Van Guard News

The Department for Transport has published National Statistics on the evasion of Vehicle Excise Duty in Great Britain in 2005; it is now estimated to be costing £147 million in the current year 2005/6, some £18 million more than in 2004/5 but well below the figure of over £206 million in 2002/3.

Ten more Nissan Kubistar vans have been acquired by Romsey, Hants based SHB Hire bringing the total in service to 20. They’re being joined by 10 Navara double cab pick-ups.

Peugeot and bodybuilder Fame Commercials have got together to create a new range of mobile police stations now being supplied to constabularies countrywide.

Peugeot’s front-wheel drive Boxer 350 chassis cab is used as the basis for the conversion. It’s fitted with a Fame geodetic chassis plus a 5m body split internally into an office and a reception area.

The fastest and most powerful production pick-up ever to be officially sold in the UK will appear at Chrysler Jeep dealerships this month.

Powered by a massive 8.3-litre V10 petrol engine belting out a phenomenal 500 bhp and a ground shaking 525 lb/ft of torque, the 4×2 Dodge Ram SRT-10 Quad Cab is capable of over 150mph says the manufacturer. Hurtling from rest to 60mph takes just over five seconds, it adds.

Once again the rules governing vehicle exhaust emissions are being tightened with the introduction of the Euro 4 regulations in 2006. Affecting new vehicles, the aim is to cut the output of harmful particulates and NOx — nitrous oxide.