Actually, Dangel (based in France) has been creating all-wheel-drive vehicles based on Peugeot and Citroen for over 40 years. However, for Ukraine this is a completely new product – it has been on the market for only the second year, and even then only partially. Well, since Ukrainians have heard little about Dangel, the Stellantis concern decided to hold an event where they not only told but also showed the features of cars from this manufacturer.
An important detail – the Dangel 4x4 all-wheel-drive system is installed only on commercial vans and passenger vans. It is mounted on already produced vehicles. The drive itself is plug-in: the rear axle is connected via a viscous coupling (actually installed at the rear), after which part of the torque is transmitted to the rear axle through a transfer case (mounted near the front wheels) via a cardan shaft. There are also versions with a rear differential lock. The 4x4 system can be activated on any road surface and at any time; it is done quite easily – by pressing special buttons on the panel or by turning a knob (the activation principle differs depending on the model).
This principle allows you to engage all-wheel drive exactly when needed, and during "free time" you can calmly drive in single-axle mode, which Dangel itself calls Eco (since driving this way is indeed more economical). The system itself is very reliable, Stellantis assures: largely due to the fact that it is 80% mechanical, meaning it has minimal electronics.
In addition to the all-wheel drive itself, the vehicles are equipped with a reinforced suspension and additional protection for important components. They are also all provided with increased ground clearance – an indispensable option on Ukrainian roads. The ground clearance differs for all vehicles: for example, for the Peugeot Partner 4x4 van it is 205 mm, and for the large Citroen Jumper van – 205 mm. At the same time, the cargo space volume of all vehicles remains unchanged, and the all-wheel-drive equipment itself adds no more than 150 kg to the total weight.
Today, the Dangel 4x4 lineup includes eight models: in addition to the two aforementioned vans, it also includes Peugeot Traveller 4x4, Peugeot Expert 4x4, Peugeot Boxer 4x4, Citroen SpaceTourer 4x4, Citroen Jumper, and Citroen Berlingo. In Ukraine, only part of these vehicles is available, and exclusively to order (that is, you cannot come and buy from stock, but delivery is promised within 6-8 weeks). In addition, there are configuration restrictions: the Dangel 4x4 all-wheel drive is available only in versions with a 6-speed manual transmission. The engine is a 130-, 150-, or 160-horsepower diesel depending on the model.
As for prices, installing all-wheel drive adds 6-8 thousand dollars to the price of the base vehicle – again, depending on the specific model. For example, the passenger minibus Peugeot Traveller 4x4 (with the 150-horsepower BlueHDI 150) will cost almost 55.5 thousand dollars (1,515,800 UAH), and the Peugeot Boxer 4x4 (with the 160-horsepower diesel engine BlueHDI 160) – from 43.9 thousand dollars (1,197,250 UAH).
