THE new Peugeot Partner van will warn a driver when the vehicle is overloaded - perhaps avoiding a burst tyre or attention from the police.

This overload visual warning is an option on the Partner range which also adopts the Peugeot i-Cockpit dashboard layout that raised some eyebrows when it was introduced on the company's cars, with a small steering wheel with the instrument panel viewed over it.

The Partner will come in two lengths - 4.40m and 4.75m - and with payloads of 650kg and 1000kg. For the first time there's the option of a rear bench seat in the longer version.

Engines offered are two 1.2 litre petrol units and three 1.6 litre diesels, with an eight-speed automatic gearbox on some.

Order books open in the autumn.