Low Cost Vans

Happy Friday! And isn't it a lovely one at that today? With the latest news forecast saying it's going to be summerlike weather this weekend, it's time to pop down the convertible top, load the van with all your fishing gear and water toys, or simply plan a relaxing drive in the country. For those that are lucky enough to be driving while travelling abroad this week, road safety charity, the IAM have released some pretty handy tips on how to avoid any mishaps and the stresses that can come along with that. Here are this week's motoring tips from Britain’s top advanced driver, Peter Rodger. When in roam Prepare your car beforehand. An easy way to do this is by taking your car in for a service, if it’s due. There are also checks you can make yourself, like checking tyre pressures and tread, as well as topping up oil and coolant. Going on a touring holiday consequently means that you will be using your vehicle for long periods of time, increasing wear and tear, as wel...

When looking for a fleet of vans that can provide reliability, great fuel economy, plus superb residual values, do you consider buying Volkswagen Crafter vans? That’s just what NCH (UK), a provider of industrial maintenance solutions, chose when selecting a fleet of new vehicles for its Pure Solve division. VW's latest press release announced that the West Midlands Company, whose products include chemical specialties, fasteners, welding alloys and plumbing parts as well as maintenance supply products, placed an order for 10 Crafter Luton-bodied vans. The Volkswagen Crafter was a fitting choice because it’s a solid well performing van with an economical 2.0-litre TDI engine and benefits from the custom built Crafter Luton conversion option in Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles  ‘Engineered for you’ programme. The Crafter range also includes panel vans with load volumes of up to 17m 3 and window vans with up to eight passenger seats, offering some of the best value vans. Talking about ...

The latest Euro NCAP results are in and its very good news for Renault . To help motorists choose the safest model when buying a new car or van, Euro NCAP organizes crash-tests then provides a realistic and independent assessment of the safety performance of many popular vehicles in Europe. The criteria for the overall safety rating are composed of scores in four areas: adult protection, child protection, pedestrian protection and safety assist. The Renault Captur which is classed as a supermini, has been awarded a five-star rating and obtained an overall score of 80.5%  becoming the impressive 15 th Renault model to secure Euro NCAP’s maximum five-star passive safety rating. The Captur derived from the New Clio platform; has the styling of an SUV, the spaciousness of an MPV, and the ease and driving pleasure of a hatchback. In their latest press release, Renault say their safety solutions take an holistic approach for optimal protection of all occupants and safety performance is foun...

  I just read an interesting article published on What Van? website regarding the European Parliament’s Environment Committees proposed measure to electronically limit vans’ top speeds to 120km/h (74mph). The post titled, " European Parliament votes to limit van speeds ", published on the latest news section of Britain's biggest van buyers guide, says the committee has voted in favour of said proposal and  will also introduce stricter new targets for van fuel economy and CO2 emissions in 2025. So why do they want to limit the speed? Well, as vans are the only commercial vehicles that are not yet speed-limited, the MEP’s hope that the restriction in van speed will encourage supply of smaller engines, reducing average van fuel consumption and emissions by at least 6%. Obviously this will create some controversy for van drivers in many of the EU states. I understand the reasons behind it, but surely simply reducing the speed of a van is not enough. Apparently, consumer surv...

French manufacturer Renault has recently announced that they will be unveiling a whole new truck range with the support of the Volvo Group. Renault Trucks have set a date of June 11, 2013 to reveal all. What can we expect to see in about two weeks’ time? Renault Trucks aren't giving away a whole lot yet, but they did say these new trucks, which have been in development for the last seven years, will include Euro 6 engines and an even more efficient design allowing customers more cost control, especially in terms of fuel efficiency. The rigorous testing included computer assisted simulation, test benches (5 million hours!), track trials, pilot customers and the installation of new manufacturing resources. After being put through the paces plus exhaustive quality testing, the new range, which has 500 vehicles already manufactured, is ready for its debut next month. Renault Trucks have invested many years, hours, manpower, and Euros to bring this new range of long distance, constructi...

I wish I were in a band. But seeing as how I don’t know how to play any instrument (at all) and my friends all say I sound like a drowning animal when I sing, I suppose that dream will never come to fruition. Hmm, but if I was to be asked to be in a band and er uh could sing or play, I would most definitely want to be in one in the USA. I just read an article in the San Francisco Chronicle online about how a Phoenix, Arizona USA based van rental company, ROCKIN VANS , recently introduced two new custom built Mercedes Benz Sprinter Vans for touring musicians to rent. The van rental founder Luke Van Whye knows exactly what bands need in terms of what is important to include in a touring van, since he spent years on the road as an entertainer coach driver for likes of Britney Spears, Jennifer Lopez, and hundreds of other cool artists/bands. Ok, so say you were a musician touring all over the world, what would it take to make your ride the ultimate band van? According to Mr. Van Whye, the ...

Again this year, Ford vehicles have been announced as winners of further prestigious awards. Just this last November the Continental Irish Van of the Year awards 2013, presented with endorsement of the Irish Motoring Writers’ Association, had proclaimed the Ford Transit Custom van as its ultimate winner. Coming top of the class, out from eight contenders for this annual award, the Ford Transit van placed ahead of the new Citroen Berlingo Airstream which came in second place and the new Peugeot Partner in third. To make this a hat trick for Ford in the Irish market, the Fiesta van and Ranger pick-up also picked up award nods in their respective categories just this past week from the judges of the Continental Irish Van of the Year awards. The judges assessed and picked their winners based on load capacity, reliability, overall versatility, cost of ownership and drive comfort. From what we’ve seen and heard about Ford’s new Fiesta van, it’s not a surprise that our Celtic cousins rate it...

This week’s Guide to Van Safety page provides suggestions for improvement, including descriptions and examples of the activities that you can put in place to improve the safety of van operations within your organisation. The measures have been split into four key sections outlined below. The information under these headings includes descriptions, methods and comparisons between various o ptions. • Safe Management Systems (covered in last week’s guide) • Driver Management • Vehicle Management • Journey Management We continue on with Driver Management this week and cover the remaining key sections in the following weeks. To read the Essential Guide to Van Safety: Options for Improvement – Driver Management , please click here .

Toyota has announced that they have taken back the coveted number one spot as the most valuable automotive brand in the recently published BrandZ™ Top 100 Most Valuable Global Brands 2013. Toyota’s brand value increased by 12% to $24.5 billion (£16.2 billion), making it one of the biggest movers in the automotive sector. In doing so, this brought BMW down a notch on the list and thoroughly surpassed Mercedes-Benz who placed a whole 23 places behind Toyota. The BrandZ™ Top 100 Most Valuable Global Brands study, commissioned by WPP and conducted by Millward Brown Optimor, is the world's largest brand equity database (a marketing term used to describe the value of having a well-known brand name that will generate more money from products). The BrandZ™ report was first published back in 2006 and Toyota was crowned brand value leader in the automotive sector six times (coming in second on two separate occasions). Toyota's global sales in 2012 increased by 22.6% to 9.75 million unit...

Have you made plans yet for the Bank Holiday weekend that is fast approaching? If you haven't made up your mind and you love all things motor, especially transport and commercial vehicles, then perhaps a weekend at Beaulieu’s newest event, Truckmania would suit you. Truckmania will be held at the grounds of the National Motor Museum. The fantastic family event takes place this Sunday 26 th and Monday 27 th of the May Bank Holiday weekend. A range of eye-catching customised and branded trucks will be on display, including a Lewis Hamilton F1 themed truck from Sean M Taylor Transport, an Ice Truckers’ branded lorry provided by KER Transport and a number of film-branded vehicles from Dalton’s Transport, including The Hangover, Rocky and The Avengers . Saints Transport and Harris Transport will also be in attendance at the event with their own lorry transport. For those that adore nostalgic transport vehicles, there will be plenty attending the event, spanning the motoring generati...

More exciting award announcements have been reported this week. This time Fiat Professional have posted about how their exceptional commercial van range was decreed winners of the 2013 Van Fleet World Honours, which are presented annually to those motor manufacturers, service companies and individuals who have, in the opinion of the judges, achieved the highest possible level of excellence in their sector. The Fiat Doblò Cargo was named Best Small Van, while the Fiorino took the Best Light Van award at a special ceremony held at the Royal AutomobileClub, Pall Mall, in London. So, what makes the Doblò Cargo van the best small van winner? Probably has something to do with it being the first LCV to have a bi-link rear suspension which ensures a smooth ride, lower loading height and better width between wheelarches. Additionally, the bi-link suspension permits a rear axle load up to 1,450kg. Oh and not to mention its hefty carrying capacity in both weight and size terms: up to 1 ton paylo...

The first UK Euro 6 compliant van due to launch later this year, the new Mercedes Sprinter, has been reviewed on Business Vans website recently. The website for van users ranging from small businesses, trades, and SME fleet van operators gave a thorough assessment of the new Sprinter. The final verdict was a phenomenal thumbs up from Business Vans. The review carefully notes the details of all of the new systems, changes, and upgrades, both cosmetically and internally, with some having never before been seen on a van. One of the biggest questions surrounding the inclusion of the new Euro 6 engine is whether or not it is negatively going to impacted fuel economy. Although, the review doesn’t answer this question directly, it provides a brief explanation of how other factors/changes could potentially negatively offset the proposed fuel savings. The new Sprinter model will continue to be powered by 2.2 and 3.0-litre diesel engines with power outputs ranging from 95hp to 190hp. It will co...

Here’s another handy use for a Ford Transit van that I bet you’ve never thought of. Yes, it really can deliver almost anything, including a movie theatre experience. In recent news, the New Ford Transit Custom brought a mobile movie theatre to the streets, making its debut screening independent films around the 2013 Cannes Film Festival in the south of France.  Film buffs were able to watch the cream of independent films as the Ford-supported “Cannes in a Van” team hit the streets in their Transit Custom movie theatre. The “Cannes in a van” programme has been going strong for the last 6 years. Here are a few more details about this clever programme; Cannes in a Van was created by two UK film enthusiasts who had the vision of taking independent films to the Cannes Film Festival, and presenting them from the back of a Ford Transit van. The first trip took place in May 2007, and the journey has become an annual pilgrimage ever since.  As part of the mission to gain increased exposure f...

SsangYong (meaning double dragons), the longest established Korean vehicle manufacturer, has just announced that it is adding a new low priced crossover model to its Korando range - the Korando SE. The SE features a higher level of equipment that would normally be found in more expensive cars, including Electronic stability programme (ESP) with Hill Start Assist, Active Rollover Protection (ARP) and ABS with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD). It also comes equipped with luxury touches including roof rails, tinted glass and rear parking sensors, while inside there are electric windows front and rear, a leather covered steering wheel and gear shift, air conditioning, cruise control and a Kenwood MP3 CD & RDS radio with iPod & Bluetooth, remote audio controls and six speakers.  “With a new and extremely affordable purchase price, a highly competitive PCP scheme on all models and a market leading 5 year limitless mileage warranty, there has never been a better time to purcha...

The new Mercedes-Benz Citan van, billed as the "new urban hero", has had a successful start for having only just gone on sale since March 2013. The compact city van has already won its first UK award at this year’s Honestjohn.co.uk Awards as Most Popular Van. The Honestjohn.co.uk Awards are voted for by users of the website. Honest John's website, founded in the year 2000, gives honest, trustworthy and independent advice to road users. He also writes an Award-winning agony column in the Daily Telegraph's Saturday Motoring section. Dan Harrison, Editor of honestjohn.co.uk said: “Honest John Vans was only launched in February 2013, but it's already proved a huge success, exceeding expectations when it comes to website traffic. Like the main site, it's centred around useful and user-friendly reviews which give potential buyers all the key information they need. The review which has stood head and shoulders above the rest when it comes to our users is the new Ci...

Renault Trucks UK has just announced the launch of a new discounted business package for their Renault Master van. Customers will find the offer being made available on all new Renault Master 125hp and 150hp front wheel drive vans, in L2H2 and L3H2 sizes. What does this mean for those looking to take advantage of such an offer? For starters, the business package for the Renault Master offers five optional extras that are tailored to business customers operating courier, package and parcel delivery services, at reduced rates when compared to purchasing the options individually. It includes 270˚opening rear doors for improved access, cruise control and speed limiter, as well as a reversing sensor. When specifying the options package, Renault Trucks’ delivery customers will also benefit from resin wood floor lining for extra floor protection and body side anchorage for a more secure load. “The Renault Master is a very versatile vehicle,” says David Ririe, Product Marketing Manager, Renaul...

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders ( SMMT ) have just released the UK Commercial vehicle manufacturing data for April 2013 and it's not all bad news, as the SMMT look on the bright side by announcing that the rate of decline in CV output slowed down in April. According to the latest figures, Commercial vehicle (CV) output fell 3.3% in April to 8,623 units, however despite the output continuing to decline in April, the fall was less than expected and output for the UK home market grew. "Demand for UK-built commercial vehicles continued to fall in April, with output dropping 3.3%. There is growth at some UK plants which helped to ease the rate of decline compared to previous months this year," said Mike Baunton, SMMT Interim Chief Executive. "2013 is proving to be a difficult year for our CV manufacturers as they experience weak demand from export markets, particularly Europe. Rising output for the home market is encouraging, demonstrating that UK operators...

If you were asked which van model would be most compatible with your company/work needs, what would your answer be? British Gas central heating installation engineers were asked that very question and their resounding answers resulted in an order for 520 Ford Transit models from British Gas. In a recent press release from Ford, British Gas said they chose the Ford Transit primarily for its class-leading economy and low emissions, provided by its Dagenham-built 125PS 2.2-litre TDCi diesel engine. Colin Marriott, fleet general manager, British Gas, said: “It was a no-brainer really, the vans used by our central heating installation engineers are a vital resource for them and they love the Transit. When we asked, they said: ‘Give us the same again, please.’ On top of that, by sticking with the same body shape, we have been able to take fantastic advantage of being able to recycle all the racking systems, saving tons of steel, energy and a lot of money.” To enable the engineers to carry o...

This latest section of the Guide to Van Safety  provides you with descriptions and examples of the activities that you can put in place to improve the safety of van operations within your organisation. The measures have been split into four key sections outlined below. The information under these headings includes descriptions, methods and comparisons between various options. • Safe Management Systems • Driver Management • Vehicle Management • Journey Management We will begin with Safe Management Systems this week and continue with the remaining key sections in the following weeks. To read the Essential Guide to Van Safety: Options for Improvement – Safe Management Systems , please click here .

In an effort to compete with the Ford Transit Connect, it was announced recently that Nissan will produce a small cargo vehicle that General Motors will sell in the United States and Canada. In this partnership, GM will receive an allotment of NV200 vans from Nissan to sell on as the Chevy Express City cargo van through its dealership network. "Our fleet customers have asked us for an entry in the commercial small van segment, so this addition to the Chevrolet portfolio will strengthen our position with fleets and our commercial customers," said Ed Peper, US vice president of GM fleet and commercial sales. Pricing and further details on the new City Express van will be revealed closer to the van's launch, which is expected to go on sale in the U.S. by fall of 2014. These savvy collaborations and model sharing partnerships have been taking place for some time now. It allows for all involved to increase economies of scale without forcing one company's identity to be tak...

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles has unveiled their new concept pickup at the annual Worthersee GTI gathering in Austria. The Power-Pickup, based on an Amarok single cab, is set to go up against competitors in the segment such as the Toyota HiLux, Nissan Navara and Ford Ranger. The Amarok Power-Pickup concept features a 3.0-litre V6 TDI engine with a power output of 272 PS and 600 Nm of torque and is designed as a rolling workshop to carry spare parts, tools and race equipment. It has the performance to take it from standstill to 62 mph in 7.9 seconds in conjunction with an eight-speed automatic transmission and permanent 4MOTION transmission. We can also expect the exterior design features to include widened wheel arches to accommodate 22 inch alloy wheels, 80 mm lowered suspension, bi-xenon headlights with chrome surround and a chrome grille plus an enlarged lower air intake. A carbon fibre diffuser and dual exhausts can be found in the rear, plus tinted taillights and red, white and ...

According to the sales data I had read and recently posted on, Ford is the big player in America as far as commercial van sales go, but does that ring true for other markets around the world? I just stumbled upon a post on Daimler ’s global media website that gives us a better insight on which van sells best in Russia. Can you guess which one it is based on these clues: This full-size van model made its debut in 1995, there are manufacturing plants in Düsseldorf and Ludwigsfelde, Germany, Charleston, South Carolina, González Catan, Argentina, and Fuzhou, China, it can be seen as a background vehicle in the Disney-Pixar movie Cars 2, and available body styles include: Panel Van, Traveliner, Chassis Cab and Dropside. Oh and its slogan is "Every inch the consummate professional". Wow, you guys are good. Yes, it is indeed the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter. Having been voted “Van of the Year 2013” in Russia, the Sprinter van has won the country’s largest nationwide automotive competition...

"Hey buddy, please move your van or get a ticket", that comment could soon be coming to a street near you in the form of the worlds first talking parking ticket. As reported recently in the Daily Telegraph , developed by a British company, it gives a motorist a friendly warning rather than imposing an instant fine. Company, FlashPark, has come up with an alternative to the dreaded slap-on-the-windscreen standard paper issue, a ticket with an embedded 30 second audio warning message. Surprisingly, the latest figures from the DVLA in Swansea indicate private enforcement companies rake in around £150 million from parking fines each year. And it's not only local councils that benefit from these parking fines, but did you know that private landowners can also issue what's called "parking charge notices"? The talking tickets could have polite recorded messages asking driver's to please move or they could take a more stern approach and threatening tone, announc...

It’s Friday, the gateway to the weekend and I'm beginning to get that Friday feeling right about now. As the workday winds down, many of us are more than ready to let our hair down and head to the pub for a well-deserved pint (or glass of wine for me please). As the summer approaches, we can also look forward to more friendly get-togethers with plenty of adult beverages on hand, but it’s important to stay safe and remember not to get behind the wheel of the van or car if we've indulged a bit too much. To help with tips on how to avoid the drink drive temptation this summer, road safety charity the IAM is offering beneficial motoring tips from Britain’s top advanced driver, Peter Rodger. See his valuable advice below: Lust of the summer wine If you’ve had a couple at a summer celebration, don’t try to calculate whether or not you are over the limit. It’s always best to make it none for the road. Remember that home measures are often larger than what you’d get in a pub. Many...

Alarming news has just been announced for those who just can't resist the temptation to text or talk on mobile phones whilst driving. Be advised that under new plans revealed by Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin, the penalty for using a mobile phone behind the wheel is set to increase from £60 to £90. In a move to crack down on dangerous driving, Patrick McLoughlin indicated that fines for a variety of offences would rise by 50%, although, the number of penalty points offenders receive on their licence will remain at three. The additional offenses to incur a £90 fine and three point penalties will now include a number of careless driving offences, including cutting up other drivers, eating a sandwich or lighting a cigarette at the wheel, driving at an inappropriate speed and needlessly hogging the middle lane on a motorway. Mr McLoughlin said, " We want to send a clear message to dangerous drivers: If you continue to show complete disregard for the safety of other road us...

At the recent FTA Van Excellence conference, Vehicle and Operator Services Agency’s Gordon Macdonald - VOSA Head of Enforcement Policy, made a clear statement that those not complying with regulations would be targeted by the authorities. Within his address he stated that ‘VOSA was determined to improve van operational standards and makes no secret of its intention to significantly ramp up the number of roadside inspections and other enforcement activity’. In addition he praised the Van Excellence scheme describing it as ‘an extremely good example of the industry can take responsibility for itself’ adding that accredited operators of the Van Excellence scheme were recognised by VOSA for demonstrating good practice in the industry. Key sessions during the FTA conference seminars include managing road risk; reducing fuel spend; vehicle specifications; future van technology; VOSA’s view of enforcement in the world of vans; current and upcoming legislative issues; and an examination of the...

After last month’s CV Show debut, the new Citroën Relay 30 L1H1 e-HDi 130 and Relay 35 L3H2 e-HDi 130 Stop & Start 6-speed manual vans are now on sale. With a slogan reading "ready for anything" and " Relay is up to the job", the launch of these new Citroën Relay models will make a hat trick of Stop & Start equipped LCV models on sale in the UK from Citroën (Nemo, Berlingo and Relay). Pricing was announced at a starting rate of £19,660 for the new Relay 30 L1H1e-HDi 130 Stop & Start 6-speed manual van and the Relay 35 L3H2 e-HDi 130 Stop & Start 6-speed manual van is priced at £24,660 (Basic R.R.P.) The Urban Cycle fuel economy of the Relay 30 L1H1 e-HDi 130 Stop & Start van is 32.5mpg (8.7l/100km), that's 9.2% more economical than the Relay 30 L1H1 HDi 110 6 speed manual van and its CO 2 emissions are 10g/km lower, at 189g/km. In addition to having the best Urban Cycle fuel economy in the Relay range the new Relay 30 L1H1 e-HDi 130 Stop ...

  Van and truck registration figures for April including year to date data has been released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) this week. Commercial vehicle (CV) registrations increased 30.9% in April to 24,370 units and grew 11.8% during the year so far. Based on such strong figures, it seems like the commercial van segment is leading the way to an improved outlook for the overall market. Van registrations rose 43% to 20,751 units in the month, and grew 17.6% during the year-to-date. For more details and specific graphical data, please visit the SMMT website here . Despite the boom in van sales, the demand for trucks fell 12.1% to 3,619 units in the month and declined 15.5% during the first four months of 2013. It is being speculated that buyers are possibly delaying truck purchases and exhibiting caution until the new Euro 6 legislation kicks in later in the year. One manufacturer that is leading the pack in both car and CV sales is Ford . Along with the SM...

New van registrations have been predicted to rise by this time next year, based on forecasts from the SMMT , who recently reported that as of this year, new LCV registrations were 253,000 units up 5.7% on the 2012 total. That’s great news for us, but I was curious to know if the same could be said for the American van market. I found an article on  Good Car Bad Car 's website with the headline, “ Commercial Van Sales in America ” and was surprised to read that although the new car market in the States grew in April 2013, the commercial vehicle sector was a bit sluggish. That being said, it is still a strong market as there was still a steady increase in sales, especially for the Ford E-Series which dominated by taking over half of the van sales segment. The Chevrolet Express vans took second place, with the Nissan NV200 not faring as well. The article provides tables/charts with year to date figures in the U.S. and gives a brief look into what the van market is doing across the pon...

You need to monitor and measure safety performance to find out how successful it is. Once you have identified the key areas for improvement and risks affecting the safety of your vans, you are ready to explore some of the options for overcoming them. It is a good idea to maintain the involvement of drivers at this stage so that the most practical solutions can be put in place and ensure that consensus is reached with regard to the most appropriate method of reducing or managing each hazard. This section of the guide concludes the monitoring and measuring safety performance aspect. The conclusion focuses on possible solutions, the review process, and measuring of your progress, plus the definition of SMART targets. To read the Essential Guide to Van Safety: Monitoring and Measuring Performance (conclusion), please click here .

Wouldn't it be fantastic to have an in-vehicle tool that by simply a touch of a button could display your local fuel stations and their prices so you could fill up where the best fuel deals were? I know you can already download apps to your phones and such, but Audi has just announced that, in striving to build cars that save ever greater quantities of fuel, they are now offering its drivers a new online feature that helps them save money on the fuel itself. Audi models will be equipped with the latest Audi connect in-car technology incorporating a helpful new online refuelling stop facility which lists local fuel stations and grades them according to fuel price. The new Fuel Prices service becomes available this month, initially for A3 and A3 Sportback models, as part of an enhanced version of the ‘Mobile Phone Preparation – High with Audi connect’ option. This further developed option will gradually be rolled out to the majority of models during 2013 – the TT and R8 will adopt ...

Giving due credit to the car and van sectors of the vehicle rental and leasing industry, it was recently announced that it supports over 183,000 jobs and contribute around £14bn per year to the UK economy. According to a new report commissioned by the BVRLA from respected research organisation Oxford Economics, the recent study provides some robust, independent data on the size, scope and importance of the vehicle rental and leasing sector. In terms of pounds per year to the UK economy, the £14bn mentioned above is equivalent to £1 in every £90 of UK GDP or the combined local economies of Bath and Bristol. This figure takes into account the operations of the industry itself, the UK-made vehicles and engines it purchases, the activity of UK dealerships and its impact on the used car market. In the process, the sector generates around £2.8 billion of tax revenue per year. In the job stakes, the industry employs 38,000 people directly and a further 145,000 people through wider supply cha...

Before you hit the road today, take a look around the inside of your van. Is it clean, tidy, and a clear reflection of your business or could it do with a proverbial spring clean? Well, according to an article published on Confused.com  website. Van drivers typically make for better drivers when they are behind the wheel of squeaky clean vans. The article provides information taken from automaker Nissan's recent report that looks into the details of the modern day professional driver. 92% of drivers said they feel better when driving a clean vehicle and with 72% believing that a clean vehicle actually makes them a better driver. Quick, hide the crisp and sweet wrappers. The condition of our vehicles can sometimes say a lot about how we manage other aspects of our life. If your van is need of a quick spruce up, then take the time to clean, de-clutter, and organise your working space to help your day to day operations go a lot smoother. It shouldn't take very long and if you make...

Another exciting collaboration may be in the cards for Renault. Hot on the heels of the Renault Kangoo and Mercedes-Benz Citan partnership, Daimler and Renault are now holding talks towards teaming up to build a large van together. I stumbled across this latest news in an article posted on the website, Carscoop . You can read the full article titled, "Daimler in Talks with Renault to Build Large Van Together " written by Dan Mihalascu by clicking here . According to the post, Daimler's contract with VW will run its course and end after 2016. Mercedes-Benz Sprinter shares its newest infrastructure with VW’s Crafter van, but VW will continue making the Crafter vans by themselves going forward. With the Crafter van currently being built at a Mercedes-Benz plant along with the Sprinter, things could be very interesting indeed once the partnership is over. For those that require some serious load space with smooth manoeuvrability and comfort, then a large van is the way to go....

Did you know that April 30 th marked Land Rover’s 65 th anniversary? The British vehicle manufacturer Rover originally named only one specific vehicle model the Land Rover back in 1948 and over the years it quickly developed into a marque encompassing a range of four-wheel-drive models. Land Rover as a company has only existed since 1978. The earliest models closely resembled World War II military jeeps, as the first prototype model was built on a Jeep chassis and axles. The original inspiration for the iconic oval logo is said to have come from a pilchard tin and the Land Rover was renamed 'Defender' in 1990. To celebrate this milestone, Land Rover will mark 65 years of technology and innovation with an event at Packington Estate near Solihull; Land Rover’s first off-road testing ground. Over 130 heritage Land Rover vehicles will attend the celebratory event, showcasing key milestones in Land Rover’s 65-year history. These classic early models will sit alongside Land Rover’...