Low Cost Vans

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles  has announced that their popular large load Crafter panel vans (chassis and double cab models) are now going to include EURO VI compliant engines. The addition of the European exhaust standard engines for commercial vehicles will make these vans amongst the cleanest and most refined vehicles in their classes, says Volkswagen. The EURO VI range will be offered on selected Crafter models with EU kerb weights between 2,355 kg and 2,815 kg in medium and long wheelbases plus, new to the Crafter range, available with Volkswagen’s 2.0-litre TDI engine with an output of either 163 PS or 114 PS,. And to enhance VW’s green credentials further, the 114 PS EURO VI engine can be specified with Volkswagen’s BlueMotion Technology, providing customers the benefit of fuel economy of up to 35.3 mpg (combined) and emissions of just 210 g/km. Be on the lookout for these cleaner running Crafter vans with pricing starting at £28,935 (ex. VAT) for the 113bhp unit and £30,550 f

Citroën has announced the arrival of a new Relay range. More information and full details are to be released at the upcoming Commercial Vehicle Show (Birmingham NEC, Hall 5/Stand no. D40, April 29 – May 1 2014).  Citroën says we can expect to see a choice of panel vans, chassis cabs, chassis crew cabs and back-to-back cabs. Plus these will be offered in a variety of gross vehicle weights, with a range of low emission, fuel-efficient HDi diesels. And that’s not all the New Relay range will include. There will be ready-bodied Specialist Models, such as dropside trucks, tippers and Luton vans – and a full range of Ready-to-Run conversions too. The new Relay range won’t be the only commercial attraction at the show, a representative selection of Nemo, Dispatch models, and Citroën UK’s best-selling LCV, the Berlingo (recently updated for 2014, pictured right), will share centre stage at the Citroën stand. There will be a short wait before you can drive away in a new Citroën Relay range, as

Have you heard about Honda UK’s new special Black edition and White edition CR-V’s yet? Dubbed, ‘ The new head-turner from Honda’ , these have been enhanced with the addition of bold 19-inch Orion alloy wheels, exhaust finisher and privacy glass. Plus a new patterned front grille and a tailgate spoiler that extends the lines of the roof over the rear window, while front and rear skid plates add to the upgrades while protecting the underside of the car. Of course these special editions will come packed with the latest technology Honda has to offer such as; dual-zone climate control, Bluetooth HFT, front and rear parking sensors and power-folding door mirrors, plus metallic paint and satellite navigation. The pictures of these sleek new CR-V’s, provided in Honda’s latest press release, show just how smart and stylish they are. But, with a 5-Star Euro NCAP Overall Safety Rating and extensive safety options like the Advanced Driver Assist System, these vehicles offer more than a shiny new

We should all know that getting behind the wheel of the van without adequate sleep or whilst tired is dangerous not only for you, the driver, but also for others on and off the roads. Driving requires intense concentration and perception and even if we don’t see it as a big issue and do it without a second thought, driving when tired is a serious problem that results in thousands of motoring accidents every year. If you drive a company car, truck, or van and work late/long shifts, then statistically you are more at risk of nodding off at the wheel than other drivers. It’s important to be aware of the signs that may mean you are too tired to drive. Whether you are the one behind the wheel or a passenger, here are ways to recognize the signs of drowsy driving: heavy eyelids, frequent blinking, difficulty focusing vision, impaired concentration (day dreaming), missing exits or traffic signals, repeated yawning, drifting into other lanes or veering off the road, variations in your driving

Japanese manufacturer, Mazda , has just announced that consumers will now have a choice of 20 upgraded Mazda CX-5 models. The Mazda CX-5 is an award-winning SUV, scooping the WhatCar? ‘Best Buy’ Large SUV under £25,000 accolade for a second year. The upgraded options include two new exterior colours, Blue Reflex Mica and Deep Crystal Blue Mica. A revised suspension is also offered on every model which features re-tuned dampers, bushes and stabilisers which improve driving dynamics, thus increasing ride comfort and reduced noise, vibration and harshness. Plus, Mazda are proud of their SKYACTIV technology which will be incorporated into these new models. SKYACTIV technology increases fuel efficiency and engine output. Mazda say, “ SKYACTIV means redefining everything, every major part of a car, from the engine to chassis and from the body to transmissions ”. Upgraded Mazda CX-5 models for 2014 will be priced from £21,595 to £29,595 (OTR). You can choose from 165ps petrol or 150/175ps die

The BCA (British Car Auctions) has released new figures that bring with them more good news this week for commercial vehicle values. According to the BCA data, average values of CV’s have continued their upward climb in January 2014, seeing them post a rise of the highest figures on record. Light commercial vehicles increased throughout the month, rising £11 to £5,322 compared to the values posted for December 2013. There has been speculation that the increase can be attributed to short stock levels with buyers competing for the limited used LCV’s available on the market. BCA’s General Manager – Commercial Vehicles, Duncan Ward, commented “ January essentially delivered more of what we saw throughout the previous 12 months – a shortage of stock allied to decent levels of demand that generated exceptionally strong prices in the used van market .” There was more fortunate news for used vans, as even though the average age increased, the values climbed again in the dealer part-exchange s

When it comes to safety ratings, which vehicles fared the best in 2013? Euro NCAP have recently compiled a list of and identified the models they’ve tested which have achieved the highest scores in their respective class. Did your vehicle top the list? If you are not familiar with Euro NCAP, they are an organisation that crash tests new vehicles and provide motoring consumers with a realistic and independent assessment of the safety performance of some of the most popular cars sold in Europe. Euro NCAP’s ratings are internationally recognisable and a reliable indicator of independent consumer information about car safety. And the 2013 best in class winners are: Renault ZOE - Supermini Qoros 3 Sedan - Small Family Lexus IS 300h - Large Family Kia Carens and Ford Tourneo Connect - Small MPV Jeep Cherokee - Small off-road 4X4 Maserati Ghibli – Executive For more information on why Euro NCAP chose these top models and for other vehicle ratings, please visit their website here

There’s been a bit of talk lately about telematics, especially the new DrivePl us Van app from Direct Line insurance. It could potentially save van drivers up to 15% on the cost of insurance cover. But, this does mean being continually monitored or, as some see it, being spied on by a “black box” type of recording device. The app will log your van driving behaviour and once 300 miles are clocked up, marks your driving with a score of up to 100. If you manage a high enough score, you will get a promotional code, which can be redeemed for savings on Direct Line’s insurance costs. This may be seen as a cost effective way for van driver’s and fleet owners to save money on insurance, and to better evaluate risk management, but will those driving the vans feel that this is the best way to promote responsible driving or just an intrusive “big brother” way to nit-pick. The DrivePlus Van is free to download and available for the iPhone using iOS 6 or later software, and Androids with the 2.2 F

Another exciting auto exhibit comes to Bournemouth this year. The lovely seaside plus motoring equals a guaranteed good time in my books. You can’t go wrong in planning a family outing to the inaugural Wheels Festival at Britain’s premier seaside town and seafront from Saturday 24 May to Monday 26 May. It’s being billed as the UK’s biggest free family Wheels themed festival. It’s set to combine motion, power and elegance into three days of high energy action. This festival will showcase some serious super cars, classic cars, racing cars, a monster truck show, and loads more. There will be plenty to keep the kids amused while you enjoy the sights and sounds of engines roaring and get up-close and personal to some fantastic racing cars on the cliff top. The Military arena visitors can also see Army and Navy vehicles in spectacular shows and demonstrations, plus there’s a funfair, weekend fireworks, shopping and food throughout the festival. And don’t miss the Classic Vehicle Pageant pla

Since its debut last spring, what’s the word on Toyota’s Proace van? Is it a formidable van that will make you forget about its predecessor, the Hiace? Although the Proace van is essentially a rebadged Peugeot Expert, which is also badged as the Citroen Dispatch and Fiat Scudo, it does offer a rather smooth quiet ride while benefiting from Electronic Stability Program (ESP) which helps prevent sideway skids. Did Toyota provide enough in this light van to put in on top of the must buy list of businesses looking to add to their fleet? I found two slightly different opinions on this van when reading its reviews. While Business Vans website found it a quiet competent van, another reviewer in Scotland found it to be lacking in more than a few key areas. In a recent article in the Scotsman online , writer Alan Anderson gives his review of the Toyota Proace. Click here to see what he had to say. Alternately, to compare, the review written by Peter Witherington from Business Vans , can be r

Save the dates, 29 April - 01 May 2014. That’s when this year’s industry leading Commercial Vehicle Show is going to take place at the Birmingham NEC. The Commercial Vehicle Show is a primary sourcing and selling opportunity for the entire UK road freight transport and logistics industry and for operators, it is the foremost meeting place, attracting over 18,000 high quality visitors with serious buying power. If you haven’t been to one of these shows or thought perhaps it wasn’t for you, did you know that the CV Show is the largest and most comprehensive road freight transport event staged in Britain. Whether you’re a fleet operator or an owner, this show has something to offer operators of trucks, vans and all types of trailers through to handling equipment, insurers, tyre, telemetry and training providers, fuels and lubricant suppliers – and a whole lot more. As usual, there will be hundreds of exhibitors to fulfil your fleet sourcing needs including truck, van and trailer manufactu

Another special edition vehicle is making its way to the UK. Volkswagen’s new special-edition Amarok Canyon pick-up, with a limited number of only 350 available, will feature over £8,500 worth of additional equipment including: satellite navigation with a six-inch colour touchscreen, Bluetooth, unique styling bars, 19” Cantera alloy wheels and heated leather seats. And if that wasn’t enough, the special edition also benefits from front and rear parking sensors, privacy glass, a protective coating for the load area, a matt black roll cover, interior floor mats and high-gloss black side styling bars and rear bumper. Wait, there’s more. Its interior will have a combination of Nappa and Vienna leather upholstery in two-tone Moonrock (light grey) and Anthracite (dark grey), plus leather-covered steering wheel and gear knob with sporty orange stitching. When ordered in Copper Orange the air vent surrounds are matched to the vehicle’s exterior colour, while on the Deep Black and Reflex Silve

In a recent press release, Ford has announced that Mears Group – a major UK care services provider, is proudly taking delivery of all-new Ford Transit Connect vans this month. The deal, a five-year contract, will see Ford supplying up to 1,000 light commercial vehicles a year to the Gloucester-based company. The first 100 vans are scheduled to arrive this month and will be added to the company’s growing existing fleet of 4,300 vans and 700 cars nationwide. Mears Group asset manager, Jo Hammonds, said: “ The new Ford Transit Connect’s fresh styling, greater load space, better economy, emissions and whole-life costs are the factors which make it a very attractive prospect for us .” Ford has had tremendous success with the Transit and has won a slew of awards including “International Van of the Year 2014”. It’s clear to see why a business such as Mears would opt to add  the Ford Transit Connect to their van fleet, as it comes with a choice of advanced petrol and diesel engines, including

Have you heard about the launch of a new 12 month campaign to raise awareness of ultra-low emission vehicles and their potential? The government is joining forces with the motor industry to showcase a range of attractive ultra-low emission vehicles. The “ Go Ultra Low ” initiative will aim to raise awareness of the benefits of driving ultra-low emission vehicles and dispel many of the misconceptions, with the goal of attracting more drivers to buy electric cars and vans. With almost 20 electric and plug-in cars and vans having been launched in the UK so far, there are some great green vehicle options to consider. The Deputy Prime Minister urges drivers to ‘Go Ultra Low’ with the backing of some of the automotive world’s biggest players - BMW, Nissan, Renault, Toyota and Vauxhall. For more details about this campaign and to get on board, you can visit the new website, www.GoUltraLow.com , which provides information about owning and running an electric vehicle, the makes and models avail