Citroen boost for company drivers.

CITROEN has introduced three new versions of its Picasso compact MPV model aimed at company car drivers with children.

The French firm says that with prices from pounds 11,250 the range enables drivers to cash-in on reduced benefit-in-kind tax charges and employers' National Insurance contributions.

"While featuring list prices that are several thousand pounds less than similarly specified rivals, the new VTX models add hundreds of pounds worth of extra equipment as standard including metallic paint, 15-inch alloys, cruise control, electric rear windows and a smart new interior trim, compared to the Desire versions on which they are based," says a spokesman.

Other standard equipment includes front and side airbags, air conditioning, remote central locking, front folding armrests, electric heated door mirrors, RDS stereo radio/CD player with steering-mounted controls and Cit-roaen's Modubox folding trolley.

The three new Xsara Picasso VTX models are a 1.6i 16V petrol version priced at pounds 11,250, a 92hp 1.6HDi diesel at pounds 11,650 and a 2.0i 16V automatic for pounds 13,150.

In a first for Citroen, the company says that these vehicles will not be available with any discounts.

Among the benefits of the Xsara Picasso VTX for user-chooser company car drivers is a significant reduction in BiK taxation, thanks to the model's low price and CO2 emissions at 135g/km for the 1.6HDi VTX.

For a 40 per cent tax-paying company car driver, this equates to a BiK reduction of more than pounds 700 over a three-year period compared to the equivalent Desire model.

In addition, the reduction in the VTX's BiK value means that employer's National Insurance payments are reduced by up to pounds 228 over three years.