Citroen’s Two-Headed Van is Surprisingly Practical
Commercial vehicles are not typically headline news, but Citroen has introduced a unique configuration of its Relay van that’s generating some buzz. Known as the “Back to Back,” this unusual design is more than just a novelty; it offers several practical advantages for specific industries.
The Citroen Relay is a badge-engineered version of the Fiat Ducato. The Back to Back configuration involves bolting two vans together at the front, creating a vehicle that seems like a Photoshop experiment at first glance. However, this design is intended to reduce production and shipping costs, making it an appealing option for customization.
This setup caters to third-party companies that build motorhomes, campers, and specialty vehicles for recovery or emergency services. By providing the vans without the usual chassis cab rear end, Citroen simplifies the manufacturing process and cuts shipping expenses. Each component is created separately, and once put together, it reduces waste and makes the final product more cost-effective. The front-wheel-drive system eliminates the need to discard driveshafts after delivery, and businesses gain greater freedom to build custom rear ends without adhering to complex OEM constraints. So while this might sound weird at first, it’s actually a win-win strategy for the vehicle manufacturer and the companies that use the base vehicle.
Another Stellantis brand, Peugeot, offers a mechanically similar “Boxer Back to Back.” These models come with their own engines, gearboxes, and VINs, essentially functioning as two separate vans joined during transport.
The Back to Back models share a starting price of £36,018 (approximately $45,000 at current exchange rates). It’s currently unclear whether this price includes both vans or just one, but we will update this article as soon as that is clarified.
