Low Cost Vans

According to an article posted on  Business Car Manager website, written by Robin Roberts, now may be the best time to sell your unwanted vehicle. The article titled, " Used car sales have fallen to their lowest in seven years but it could be good news for you ", points out the findings from two recent reports, one from Experian's Used Car Index report and the other source from leading online remarketer, CD Auction Group. With a shortage of quality second hand cars being made available for sale within the market, due to financial stresses leading more motorist to hold on to their vehicles for longer, now is the perfect time to take advantage if you have a top quality used car or van to sell. The article offers facts and figures about which type of vehicles are seeing a drop or increase in sales and offers some good advice for fleet managers who may be considering holding on to or extending the lease on current vehicles. To read more of this helpful article, please view i

According to road safety charity the IAM, learning to drive for young motorists can cost them more than their modest average income, with insurance being the highest proportion of cost when learning to drive. When IAM visited a popular price comparison site, the cheapest insurance quote available to a 17-year-old male driver in full-time employment is £7,868.38. The cheapest quote with a telematics box is £4, 464.69. IAM figure that in 2009, the average full-time salary for 16-17 year olds was £9300 and compared to now, salaries have actually gone down by about 9%. What makes it difficult for young drivers is how the cost of learning to drive has not gone down to match salaries. IAM calculate that it costs on average, £12,345.23 to start driving, but the average young person’s wages have fallen to well below this, meaning they may now have to forego driving until later or ask parents to help with the start up costs. IAM have also included a handy breakdown of the costs associated with

Did you know Volvo Trucks’ offer an online tablet magazine? The magazine is produced four times a year and features stories about life on the road, articles about technology and product development and analyses of important issues facing the industry. In the magazine's September 2012  special issue, they focus on the new Volvo FH series which Volvo say will be a truck set to revolutionise the whole industry. The issue takes an in-depth look at what improvements the new FH offers in each area: design, safety, drivability, handling, fuel economy and driver comfort. To view the latest issue of Volvo Trucks Magazine, you can download it for free on your iPad from the App Store. For Android users, you can access the magazine from Google Play. If you would like to watch an introduction film about the new issue of Volvo Trucks' tablet magazine on YouTube, please click here .  

What Van? , Britain's biggest and best van buyers' guide, has posted an interesting article claiming new research has shown that van drivers were twice as likely to get caught for motoring offenses such as speeding, than car drivers. Surprisingly noted in the article was that van drivers, especially those owning smaller businesses, are largely being caught for talking on a hand-held mobile phones. The research was conducted by AA Insurance. To read the alarming article posted on What Van? website on September 26th, 2012, please click here .

  After analysing your performance results, the next step is to implement a plan of action. This week's guide will offer advice on how to get started and suggests the possible benefits to your fleet if you put the plans into action. It's important for your operations to be continually reviewed and adapted. Monitoring and measuring against your start point allows your business to clearly identify what progress has been made in relation to your efficiency targets. To view the practical guide page on Implementation and Review , please click here .

Kwik Fit, the experts in automotive parts repair, has released new research that claim women aren’t impressed by flashy cars. In the new study for Kwik Fit, half of women (52%) who pay attention to a man’s car said that they are most impressed by those that are well maintained. Only 5% of women said that a car’s speed was the most impressive factor and only 12% were most impressed by an expensive looking car. Personally speaking, as a woman, I wholeheartedly agree with the findings in the research. When on a first date, I do admit to observing what the state of my date's car is like when he picks me up. If he has taken the time to clean the inside as well as out and it appears to run smoothly, it bods well for a possible second date. It gives the impression of maturity, respectfulness, and that he knows how to take care of things. And forget it if the car looks banged up, he drives like a maniac, and speeds his way through the city streets; that is a definite give away that he may

I've read more anticipated news about upcoming vehicles being showcased at the Paris Motor Show this week. Ford Europe is the latest manufacturer to report the unveiling of its future motor offerings. The all-new Ford EcoSport SUV is set to be debuted at the Paris Show on September 27th, 2012. Ford will offer its all-new EcoSport in Europe with the award-winning, 2012 “International Engine of the Year”, 1.0-litre EcoBoost petrol engine and a best-in-class diesel engine. The 1.0-litre EcoBoost petrol engine first went on sale in the Focus this year before being introduced to all-new B-MAX, with models including C-MAX, Grand C-MAX and all-new Mondeo also due to receive this innovative 3-cylinder powertrain. European EcoSport customers will also be able to specify a best-in-class diesel engine. What makes the Ford EcoSport so special is that it combines the agility, affordability, and fuel efficiency of a small car with the flexibility and spaciousness of an SUV, giving you the best o

 Isuzu has partnered with Celebrity TV chef and presenter, Mike Robinson to equip him with a bespoke Isuzu D-Max pick-up,  as the hunting season in England gets into full swing. Now that may sound unusual to supply a TV chef/presenter with a custom made pick-up, but Mr Robinson is no ordinary chef. Mike Robinson is co-presenter of ITV1′s primetime series Countrywise and Countrywise Kitchen. His passion for game has made him well known as one of the country’s top game cooks, an enthusiatic huntsman of game, and gatherer of wild food. To ensure he has the best possible tools at his disposal during the short stalking season, he worked with Isuzu UK to select a number of special modifications for his new pick-up.  By driving this all-new Isuzu D-Max around the 20,000-acre estate he manages, will undoubtedly help Mike minimise his impact on the surrounding environment.  The Isuzu D-Max, with its highly-efficient 2.5-litre Euro 5-compliant twin-turbo diesel engine, delivers 163 PS and 400 Nm

Vauxhall, in a new press release, has announced that at the National Association of Police Fleet Managers’ annual conference on September 25 th and 26 th in Peterborough, Vauxhall Special Vehicles is showcasing the largest range of vehicles from a manufacturer. Vauxhall will have a main stand and three vehicles in the Eco Zone for low carbon vehicles, the Luton-based manufacturer will display Police vehicles alongside civilian vehicles including the first UK exhibition of the Mokka, which arrives in showrooms this November. Also at the main stand, Vauxhall include an Insignia with a rugged tablet dock in the dash fascia and a Vivaro Police Support Unit that can beam live footage to other vehicles in the field including an Insignia and a Movano Protected Support Unit, this is an industry first. The award-winning Police Ampera, with internal and external cameras and technology which predicts future crime hotspots, will also be on display. Not forgetting other markets, Vauxhall's Ec

My favourite weekly driving tips from website IAM Drive & Survive have been released. Driver training specialist IAM Drive & Survive motoring tips to drivers from its head of training, Simon Elstow, this week is advising on driving in the autumn. With the darkness of night rolling in earlier now and hazards we don't often think about, like fallen wet and slippery leaves on the roads, the advice on offer this week is well worth viewing. To read the advice page titled, " S lippery when wet ", please click here .

Does anyone remember watching MacGyver , the American action-adventure television series that aired in the late 80's to early 90's? You may be asking what the TV show has to do with vans, right? Well, I just had to tell all of you about what I discovered when looking for more details about Mercedes-Benz new Citan van. I surprisingly spotted an advert on the Mercedes-Benz website featuring actor Richard Dean Anderson reprising his clever thinking MacGyver character in a three part Citan van web commercial. The slogan that Mercedes is using in their Citan van campaign says, " The new Citan, the right van for the job " and " ready for action " with MacGyver looking as tough as ever standing next to the van. I can remember watching a few episodes as a kid and maybe some of you still use the phrase "to do a MacGyver", as a term used to signify being able to do something others deem impossible. I think I used it myself whenever I was made to clean out th

In a new press release, the FTA announced the express attendance of its members at Fleet Van Summit 2012, honouring their accreditation to the Freight Transport Association (FTA) Van Excellence scheme. The celebratory event,  sponsored by Fiat Professional, was held at Millbrook Proving Ground, Bedfordshire on September 18th. Current members include the South Central Ambulance Service, Sainsbury’s, BT, Office Depot, and DHL to name but a few. What is Van Excellence? The FTA describe it as, "Van Excellence is an industry-led initiative that aims to; enhance standards of van operator compliance, celebrate operators who demonstrate excellence, represent the interests of the van industry." The scheme is open to any size van operator, fleet, or business sector and strives to promote good industry wide practice and improved standards. The Van Excellence Code sets demanding but achievable guidelines and procedures for van operation. Van operators can seek accreditation to the scheme

In a recent post, Autoblog reported that Goodyear, the world's largest tyre company, has officially developed a new self-inflating tyre for commercial vehicles. The new technical term for Goodyear's system is called Air Maintenance Technology. The post offers a handy infographic showing how the new system works and also includes a link to Goodyear's official press release on this new technology.  Please click here  to read Autoblog's post titled, " Goodyear unveils self-inflating tires for big trucks ," written by Zach Bowman.

Fleet World, the leading magazine for fleet decision-makers, has posted an article announcing that Fiat have made an impressive deal with the van fleet for retailer Currys PC World and will now supply their 'Know How' technical service engineers with fifty new Fiat Doblò Cargo Maxi vehicles. If you need a home repair call or even delivery of a washing machine or fridge, these vans can easily transport these larger goods, thanks to the Doblò Cargo Maxi's ample cargo space. The Doblò's load compartment can take volumes of 3.4, 4 or 4.2 m3, with an even floor and shape that can be fully utilised for all sorts of loads. It has large sliding side doors and the generous sized rear doors make loading and unloading easy, allowing for faster working with less effort. To read more from Fleet World about the deal, please click here to view the article titled, " Fiat strikes red-hot fleet deal with Currys PC World ." Or to learn more about Fiat Doblò Cargo Maxi vans, ple

In a recent press release from Dainese, during the IAA fair in Hannover, they announced how they will present new solutions for protecting the passengers of light and heavy commercial vehicles. In partnership with Iveco, Special D-air air bags developed by the company for protecting the body have been fitted to the Iveco seats for each of these prototypes. Dainese, established in 1972, is an Italian company specialising in protective clothing and gear, mainly started with motorcycle riders/racers in mind, but has quickly grown to include a number of high action sports. Iveco is adopting D-air® technology as the best suited solution to the safety requirements of heavy commercial vehicle drivers, as they feel; differ from those of drivers of smaller sized vehicles. Iveco's intent is to create a protective environment around the passengers like a safety shell that protects them from danger. This new concept of a protective shell around Iveco vehicle passengers introduces a new model f

According to a report from the House of Commons Transport Committee, consumer demand for plug-in cars and vans remains very low and the Government grant to encourage demand may not be proving effective.  The Plug-In Car Grant was launched in January 2011 and is aimed at both private consumers and businesses. The Grant offers 25% off the vehicle price, up to a value of £5,000. Eligible vehicles can be electric, plug-in hybrid or hydrogen-fuelled, but must comply with certain performance, environmental and safety standards in order to be eligible. Ultra-low emission vehicles can benefit from tax exemptions including Vehicle Excise Duty, reduced Company Car Tax and other local measures such as congestion charge exemptions. To give an idea of how many vans/cars have taken up the grant so far, since the inception in 2011, 1,052 eligible plug-in car grant vehicles were registered, compared to 111 in 2010.  Not nearly enough according to MP's. Launching a new report from the Transport Sel

TyreSafe has announced that it has launched a potentially life-saving pledge on its Facebook page , designed to help keep drivers safe on the roads this winter. The article can be found on their media centre page titled, " Take the pledge’ that could save your life ". The pledge asks its participants to promise to take 'the 20p pledge', meaning they will commit to check their tyre tread depth using a 20p coin within the next seven days. After they take the pledge, Facebook will share the information with all of the participants’ friends, hopefully encouraging them to also take up the tyre check pledge. It's a fairly easy test to perform yourself, so even if you do not want to take the pledge on Facebook, you can still make sure your vehicle is safe on the road this winter by taking a few minutes to check your tyres with a simple 20p coin. To read more about the pledge and for details on how to properly test your tyres, please visit the TyreSafe website by clicking

  According to a recent press release, there is even more future vehicle progress coming from the Hanover Motor Show. Heinz-Jürgen Löw, the President of Renault Trucks, announced during a press conference at the show, that the Long Distance, Construction and Distribution ranges are to be completely replaced in the spring of 2013. All vehicles affected are currently undergoing trials on the Renault Trucks test tracks and under actual operating conditions with a number of partner customers to achieve Renault's goal of excellence. Heinz-Jürgen Löw prepared the ground by saying: "In June, there will be a real revolution. Our new vehicles are going to surprise you, not only in terms of their design but also their performance. We are aiming for excellence and are doing everything to attain it." Renault Trucks also presented at the Hanover show, the technology of its future Euro 6 engines. The heavy duty range will have a new 11 L, 6 cylinder engine, known as the DTI 11. This is

In a new press release, Iveco proudly announced that their new heavy-duty truck, STRALIS Hi-Way, has won the “ International Truck of the Year” award 2013. The annual trophy voted on by 25 leading commercial vehicle magazines in Europe for the truck that, according to the Jury, “has made the greatest contribution to road transport efficiency from several different perspectives including: fuel economy; safety; driveability; comfort and a low-environmental ‘footprint’”. The award was presented at the 64th annual Hanover International Motor Show, the largest commercial and industrial vehicle show in Europe. Some of the leading features of the Iveco STRALIS Hi-Way are;  Reduction in Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) of up to 4% on an international mission with a tractor STRALIS Hi-Way over an average distance of 130,000 kilometres a year, for four years   A range of integrated functions, including programmed assistance, fleet management and driver training for economical driving  Supplie

This week’s Practical guide will give advice on which practical measurements to focus on when analysing performance. Once you have gathered sufficient data and feedback, it’s time to analyse and prioritise the issues that most concern you. For this to have value, information gathering should be done on a regular basis. The next steps in effectively measuring performance, after choosing your KPI's is; to identify the issues, prioritise the issues, identify causes of inefficiencies, and create an action plan. To view this week’s guide page, please click here .  

The RHA , Road Haulage Association, announced this week that they are pleased with the Government plans of  introducing a charging system, under the terms of which foreign operators will now pay to use UK roads. “This is a happy day for road hauliers”, said RHA Chief Executive Geoff Dunning. “We have been campaigning for years to see a system introduced which will lessen the financial advantage currently enjoyed by our European neighbours. UK hauliers travelling to mainland Europe have to pay road charges but foreign registered vehicles travelling to the UK pay nothing. We expect a charge of about £1000 per year", continued Geoff Dunning “This is not enough to give us a level playing field as regards the rest of Europe.  But it is a good start and will help no end in beginning to prepare the ground." Although the new charges will also apply to British lorries, they are to receive a reduction in excise duty to ensure that they will not pay more than they do at present. The ini

Van Quote Direct has recently published an article titled, " Should vans be technologically upgraded as standard? " In the article, they explain that experts in the van industry feel that all vans should have a communication package included as standard, and not an added extra. They point out the benefits this would provide to van drivers and businesses if this type of equipment were to automatically be included, as it’s an integral communications hub for commercial vans. The article also contemplates the possible prohibitive reasons are as to why this is not likely to happen anytime soon. Please click here to read more.

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles introduced a concept vehicle designed for extreme outdoor sports, the prototype Amarok Canyon, at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show in March. Announced in their recent press release, the genuine off-road vehicle with pick-up truck power and styling was so well received at the show that Volkswagen has decided to offer a special edition version of the Amarok based very closely on the concept vehicle: the Amarok Canyon, as of early 2013. Taking ideas from the concept model, the new special edition model Amarok will include a striking 'copper orange' colour scheme, AT wheels, lamp bar, styling bar and interior fitting details. As an additional extra option, you can even have a lamp bar with four extra headlights on the roof. Per the information in the release, "the Amarok Canyon is available with both TDI engines, generally in combination with permanent or on-demand four-wheel drive (4MOTION) and optional differential lock on the rear axle. Designed for

According to the Environmental Transport Association (ETA), less British towns are supporting World Car Free Day on 22 September - the annual event that encourages motorists in over 1,000 towns around the globe to leave their cars at home in favour of bicycles, trains and buses. The ETA say the reasons for the low show of support can be blamed on slashed budgets for local government and dwindling interest in the environment. Of the 400 councils that the ETA wrote to asking if they were intending to support the event, a mere 2 councils replied back. Director of the ETA, Andrew Davis, said: “The economic downturn has distracted attention and diverted budgets away from green initiatives such as Car Free Day, but questioning our over-dependence on cars is as much about saving money at the pumps as it is improving the local environment in which we live and work.” In the past ten years, there were several British towns (as much as 50) staging events around World Car Free Day, now the figure

I recently read a really great article on Small Business Pro website that provides quality information on how to start your own van courier business. If you have ever considered working for yourself, but are just not sure how or where to start, then you may find the article extremely helpful. Basically, for this type of business, you don't need to buy stock to sell or rent an expensive space. You and your van are the business. What you do need, is to determine exactly who your clients are likely to be and what services you are able to supply. Do you need to start from scratch and purchase a van? If so, make sure to do your homework to find the right size/model of van to fit your business needs and it is extremely important to weigh up your options when you consider whether you will be able to buy the van outright or lease it on finance. If you already own a van, is it fit for the type of business you are wanting to set up and do you require any special licensing, insurance, or add

Auto Express online posted a fun video on their website challenging men and women to a parking contest. Filmed at Welcome Break’s London Gateway services on the M1, BSM driving instructor Gary Lamb put a handful of men and women through a simple yet specific parallel parking task. The efforts of both men and women were a mixed bag of skill, hilarity, and some were downright cringe worthy for me to watch, as a few of the ladies lacked confidence in their ability to manoeuvre or park the Kia Cee’d into a bay. The video was in response to German mayor of Triberg, Gallus Strobel, allocating easier parking spaces to women, as he felt men were better able to park in more challenging spaces. So, did the video prove the German mayor correct, or have the women of Britain triumphed and shown him that we are just as capable (or even more so) as men when it comes to parking? You will have to watch the entertaining video for yourself to get the answer. Please click here to view it and find out wh

Motorists have been inflicted with yet another sting to their pocket books today with the news that garage labour rates have risen to a record average of £83 per hour, according to Warranty Direct’s annual Labour Rates Survey. According to their recent press release, the average labour rate (franchised and independent workshops combined) climbed 3% to £82.86, up from £80.44 in 2011 and over 10% higher than two years ago. Warranty Direct also found that the rate fluctuates widely, with some garage's charging a reasonable sum of £36.60 per hour while others could be hit by rates as massive as £201.60 per hour. The data, based from Warranty Direct’s 50,000 live policies, studied nearly 4,250 workshops and found that smaller more independent workshops have seen a substantial rise from £60.68 per hour in 2011 to £64.58 in 2012. This shows that the gap between what the independent local garage charges versus the larger main dealers, whose rate averages a hefty £95.94, is getting smaller.

AM (Automotive Management) online has recently reported that Nissan is recalling around 48,000 Qashqais cars worldwide. 7,000 of these Qashqais are in the UK. The recall is due to a fault that could result in drivers losing control of the steering. The fault affects all owners of Nissan Qashqai and Qashqai+2 models made at Nissan’s Sunderland UK plant between 27 February and 16 May 2012. The AM online short article also provides a video (in Finnish) of a driver in Finland who filmed the fault found in his car. To read more about the fault and to view the video, please click here .

The mia electric car is a refreshing addition to the electric car market. It has all of the attributes that make electric cars so popular in urban areas, for instance; it's compact, economical, yet still maintains some semblance of style. No tricks, no gimmicks, no fancy packaging, or quirky design is needed; its simplicity is what makes this an ideal electric car. Having low to zero emissions is a crucial component when selecting an electric car, especially if you live in a large city where congestion charges are an economic concern. The mia is a common sense car, as it has zero emissions and a range of up to 125 km. You can zip around town, take the children to school, or head off for a weekend drive with this roomy 100% electric car. The driver’s seat is uniquely positioned front and centre to offer a panoramic view, although this means that there is no placement for a front passenger seat. The back passenger seats come in two seating arrangements. In the standard mia, the 2 ind

With fuel at the pumps seemingly only going up and not down, I'm always left thinking, is there anything that we can do to alleviate the strain that's felt when filling up at the petrol station? When a friend jokingly mentioned that she'd probably save a ton of money if she converted her car to run on chip fat, her kitchen's discarded cooking oil, it piqued my interest in learning about alternative fuel. I had heard about that biodiesel option before, but I wondered what else might be out there. In my research, I found an informative website that I thought I would share on the blog. Next Green Car , the independent guide to green cars in the UK, has created some very well put together web pages discussing greener fuels. The pages can be found by clicking on their Greener Fuels tab and selecting the Petrol & Diesel , LPG & Natural Gas , or Bioethanol & Biodiesel fuel types. Next Green Car include information describing what exactly these fuels are, how they

If you have ever wanted to ride in or drive a commercial lorry, then here is your chance. The Commercial Motor Live event at Millbrook Proving Ground in Bedfordshire is providing entrants with the opportunity to get behind the wheel of the latest commercial vehicles from Scania, Volvo, Renault, Mercedes-Benz, and Isuzu Trucks. Although this type of event is geared toward business fleet managers and commercial vehicle operators, it still offers a little something for everyone. Tickets to the event cost £80 including complimentary breakfast (a bacon roll) and lunch, but you need to register for the ride and drive, so book your tickets soon, as places are limited. The event is being held on October 3-4 and gates open at 07:30 and close at 18:00. Aside from the exclusive ride and drive exhibit, there will be plenty to see and do with loads of seminars and demonstrations including informative talks on new legislation (new Euro 5 and 6), telematics, and the new tyre labelling. For more detai

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles is reportedly going to have one of its biggest and most diverse vehicle displays at the IAA Commercial Vehicles show in Hanover this September 20-27th , exhibiting a total of 120 vehicles. The most impressive vehicle on show will be the eT! electric delivery van concept. According to the latest press release from Volkswagen, the eT! concept will be  the highlight of the 4,528 m 2 Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles stand in Hall 12. Developed by Volkswagen Group Research, which is responsible for the CV world of tomorrow, it offers an insight into the future of electric light commercial vehicles. The Volkswagen eT! will be a pure electrically powered transporter with zero emissions and I have read that it may also include the ability to be driven semi-automatically via a 'drive-stick'. Although the eT! is only in the concept/planning stages and is not going to be available any time soon, Volkswagen say they are preparing for what may be required of l

HPI, the vehicle information expert, has revealed which Light Commercial Vehicles are the biggest risks to buyers in their new press release. The results of their latest research have found that the Ford Transit came in at number one on a thieves list, as the most sought after van on their league table. Appearing next on the list would include the Mercedes Sprinter and Mitsubishi L200. For other vans on the list, see the stolen van hit rate table below, provided in HPI's press release. Stolen, clocked, cloned, written-off or still on finance are just some of the many pitfalls to catch-out the unsuspecting used van buyer, warns HPI. “1 in 4 vans checked has something to hide, but used van buyers can avoid risks by simply carrying out an HPI Check, which will uncover the vehicle’s history and confirm if there is anything untoward about the vehicle that needs investigating,” explains Daniel Burgess, Managing Director for HPI. The statistics are staggering; HPI reported earlier that th

This week’s practical guide will continue to look at ways that performance management can help in running your van(s) more effectively and provide examples of KPIs (key performance indicators) and how to work with them. The best advice I've heard is, "You cannot manage what you do not measure." Managing the performance of your van(s) will have a positive impact on the success of your wider business. It will enable you to make more of financial and other resources available to you. If accurate vehicle information (e.g. fuel use, mileage, incidents) is not easily available, then any attempt to improve performance is doomed to fail. Bad information is worse than no information, since any actions taken on the strength of it may be counterproductive. It is wise to invest in the best data collection system you can justify, taking into account time spent and potential savings. Please view the page featuring the second part of performance management by clicking here .

Confused.com has just added an interesting infographic to their news views page titled, "Telematics tech behind the wheel and beyond." It offers a very good run down on what telematics is and how it can be useful for insurers and most importantly, how it can help driver's to save money on insurance. Although the use of telematics may seem a bit invasive and possibly feel a little like being spied upon by your insurance company, as it will be used by them to gather information on our every day driving habits, the infographic points out that you may have unknowingly already used telematics by way of Sat Nav or GPS. If you would like to see the infographic, which is well put together, please visit Confused.com by clicking here .

Some important news from Renault Trucks announced this week. Renault Trucks will present its Euro 6* compliant engines at the IAA show (International Automobile Exhibition) in Hanover from September 20-27, 2012. The new Euro 6 engines from Renault Trucks deliver reduced pollution and keep a check on fuel consumption and Renault Trucks Euro 6 engines will deliver high performance, reliability and optimised consumption. The information which was provided by Renault in a press release says, that in order to comply with the new EU regulations on cutting polluting emissions, Renault have utilised different technologies and are choosing the most appropriate and efficient engine size and future applications. The new engines will be added to Renault’s trucks when the new standard becomes compulsory in January 2014 (January 2013 for new homologations).   For its heavy duty range, Renault Trucks will offer a new six cylinder 11 L engine to be known as the DTI 11. This will be available with thre

I recently posted an entry about green cars and mentioned the benefits of vehicles emitting less than 100g/km of CO 2  being exempt from road tax and the London Congestion Charge. I just read an article about Vauxhall Commercial Vehicles customer Plantire speaking out in regards to how unfair it is that light commercial vehicles under 3.5 tonnes with sub-100g/km CO 2 emissions are not exempt from the London Congestion Charge. Plantire, a hoist hire firm based near Heathrow, runs two Corsavans as service vehicles that makes on average about six journeys per week into the Congestion Charge zone and feels they are unjustly being penalised for running a low-CO 2 van in London amounting to £3,000 per year, in turn nearly negating any fuel cost savings they chose the Vauxhall vans for. John Tocher, Plantire’s general manager said: “Although we knew when we ordered the Corsavans that they were not exempt, we felt sure that Transport for London would change the exemption. It makes sense that

  TomTom released results of research they conducted across four countries in Europe which looked into why mobile fleet customer service targets were not being met. The mobile workers included; 146 in the Netherlands, 177 in the United Kingdom, 200 in Germany and 200 in France. Among them, they blame traffic congestion as the main reason they are late to jobs. Of those van driver's surveyed in the UK, a whopping 90% say they are late for customer appointments and say it's due to traffic issues. While traffic obviously has an impact on a fleet's business, the survey also found that 49% of driver's feel stressed out in traffic situations, which can also impact on the business to customer end. It was interesting to see though, that at least 21% of those stressed, actually cited that annoyance caused to customers was the cause of their worry. 63% just didn't like being stuck in the traffic. “Our latest research reveals traffic is a serious obstacle preventing service an

Another exciting unveiling is happening at the 2012 Hanover Motor Show in Germany, which runs from September 18 to 27, 2012. Not only will Peugeot be showcasing the all-electric Partner van, but its twin, the new Citroën Electric Berlingo will join in on the fun as well. Besides both being unveiled at the Hanover Motor Show, they will run on the same 22.5 kW/h batteries and be available sometime in 2013. CARSCOOP's article titled, "Citroën Unveils New Electric Berlingo at the Hanover Motor Show," provides more details on this environmentally friendly vehicle. Read more here .

MSN Cars published a great feature yesterday titled, "Cars we wish we could buy" by Daljinder Nagra, contributor, MSN Cars. With the announcement that Ford is now bringing the Mustang to the UK in honour of its 50th anniversary, the iconic muscle car inspired the author to look at other vehicles we wish would cross over onto UK ground. My vote goes to the SRT (Street & Racing Technology) Viper, formerly known as the Dodge Viper. Yeah, okay it isn't the most practical car you can own here in the UK, but with the new 2013 race car being described as having 'road scorching wheels’, I'd certainly give it a go. You can scroll through pictures and information on a dozen cars/SUV's that are not currently offered here, but should be. Read the MSN feature by clicking here .

In a recent press release, Peugeot has announced a new addition to its popular Partner van range. The new Partner van will be 100% Electric. This means it will now be possible for business owners and drivers of this electric vehicle to enter low emissions restricted zones. The new Partner Electric comes in 2 lengths: 4.38m and 4.63m and as it is modelled after the original Partner, you will still get a great amount of load space and the Partner Electric operates on two high-energy lithium-ion battery packs with a capacity of 22.5kW/h. It has two charging modes for its battery: a normal charge (up to 16A) in 6 to 9 hours and a fast charge (up to 125A) allowing recovery of 80% of the capacity of the batteries in only 30 minutes. Peugeot reiterates the environmentally aware energy aspects of their new van several times in the press release, "With this new 100% electric version, Peugeot takes another step in offering business users a Partner range with power units suitable for all kin

It has been announced, based on figures compared to this time last year, that Ford has taken the lead in sales and market shares, as it beats nearest rival in a wide victory by nearly 78% for the year to date. Through end of August year to date sales figures, Ford has seen an increase of 3.3 % since August 2011. These official figures were released on September 6 from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). The Ford Fiesta is the best seller in the UK for August and the Ford Transit is the UK’s best-selling commercial vehicle, which incidentally, is now in its 47th consecutive year as such. The figures by the SMMT show that the Ford Transit holds a large share of the commercial vehicle market at 17.4% compared to its nearest rival which only held a 5.7% share in sales. The SMMT report shows Ford in great standings last month and is set to only get better for Ford, as sales of new vehicles tend to increase in September with the changing of registration plates.   Mark Oven

The all-new Ford EcoSport, a compact, rugged and fuel efficient sports utility vehicle, was unveiled last week at Ford's “Go Further” event held in Amsterdam. The fuel efficient SUV, based on Ford’s global B-segment platform, will be available for sale within 18 months and will be offered globally to around 100 markets. Ford EcoSport will deliver great value, quality and fuel economy,” said Nick Collins, B-car vehicle line director, Ford of Europe. “It will also present customers with a fantastic small car choice that will also include the B-MAX compact multi-activity vehicle as well as new Fiesta.” For those who are already familiar with Ford's Fiesta models and are thinking about a small yet agile SUV, this new EcoSport has a lot to bestow on its lucky owners. The range of engines on offer includes: • 1.0-liter EcoBoost I-3 • 1.5-liter I-4 Ti-VCT • 1.6-liter I-4 Flex • 2.0-liter I-4 • 1.5-liter Duratorq TDCI I-4 Transmission available: • IB5 five-speed manual • MMT6 six-speed

Van insurance specialists, VanQuoteDirect , released their 'Friday Five' blog entry discussing van security on September 7th. The blog lists the top five ways to keep your van safe. Their number one entry is van insurance. This should be top priority for all van owners. Not only is it the law ("The vehicle insurance law means that the registered keeper of a vehicle must keep it insured"- Direct.gov), but if something does happen to your vehicle, you can rest a bit easier knowing that your van and (if included) its contents are covered by your policy. Having the right insurance cover can save you time and money. If your van is your business, it’s important to ask the right questions when shopping around for the best insurance policy. Don't forget to ask: What will be included in the policy and what do they expect from you? Are goods-in-transit included? Is windscreen and window repair covered? Will personal belongings be covered by the policy if they are da

Land Rover has announced the launch of their All-New Range Rover that was designed and engineered here in the UK. This will be the fourth generation of the iconic Range Rover line up and is set to be debuted at an event held at The Royal Ballet School in Richmond, London. Land Rover is reporting that the new, just under 5m long, Range Rover is the "world's first SUV with a lightweight all-aluminium monocoque body structure," which is 39 per cent lighter than the steel body in previous models. It will still remain structural strong and its wading depth has improved by 200mm to 900mm, and its position as the best towing vehicle in its class with a 3,500kg trailer capability. Not forgetting to mention that the new Range Rover will include the next-generation version of Land Rover’s Terrain Response® system, which analyses the current driving conditions and automatically selects the most suitable vehicle settings and offer over 118mm more legroom space for rear-seat passenger

Fiat Professional has expanded their award-winning Doblò Cargo van range with a new XL version of the Doblò. This new offering comes one year after the introduction of the Doblò Work Up, which I wrote about yesterday. The Doblò XL's long wheelbase and high roof provides a load volume of 5.0 m 3 and a payload of 1,000kg and its rear doors allow for full access to the load compartment so customers can fully utilise the large volume of space. All importantly, the new XL gives a choice of three Euro 5 turbo diesel engines: 1.6 MultiJet 105 hp, 1.6 MultiJet 90hp MTA and 2.0 MultiJet 135hp (combi versions will be available with the 2.0 MultiJet 135hp only). Fiat's recent press release says: "The new XL version will sit between the Purpose Built Van and Small Panel Van segments and is likely to attract customers from the latter as it offers the same load capacity and payload (1 Ton) but at a lower price." Fiat also suggests that the Doblò XL will appeal to a variety of cust

Which green vehicles, currently on the road, are the most economical? With fuel prices recently in the news again and the higher costs of living ever mounting, our vehicles today whether green or standard need to be as economical as possible, yet still provide us with the features we all want. Green cars can give more than just the moral implications of owning one; you can save more on running costs and cars that emit less than 100g/km don’t pay any road tax. Basically, the more fuel efficient the car is, the less tax you will pay. TheGreenCarWebsite.co.uk provides a complete list of their choices for best green economic vehicles. In the top ten, you’ll find cars like the Chevrolet Volt which came out on top of the leader board, just ahead of the much talked about Vauxhall Ampera. What I liked most about the list, is that it also provides details on; fuel type, CO2 output, which Tax Band the vehicle falls into, what MPG you should get, and offers estimations on what the Fuel cost of dr

I found an interesting article (supplied by i-Van magazine) that was published on Van Trader UK's website, regarding Fiat's Doblo Work Up. When it was launched last year, the main selling feature was its plywood platform: 2.3 m long , 1.82 m wide and with 4 m² of surface that was large enough to carry up to one ton or "up to 3 euro pallets or 33 crates of fruit,” as described by Fiat on their website. It also came with a range of two turbo diesel engines with low noise levels and low fuel consumption and maintenance. But a year on, article writer Liam Campbell asks, "Is there a ‘gap’ in the British marketplace for such a compact pickup in British industry?" The article provides a few 'real world' photos and includes more practical details about Mr Campbell's week long test in the Fiat Work Up. To view the answer to the question, you can read the article by clicking here .