RENAULT is to launch a new Clio van in Britain early next year and put a fleet of 10 LPG bi-fuel Kangoo vans on the road to gauge operator demand for alternative power. The French manufacturer was offering few details of the Clio van at the British International Motor Show, although it will be based on the recently-launched Clio car range.

UK arrival date is likely to be February or March. Further details, including pricing, will be announced closer to the launch but it is known it will have just one engine - a 1.9-litre 65bhp diesel. Fleets wanting a petrol engine for bi-fuel conversion will be given the option with the Kangoo. Renault UK's vans brand manager Simon Herbert said the company had 10 UK-specification LPG/petrol Kangoos to be allocated to customers on a three-month trial basis from January.

The Kangoo demos will have 1.2-litre 60bhp petrol engines with factory-fit LPG conversions. A 47-litre 'doughnut' tank will be in the spare tyre compartment under the platform to avoid eating into load space, and the LPG filling point housed next to the petrol inlet under the same, lockable filler flap. Payload loses 60kg as a result of the LPG tank, bringing it down from 625kg to 565kg.