundreds of fleet managers were this week attending the Xsara's fleet launch in Scotland a month before the car goes on sale on November 1. Designed specifically with fleet customers in mind, the Xsara features none of the design quirks traditionally associated with Citroen, but blends spaciousness and practicality with big car ride refinement and some extremely intelligent touches.

Examples of Citroen's original thinking includes a dual trip meter - handy for recording business and private miles - visible child lock indicators, a double jointed rear view mirror and twin gloveboxes (except when a passenger airbag is specified). All launch models will be available in five-door guise only, but the sporty three-door coupe VTS and VTR versions are due to hit the showrooms next spring. The complete engine line-up is 75bhp 1.4 petrol, 90bhp 1.6 petrol, 112bhp 1.8 petrol, 112bhp 1.8 16-valve petrol, 64bhp 1.9 diesel and 90bhp 1.9 turbodiesel.