France’s Renault has lifted the veil off of the new Trafic, a front-wheel drive commercial vehicle aimed at the heart of the lucrative mid-size van segment.

Marking the nameplate’s third generation in 33 years, the next Trafic gains bolder styling inspired by recently-introduced Renault products such as the redesigned Megane and the Captur crossover. Buyers can choose from two wheelbase lengths, two roof heights, a passenger-carrying model with room for up to nine passengers and a chassis-cab.

Mechanically, the next Trafic is offered with a brand new 1.6-liter four-cylinder turbodiesel engine offered in several power tunes including a 160-horsepower twin-turbo variant that enables the van to return 39 mpg in a mixed European cycle. A plug-in hybrid drivetrain is expected to join the lineup later in the production run in order to help Renault comply with strict CO2 emissions that will come into effect across Europe before the end of the decade.

When it goes on sale, the Trafic will square off against the Toyota ProAce, the Volkswagen Transporter and the cargo-hauling variant of the Mercedes-Benz V-Class.

GM sibling

General Motors’ Germany-based Opel division will build its own version of the Renault Trafic dubbed Vivaro. The Vivaro will be identical to the Trafic inside and out save for a brand-specific front fascia.

At the time of writing GM is not planning on selling the van in the United States.

Three low-resolution spy shots have prematurely revealed Daimler and Chinese partner BYD’s first regular-production vehicle ahead of its scheduled debut at next month’s Beijing Motor Show. Sold by the newly-formed Denza brand, the car will be exclusively distributed in China.

The images confirm the yet-unnamed car is loosely inspired by the New Energy Vehicle (NEV) concept that bowed at the 2012 edition of the show. The concept’s arched roof line and sculpted flanks have been retained, but the production car gains a more realistic front fascia and loses the show car’s suicide rear doors.

Interior pictures are not available but the car will likely get an upscale cockpit crafted with high-quality materials in order to take on the top end of the EV market.

Denza has revealed the car rides on a modified version of the last-gen Mercedes B-Class’ platform. Technical details are being kept under wraps but rumors indicate it will be powered by an all-electric drivetrain consisting of a lithium-ion battery pack and an electric motor that spins the front wheels.