Low Cost Vans

Low Cost Vans, a leading UK van leasing and van contract hire company is sponsoring the first indoor transport event in Swansea. The Van-tastic van show will take place on August 11 th on Viking Way from 10am-3pm. The event, organised by Swansea Bus Museum is set to be a family fun day out where owners of a range of vans can display their motors for families to enjoy – whether that be old, new, shiny, shabby, campervans or customised vans. There will also be stalls, displays and food available on the day.   Rod Lloyd, managing director of Low Cost Vans, comments: “I’m very happy that Low Cost Vans is sponsoring this event – vans are what we specialise in, so we felt a natural pull towards getting involved. “I’m sure this event will be a great day out for families and owners displaying their vans – and hope it is the first of many.” Low Cost Vans is a leading UK van leasing and van contract hire company based in Skewen, Neath. It began life in 1999, starti...

Save the dates for upcoming motor fueled, rock and roll, family fun weekends ahead. Attendees of CarFest North and South 2014 can expect cars, music, food, and of course it offers families and motor enthusiasts some good old fashioned fun. The annual event, founded by radio DJ Chris Evans, is raises money for BBC Children in Need. Get up close and personal to an array of vehicles, including some iconic, historic and classic cars from over 40 different clubs that will be attending. CarFest North takes place from Friday 1st to Sunday 3rd August 2014 at Oulton Park, Cheshire.   CarFest South opens 22-24 th August 2014 at Laverstoke Park Farm, Hampshire. For those lucky enough to attend CarFest, you’ll be entertained by not only the amazing cars on display, but by musical artists like; Simple Minds, Eliza Doolittle, Toploader, 10cc, Texas, Sophie Ellis-Bextor and many more still to be announced. From car rallies to music and much much more, make plans to attend this fun event and sup...

If you are in the Tyre industry or road safety profession, have you booked your free place for the next TyreSafe annual industry briefing, which will be held on Wednesday 16th July at St Johns hotel in Solihull? The event will be used as a platform to launch this October’s Tyre Safety Month campaign, thus ensuring partners have ample time to plan and co-ordinate their own integrated activities. TyreSafe is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of correct tyre maintenance and the dangers of defective and worn tyres. TyreSafe will also use the 4 th annual event to provide an update on its latest developments in key areas such as part worn tyres and industry partnerships. The briefing is open to anyone connected to or with an interest in the tyre industry, including tyre manufacturers and retailers, vehicle manufacturers and dealerships, emergency services, local councils, road safety partnerships, insurers and many more. So, if this sounds li...

Mercedes-Benz Vans has just announced that the Vito Sport will be supporting two events in the IRONMAN® UK 2014-2015 Tour. The Vito will be present at both UK events, Bolton and Pembrokeshire. So what will the practical and modern van do at these events? Well, the organisers will have Vito Sport vehicles through the duration of the competitions, with Vito Sport used as lead vehicle in the races, as well as to support athlete recovery from the course, carrying water and blankets. As well as those above mentioned duties, the Vito vans will also be on display at Mercedes-Benz exhibition area. So if you want to check out all the action that the intense long-distance endurance race has to offer alongside the Mercedes-Benz Vito Sport van, then mark your calendar for Bolton (20 July 2014) and/or Pembrokeshire (14 September 2014).

For commercial vehicle enthusiasts like me, wth a love for all things motor and especially retro vans, did you know that the Historical Commercial Vehicle Society in Marlow, Buckinghamshire, holds an annual ‘Ridgeway Run’ rally? The event features a fleet of classic trucks, vans and lorries. How cool would it be to step back in time and see vehicles from throughout the last century make their way through town. The beloved HCVS, formed in 1958, now has over 50 members who share a love of classic, historical commercial vehicles. This year’s rally will take place on Sunday 15 June, 2014 in Marlow from 8.30am. If you can, make plans to see the fleet of about 55 retro vehicles ride through the town and even better, if you happen to own your own commercial vehicle from a bygone era, why not get in touch with the Historical Commercial Vehicle Society chairman to take part. Buckinghamshire is a bit far from Wales, so I may not get to see this year’s event, but I will add it to my calendar nex...

The winners of the 2014 Fleet World Honours were recently announced. These awards give recognition to leading fleet vehicles and suppliers and are presented by the trade publication to manufacturers, service companies and individuals, who have achieved the highest possible level of excellence in their sector. The event held at the Royal Automobile Club at Pall Mall, London featured awards presented in car categories such as Design of the year (Citroën C4 Cactus), Fleet Manufacturer of the Year (BMW), and Best New Car (Peugeot 308). But for me, the most exciting award categories were found in the Van Fleet Awards section, which included some, none too surprising winners, as one manufacturer came away with more than a lion’s share of awards again this year. See the results below. Van Fleet World Van Awards: Best New Van – Ford Transit Connect Best Light Van – Fiat Fiorino / Peugeot Bipper / Citroën Nemo Best Small Van – Ford Transit Connect Best Medium Van – Ford Transit Custom Best Lar...

Did you attend the much talked about Commercial Vehicle ( CV ) Show this year? It was an excellent selling opportunity, plus a primary sourcing 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.   The show attracted some important names in the transport industry, including Shadow Transport Minister, Richard Burden, who took the time to view the array of new products and discussed the issues facing the sector with the Show organisers and exhibitors. Amongst the impressive line-up of other polished vans, the Mercedes-Benz stand stood out with the likes of their successful light commercial van, the Citan and of course the latest Sprinter vans. Plus, let’s not forget to mention the impending arrival of the all-new Vito van heading to forecourts in March 2015. We can’t wait for the unveiling line-up of their ‘ready-to-go-to-work special conversions, ...

This winter’s driving conditions were a challenge to all drivers, especially for businesses. If you run a fleet and are keen to see what the latest crop of 4x4 off-road vehicles can offer up for next winter, you can find out on the off-road circuit at the Fleet Show 2014 . It will take place on 9 th of April at the Silverstone Circuit, Northamptonshire. It’s a great way for fleet decision makers to test the all-weather capabilities of a range of new off-road vehicles, with popular manufacturers such as Land Rover, Toyota and Kia, showcasing their latest 4x4 offerings for fleet managers to evaluate. This year’s show promises to be a unique event bringing together the whole of the fleet industry in one place, on one day. The event provides fleet decision makers with an opportunity to test drive the latest new cars and vans , alongside electric, hybrid and fuel cell vehicles, meet new fleet suppliers, learn new fleet management techniques and network with peer-group fleet professionals. ...

This week, we were given a sneak peek at the new third-generation Renault Trafic van range via Renault’s latest press release. The popular van, which was first introduced in 1980 to replace the Estafette, is scheduled to make its grand UK debut at this year’s Commercial Vehicle Show. So what can we expect to see once it’s officially unveiled? The limited details released so far say that the All-New Trafic can be customised as required due to the diversity of its range which features 270 variants, two different heights, two different lengths,  panel van, crew-van, platform cab and passenger versions. Surprising to note the engine downsize, it will be available with a new Renault-developed 1.6 dCi powerplant, including a twin-turbocharged version that boasts fuel consumption in excess of 47 mpg, although Renault has not yet revealed power outputs. From the photos released, we can see the all-New Trafic comes with a completely new exterior design featuring a large grille on the front-end...

Another motor themed event not to miss over a bank holiday weekend this year is Simply Ford , which is held on the grounds of the Beaulieu National Motor Museum. The 2014 calendar of *Simply rallies begins on the 4 th May with Ford and don’t forget, admission to the event includes entry to the whole lot of Beaulieu attractions like; the National Motor Museum and two exciting new displays, For Britain & For The Hell Of It and The Motorcycle Story , plus World of Top Gear, On Screen Cars, Beaulieu Abbey, Palace House and gardens. The Simply Ford annual event that began four years ago is a must for Ford enthusiasts and for those who are mad about all-things-motor too. It will be a an opportunity to show off your early, custom, classic or current model Ford and join in on the display in the parkland. There is expected be nearly 1,000 cars included in this year’s display. The theme for this year is celebrating the 50 th anniversary of the iconic Ford Mustang. It’s hard to believe tha...

Hyundai Motors has unveiled its new concept car, Intrado , for the first time at the 2014 Geneva Motor Show. So what exactly is an Intrado? Hyundai says the new concept vehicle “ is a daring concept that shows Hyundai’s vision for future mobility ”. Hmm, that statement doesn’t quite give enough away, but upon further reading of Hyundai’s latest press release, the Intrado is a two-door Korean SUV that will meet our future mobility needs by way of advanced vehicle technologies and intelligent design working in harmony to better engage with not only the driver, but with passengers as well. Nope, still not sure what the vehicle is all about yet. Ok, perhaps Allan Rushforth, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at Hyundai Motor Europe can shed more light. He says: “ Hyundai Motor’s vision is ‘lifetime partner in automobiles’, and Intrado truly embodies this thinking. We have looked to the future and the roles cars will play in our daily lives. Intrado is also a demonstration ...

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 ...

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...

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...

Have you made plans for the upcoming half term in February yet? If you are looking for something fun for the kids and of course, auto related fun for you, then why not visit the National Motor Museum at Beaulieu this February Half Term, 15th – 23 rd . The museum’s ‘hands-on’ event is a great way to share your love of motoring and spend a family day out with lots of interactive activities. The event will offer a rare opportunity to handle and learn about historical motoring objects at special ‘drop-in’ sessions running between 10.30am and 4.30pm daily. Take an up-close look at early motoring clothing, photos and unusual motoring items. Over 250 vehicles, including automotive examples that span from the 1930’s through to the 80’s will be on display. Plus, Jack Tucker’s Garage recreates the sights, sounds and smells of a typical country garage from the 1930s while ‘Wheels’ - a space-age pod ride - is a fascinating voyage through 100 years of motoring. It’s a fantastic opportunity to show ...

After another hugely successful Los Angeles Auto Show, one of the most anticipated vehicles comes courtesy of Ford . Ford unveiled its plan to bring the new large SUV Ford Edge Concept to Europe. The original is already a hit in the States, but Ford is gearing up to offer the European market a newer higher spec model, plus a comprehensive line-up of redesigned SUVs alongside the Edge which will include the new Kuga medium SUV and new EcoSport small SUV. So, what can those of us in Europe expect from this smarter yet driver friendly new vehicle? Ford describes the Ford Edge Concept as having a sleek and sporty appearance, an SUV with capability, fuel efficiency and technology that assist the driver. All of which will include advanced automated driving technologies such as; self-parking and obstacle avoidance systems and previews semi- and fully autonomous driving options. Externally, the Edge will have an athletic “muscular” appearance and feature a pretty cool new high-tech applicati...

Leave it to the genius auto makers in Japan to come up with a zany, yet oh so adorable concept vehicle. Daihatsu have just debuted a small, but functional compact commercial van styled vehicle called the ‘FC Deck’ at the now-happening Tokyo motor show. It’s a miniature fuel-cell powered van that some would say looks more like a toy truck as it measures just 3.3m long, 1.5m wide and 1.9m tall. The Daihatsu FC Deco DECK concept is rather a unique looking piece of motoring and because of its size and the use of Toyota/ Daihatsu’s new liquid fuel cell designed battery, if it ever becomes a fully fledged van offering, it can boasts to be one of the greenest vans on the planet (even if it does resemble a pretty awesome Transformer toy).  As of now, Daihatsu has not released any technical info about the FC Deco DECK concept, but I am sure we will be hearing a lot more about the fuel cell technology making its way to more practical vehicles soon. I will be posting more fun and interesting fin...

We’ve made it to the first day of November folks. As we near the end of 2013, I hope your Halloween was eventful and that your Bonfire Night sparkles. But before the next holiday approaches, you know the big one in December, (I can’t bring myself to say it or write about it yet. Bah, Humbug) there are some very exciting motor shows to talk about. The first major North American auto show of the season, the Los Angeles Auto Show, is once again going to make the headlines when it opens its doors on November 20 th , 2013. The show promises to “blow the doors off” with no less than fifty vehicle debuts taking place at this year’s event. For all auto lovers, there will be over 1,000 of the 2013 makes and models of import and domestic cars, as well as alternative fuel/electric vehicles and race cars. Now that sounds like heaven to me. I will make sure to keep an eye out for the newly launched vehicles as they step into the limelight during their glamorous LA coming out party. There’s still ti...

Fleet World has released the results of the 2013 ALD Automotive / Shell FuelSave MPG Marathon which took place on October 9th and 10th near Sheffield. This year’s event, now in its thirteenth year, had 46 competitors all aiming to demonstrate eco-driving skills and achieve the best outright MPG by improving on the official fuel consumption figures issued for their vehicle. For those not familiar with the event, “ the MPG Marathon, organised by Fleet World, is the UK’s longest-running and best-known economy driving event. Featuring a wide range of cars and vans, the MPG Marathon is a demonstration of how both the vehicle itself, and the person behind the wheel, can make a massive difference to an organisation’s fuel costs and carbon emissions.” The big winner of the “percentage improvement” award for cars went to the Peugeot 208 GTi, driven by John Kendall and Paul Nieuwenhuis. These veteran marathon drivers managed to clock up 59.39mpg, which was a respectable 23.99% increase over t...

I have some exciting news to share with you all.  Not only do we offer a wide range of new vans for lease or contract hire at great prices, but Low Cost Vans are sponsoring European Football - Swansea City vs Malmo tonight. We are proud to announce that our generous football loving Director, Rod Lloyd has sponsored the dugout seating for the Swans in their game against Malmo in the Europa Cup on ITV 4  7.45 pm tonight.  If there is one thing I love as much as talking about vans, its football.  What a treat to be supporting our local team.  If you get a chance to watch the game, let us know what you thought and share your views with us on the blog site or via Twitter.