Low Cost Vans

The new overhauled Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van has made waves in the commercial vehicle world this week. It's the first Euro 6 van out of the gate and everyone is talking about it. With an enhanced exterior and interior, plus new safety systems, this van is ready to compete for the number one spot. This van boasts of an excellent low fuel consumption of 44.4 mpg, making it the most efficient and economical vehicle in its segment. It will come with several van firsts, including five new assistance systems that will help reduce the number of accidents even further in the new Sprinter. Crosswind Assist, which is fitted as standard, and COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST and Blind Spot Assist, which are both optional. Other new features are Highbeam Assist and Lane Keeping Assist. The developers at Mercedes-Benz are convinced that these electronic assistants will play a key role in helping to reduce accidents in the van sector. In the wake of the Euro NCAP rating of just three stars for their...

According to a new study published by Volkswagen today, taking a chance on hiring someone who ultimately turned out to not be right for the job was named as British bosses’ most common business mistake. It suggests that a third of small and medium sized enterprise (SME) owners would describe themselves as ambitious risk-takers, but it’s important to remember that with all risk-taking having a downside as well as an upside. The Volkswagen Caddy ‘However Big Your Ambition’ report, commissioned to understand the common mistakes business owners regularly make, and to help prevent bosses from continuing to make costly blunders, revealed that mistakes and bad decisions cost UK businesses an average of £2,340 every year. To help SMEs develop their business skills, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles has launched an online mentoring service on its Facebook page featuring successful SME owners sharing advice. Alex Smith, director of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles says: ‘Running a business isn’t ea...

With a bank holiday just around the corner, our concerns over fuel prices are raised further. Many drivers are now choosing not to drive very far (or even at all) on the long weekends due to the high cost of fuelling their car or van. It's a shame though, as one of the great joys of living here are the miles of beautiful coastal and countryside drives available to us. The supermarkets have recently lowered fuel a few pence, but not near enough to make a decent savings in time for this weekend. Perhaps before the next bank holiday, we can all make a few adjustments to help us get out there on the open road and enjoy. I found some great tips to share and will be following them myself. Road safety charity and award-winning breakdown cover company, GEM Motoring Assist has recently published a post outlining the importance of fuel efficient driving all year round. GEM is encouraging easy-to-make changes, such as reducing average speed, regularly checking tyre pressures, and removing an...

Parking, defined as the act of stopping a vehicle and leaving it unoccupied. It's been a long and arguable debate as to whether male or female drivers are more adept at manoeuvring into a space. I must admit though, my own parking prowess is pretty rubbish at the best of times (sorry ladies). But, regardless of gender, parking is an inescapable part of driving. Whether driving a car or van, thankfully road safety charity IAM has kindly just posted their weekly driving tips and advice on, you guessed it, parking. From Britain’s top advanced driver, Peter Rodger, (IAM’s chief examiner) here is his advice on parking: " Don't go parking up the wrong tree " - Park on the left-hand side of the road if possible – make it always if it’s at night. - In a car park you should reverse into parking spaces. This will make it safer when you’re driving out and more fuel efficient as you’ll be manoeuvring with a warm engine. Also, it’s easier to steer into a small space backwards rat...

A fantastic endorsement for the Citroën Berlingo, Citroën Commercial has announced that the Environment Agency (EA) has just bought 31 Citroën Berlingo HDi 90 manual L1 850 Enterprise vans as part of its commitment to reduce the carbon footprint of its LCV fleet. The EA will operate its Berlingo vans for a minimum of five years. The EA - an agency within the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) - is allocating its 31 Berlingo vans to staff involved in flood defence and maintenance work, as well as to EA specialists carrying out environmental management monitoring. To meet individual user requirements, the EA has worked with racking specialist Bri-Stor to develop a number of internal racking layouts and equipment specifications. Bri-Stor is fitting the Berlingos with its latest high tensile steel racking (which is up to 45% lighter than the system previously supplied to the EA), white polycarbonate load area lining and roof light bars, while the users get a choice ...

Yikes, the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) have recently reported that over 8000 UK drivers are still driving despite having 12 or more points on their licence. And here is the most interesting fact; the top fourteen licence point holders with 25 points or more are all men. In fact, according to the press release from the IAM, a male driver from Warrington holds the record for accumulating the highest number of points, a total of 36. Staggering still is that a freedom of information request to the DVLA showed many male drivers with 25-36 points were still driving. Here are some interesting details supplied in the IAM's latest release: Currently, there are 20,439,578 male and 16,804,524 female licence holders in the UK, but it’s men who fall foul of the law more often: Of the top thirty-four licence point holders, only two are women. Of the top 99 licence point holders, just fourteen are women. 2256 men are still driving with more than 12 points on their licence. 351 w...

Euro NCAP has just published the safety results for a van that apparently is in a market segment poorly equipped for safety. The Mercedes-Benz Citan Kombi, 109 Blue Efficiency 'High' grade model, has only received three stars in the overall safety score. With only electronic stability control scoring points in Safety Assist and lacklustre performance in other areas, the Renault Kangoo-derived van/MPV has failed to set itself apart from its competitors in Euro NCAP’s safety tests. Euro NCAP organizes crash-tests and its goal is to provides motoring consumers with a realistic and independent assessment of the safety performance of some of the most popular cars and vans sold in Europe and is composed of seven European Governments as well as motoring and consumer organisations in every European country. Overall safety ratings from Euro NCAP are composed of scores in four areas: adult protection, child protection, pedestrian protection and safety assist. The Mercedes-Benz Citan Kom...

Renault has finally released a launch date and pricing information on their new urban crossover, Captur (pronounced “capture”), one month on from its world debut at the Geneva Motor Show. The Renault Captur is compact, in comparison it is only fractionally longer than the New Clio, but combines the style and driving position of an SUV, the cabin space and versatility of an MPV and the driving experience of a compact hatchback. Phew, it certainly packs in a whole lot in just one B-segment crossover. To tempt buyers even further, it has a maximum load space of 455 litres, large wheels, generous ground clearance, plus the in-dash Renault R-Link multimedia tablet provides access to a whole new level of connectivity, with an ever-expanding library of dedicated motoring apps. It becomes the third Renault to benefit from the innovative R-Link system (including TomTom satellite navigation, 4x35W Arkamys 3D Sound). For those wanting more; a reversing camera (Dynamique MediaNav and above), Cit...

Fiat Professional has posted news of their delight in being named the Traders’ Choice winner in the 2013 Trade Van Driver (TVD) Magazine Awards. This latest title completes a triple win for Fiat Professional in the 2013 TVD Magazine Awards and is in addition to the previously announced awards for Fiat Professional’s Fiorino being named Best City Van and the Doblò Work Up winning Best Small Pick-Up. Commenting on the award, Matthew Eisenegger says: “We asked the traders on our judging panel which van was, in their opinion, the top choice for small business owners. The Fiat Doblò Cargo was their unanimous choice. Stylish looks, a huge range of models, low running costs, rock solid reliability, superb drivability and great back-up all added up to a vehicle that they felt just couldn’t be beaten.” Sebastiano Fedrigo adds: “We are delighted that our class-leading Doblò Cargo has been recognised again in these awards. It is particularly pleasing that this latest award is from traders who u...

Wow, imagine winning a brand new white Vauxhall Combo ecoFLEX 1.3CDTi (90PS) van with Start/Stop by simply entering a prize draw at your local B&Q.  Well, one lucky man doesn't have to dream about that possible scenario any longer. Lucky winner Stuart Weir from Peterhead in Aberdeen won the Combo as part of a promotional campaign event that took place  at 58 B&Q stores throughout the UK.  Mr. Weir entered the prize draw during the event at the B&Q Aberdeen store where local Vauxhall retailer Peter Vardy was displaying the full range of Vauxhall Commercial Vehicles, including a new Combo similar to the one Stuart has won. Stuart said: “I’m absolutely delighted to have won new Vauxhall Combo and will make very good use of its versatility and capability.” Vauxhall's carbon footprint reducing Combo ecoFlex models are a smart choice for any business. The 1.3CDTi (90PS) Start/Stop engines emit CO2 emissions of just 126g/km and achieve combined fuel economy of up to 58.9mp...

The Essential Guide has been on a short hiatus while I was away, but it's back now and we will continue on with Van Safety: Monitoring and Measuring  Performance. You need to monitor and measure safety performance to find out how successful it is. This section should help to get you started with monitoring and measuring safety performance. Remember, some of the benefits associated with the increased safety of van fleets include more effective van use, lower fuel costs, and not to mention, a stronger business reputation. The guide continuation will focus on identifying areas of improvement; assess causes and solutions, then, most importantly, how to implement changes. Click here to read it now.  

The Shanghai Motor Show, held on odd-numbered years (then held in Beijing on even-numbered years) has begun and as we expected there are some high-profile launches taking place. The show runs from April 20 to 29, 2013. China is the world’s largest car market and as such ultimately does have an impact on the cars we drive here in the UK. MG (you know the one, the British brand with the  iconic octagonal badge) was one of the first to release details of their unveiling at the Shanghai Motor Show on April 20th, an urban SUV concept car. It will be the world premiere of the cutting-edge MG CS concept, designed to slot into the compact SUV sector. MG CS’ design will still provide the sporty edge most SUV consumers desire, yet also cater to the more fashion trendy urban market. MG says, “A strong horizontal emphasis gives the side profile of the MG CS a distinctive, sporty style and youthful appearance. Creative design, style and charisma dominate the look of this latest MG.” The MG CS will ...

One of the UK's leading magazines for van drivers and operators, Trade Van Driver , has just announced the winners of this year’s Trade Van Driver Awards. The Mercedes-Benz Citan van was voted as the Best Newcomer and the Fiat Doblo Cargo took home the coveted Traders' Choice win. The Trade Van Driver Awards aim to give recognition to the companies who offer the best products and services to LCV operators. The judging panel consisted of journalists from the magazine and also readers, who operate light CVs on a daily basis. Click on the link above to visit Trade Van Driver's website to view the online version of the current magazine featuring a full list of winners. In the Security Innovation Award category, Global Live from Cobra UK Ltd has taken the top prize. Telematics, safety and security supplier, Cobra UK, launched Global Live last year – a world class and innovative mobile CCTV security monitoring system with unique live image streaming. The system offers van and H...

Did you know that every year National Drive It Day is purposefully held on the Sunday closest to 23 April? It commemorates the 64 cars that left London on the first day of the Royal Automobile Clubs Thousand Mile Trial on 23 April 1900. With loads of events happening throughout Britain for National Drive It Day and a classic car show taking place in Bristol, why not plan to take a drive yourself this weekend. But before you start your journey, road safety charity the IAM is offering motoring tips from Britain’s top advanced driver, Peter Rodger. With National Drive It day coming this weekend and people taking to the roads for an enjoyable drive, he is advising on driving in the countryside. Always ensure you can stop within the distance you can see to be clear on your own side of the road. This will mean you probably need to significantly reduce your speed when approaching bends. Accelerate only when you can see enough clear road. Be aware that vulnerable road users including cyc...

Chevrole t has just released more details on its first entry into the small SUV segment, the Trax . It is set to launch later this year. Chevrolet say Trax gives buyers many of the benefits of a full-blooded SUV while combining the driving dynamics and fuel economy of a smaller car. The Trax was first unveiled at the 2012 Paris Auto Show and later in 2013 at the North American International Auto Show. What will this small SUV offer in the way of space then?  It stands at 4.2m long, 1.7 m wide and 1.6 m high, 356-litre boot and you can fold 40/60 rear seat flat for a loading space that can be extended to accommodate a maximum of 1370L, with further space available under the cargo floor, plus a roof load capacity of 75 kg and can tow trailers weighing up to 1200kg. To aid in fuel efficiency, the Trax will offer cutting-edge aerodynamics. The strength of its structural design makes Trax one of the safest small SUVs in Europe. Should the car roll over, it has been engineered to carry more ...

I recently read an interesting article online at van insurance website, VanQuoteDirect, titled " The Value of Van Signage ". I thought I would share this for those who may be interested. The piece explains how this type of marketing can not only aid in increasing your business or sales, but can also help in lowering your van insurance as well. Van graphics and signage can be fitted onto a sole company van or multiple fleet vehicles to advertise wider promotion of your business, raise awareness and the profile of your brand/trade, and to display contact details in a creative, more memorable way. There are lots of different options in van graphics such as directly-applied vinyl graphics like simple low-cost vinyl lettering to a complete wrap incorporating photographs or complex logos. If cost is an issue or you are not ready to fully alter the exterior of your van, then consider choosing magnetic vehicle signs that allow your business information to be quickly and easily placed...

Are you excited about Ford's latest van to join the Transit family? The Transit Courier is the fourth and final model to be included in Ford's commercial vehicle range. It made its global debut at the Birmingham CV Show recently and is expected to sell well when it becomes available in the spring of 2014. So we already know what the other Transits have to offer, but what does the new Courier add? For a start it's a tad bit smaller than the Transit Connect and is billed as a compact commercial van. According to their recent press release, Ford says it offers 10% more load volume and floor area than its closest competitors. The Transit Courier is based on Ford’s global B-segment platform and delivers class-leading load volume of 2.3m 3 (SAE) with standard full bulkhead within an overall length of 4.16 metres. With a maximum payload capacity of 660kg, the Transit Courier can accommodate a wide variety of cargo and equipment, including a standard Euro pallet. The Transit Couri...

We all know and understand the dangers of drinking and driving, but what about smoking whilst driving? After the smoke-free legislation came into effect in 2007, prohibiting tobacco smoking in workplaces and other public spaces, it was only a matter of time before the debate about banning it from our vehicles came to the front. The Institute of Advanced Motorists ( IAM ) posted results of a survey they conducted in regards to whether smoking while driving should be banned. A surprising 56% of respondents agreed that it should be outlawed. A majority felt that there are definitive safety risks involved in smoking behind the wheel. According to the IAM survey, 75% of motorists polled think that lighting a cigarette while driving is a serious distraction. If texting while driving poses a considerable risk, then surely lighting up a cigarette does have a similar degree of diverting a driver’s attention away from the road as well. In the IAM's other survey results, respondents felt it w...

If responsible mobility is the direction some businesses are said to be steering their fleets towards, then the influx of new electric vans being released this year is sure to set them on the right track. The latest eco-friendly electric van to go on sale soon here in the UK is the new 100% electric version of the Peugeot Partner van. The new Partner Electric, due for UK launch on 23 rd May 2013, is said to be aimed at all business users wishing to reduce their environmental footprint and fuel expenses and was first presented at the Brussels Motor Show in January. This van does seem to have very practical features, including the potential for a quieter ride, and doesn't skimp when it comes to the all-important load space either. The load volume is up to 3.3m 3 on the L1 with a load length of 1.80m, a payload of up to 636kg and a GVW of 2,225kg. The modular seating is similar to the original Partner which can accommodate three people in the front, plus a retractable side passenger...

A reminder for those taking their driving test this week, the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) posted information regarding recent driving test changes for those with vehicles that have been recalled by manufacturers for safety faults. These vehicles cannot be used for driving tests until they've been checked and fixed if necessary. The recall, which is worldwide, of specific vehicles has been issued because of concerns about potentially faulty passenger airbags. If you are due to take your driving test and the vehicle you bring is on the recall list, you will need to take proof to your test that the vehicle has been checked and, if necessary, fixed or your test will be cancelled. Also, if you don’t bring the right proof, you could lose your fee. According to the Driving Standards Agency, the proof you bring has to be one of the following: the actual recall letter or safety notice that has been stamped by the manufacturer or dealer written proof from the manufacturer or a dealer ...

Citroën Berlingo Electric has made its UK debut at the recent CV Show that took place from April 9-11, 2013. This vehicle is not just for the environmentally conscious green consumer, but has a wider appeal to any business looking for more economic sense in their van fleet options. Citroën has many years experience with electric LCVs, beginning with the first generation Berlingo Electrique van launched in 1998. The Berlingo Electric has a total lithium ion battery capacity of 22.5kWh and since it was designed to be an electric vehicle from the outset, its load compartment space is not reduced by battery intrusion. The electric motor is positioned under the bonnet and the lithium-ion battery pack is located underneath the load deck: therefore the Berlingo Electric’s load compartment cube of 3.3m 3 (extendable to 3.7m 3 )/load deck length of 1.8m (extendable to 3.0m) and payload of 636kg are equivalent to that of a similar diesel-powered Berlingo van. Another bonus feature is that it ca...

The Finance & Leasing Association ( FLA ) have just released a new press release detailing how figures show that the number of new cars bought by consumers using dealer finance grew by 31% in February 2013 compared with same month in the previous year. The FLA, formed in 1992, is the UK’s leading trade association for the consumer credit, motor finance and asset finance sectors. Commenting on the figures, Paul Harrison, Head of Motor Finance at the Finance & Leasing Association, said: “ The new car finance market was strong in February and again outperformed the growth in new car registrations. This shows the importance of point-of-sale credit to the UK automotive industry, employment and the wider economy. “The Government must make sure that its new regulatory regime for consumer credit maintains a competitive marketplace and supports the continued availability of affordable credit for customers.” FLA members’ penetration of the private new car registrations market was 71.9% i...

Congratulations to Citroën for winning two accolades in the 2013 Trade Van Driver (TVD) Magazine Awards.  The honors took place recently at the CV Show (NEC, April 9 -11) where TVD Magazine editor Matthew Eisenegger presented Citroën with the Best Small Van Award for the Berlingo and the Best Conversion Range Award for its Ready to Run programme. Citroën are also launching a number of other new LCV products at the CV Show, including the Berlingo Electric, Dispatch HDi 125 L1H1 1200 6-seat Crew Van and Stop & Start equipped Relay vans. Scott Michael, Citroën’s Head of Commercial Vehicles & Business Centre Programme, remarks, “The success of the Berlingo in winning the TVD Magazine Best Small Van Award against very strong competition, gives us particular pleasure. The judges have recognised the quality and unrivalled depth of ability that the current Berlingo range represents. Also, the continued success of our Ready to Run programme fairly reflects the range and quality of t...

If you are looking for a fun motoring day out, the 4 th annual Simply Ford rally in the grounds of the National Motor Museum at Beaulieu is taking place on Sunday 5 th May 2013. Bring your Ford, whether vintage or modern, and participate in the display in the parkland. Hundreds of Ford vehicles will be on display. The Ford Heritage Collection will be bringing along a selection of its stunning vehicles, including an Escort Cosworth, Focus MkII RS, Ford GT supercar and Sierra Sapphire Cosworth 4x4. Plus, you can see the exciting Ford Supervan 3. Built on a Ford C100 race car chassis and originally powered by a mid-mounted Ford-Cosworth 650bhp ‘HB’ F1 engine, Supervan 3 first saw the light of day in 1995 when it was displayed at the motor show in Birmingham. If you enjoy meeting up with other like-minded enthusiasts and want to browse a number of trade stands selling Ford-related parts and accessories, you can find more details and purchase tickets by clicking here .

What Car? True MPG turns a year old this month. Happy Birthday! It’s been a fantastic year for the web tool, as they have just reported that more than one million motorists have used it to check the fuel economy in the vehicle they currently own or one they are looking to buy. The free to use web tool, in association with Tesco Petrol Filling Stations, tests cars on real roads in the conditions that every motorist faces each day. What Car? editor-in-chief Chas Hallett said: “We launched What Car? True MPG last April as a direct answer to the countless readers who had contacted us to say how disappointed they were with their car’s economy figure. Expecting high fuel economy and getting the opposite can double a household’s fuel expense. What Car? True MPG is a solution to this problem – the online tool gives Britain’s car buyers the most realistic fuel economy information possible – and it’s free to use.” Interestingly, yet not surprising, the True MPG programme found discrepancies in...

Ford seems to be having another amazing year. With a slew of awards, accolades, and strong sales figures, thanks to the likes of their highly popular Ford Fiesta cars and vans, it seems the sky is the limit for this manufacturer. According to the official sales figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders ( SMMT ), Ford has increased its car and commercial vehicle (CV) sales for March and the year to date, compared with 2012. Total sales of Ford CVs in March were up from 10,534 to 11,649, compared with the same month last year, with share up from 22.0 to 22.8 per cent. Mark Ovenden, Ford of Britain managing director, said: "The important March sales month, when the number plate change boosts registrations, has provided more positive news for the UK market and seen Ford’s car and CV ranges continue their terrific 2013 sales record.” In the commercial vehicle sales stakes, Ford once again dominated the market with the Transit, Transit Custom, Tourneo Custom, and Fies...