Van Guard News

Renault is strengthening its number one status in the European LCV segment with the launch of its New Kangoo Van Compact, a new concept in the commercial vehicles sector, designed for urban driving.

A raft of developments in the Ford Transit range have been created to help operators manage the changing needs of transportation in Britain.

Steve Kimber, director, commercial vehicles, Ford of Britain, said: “The commercial vehicle market continues to evolve, and it’s important we continue to develop our product range to meet customers’ changing needs.

Even the most cantankerous and mean-spirited of commercial vehicle buyers would have to concede that the Berlingo has been a massive success for Citroen. Since the covers first slid from the van’s glistening bodywork at its late 1996 launch, nearly a million models have found happy homes with European businesses. Things have moved forward somewhat since then, of course, the latest addition being that of the advanced 1.6-litre HDi diesel engines.

Fear not, there’s still a Range of muscular engines that yield a satisfying turn of pace – enough to embarrass the average repmobile on a long motorway incline. The nation’s maniac express delivery drivers can call off the search for alternative transportation. It’s just that today’s Sprinter has a different emphasis. Speed now shares top billing with safety, technology and refinement. The Sprinter has grown-up.

The Combo incorporates all the versatility of its rivals, but with excellent cargo space, payload capacity, comfort and safety. Whereas its predecessor had a fair amount of space in the back, the latest Combo is both taller and longer, giving it far greater everyday utility. At 4323mm, the Combo has been stretched to the tune of 93mm, the wheelbase being increased by a massive 236mm, exacerbating the growth yet further.

Ford is extending its comprehensive Transit range further with a new SportVan model and significant new powertrain options including a new Durashift 6-speed transmission on Transit front-wheel-drive (FWD) for the very first time.

Around these parts, commercial moving vans are giant behemoths that hog up substantial space on the road. Over in Europe, however, all vehicles are typically smaller and the same can be said about their commercial vans. Take the newly revealed Citroen Nemo and Peugeot Bipper, for example. These are probably the most compact commercial vans I have seen short of that strange Mitsubishi thing that a local flower shop around here uses.

The Peugeot Bipper is a new compact light commercial vehicle aimed at strengthening Peugeot’s rejuvenated range of commercial vehicles.

This innovative vehicle completes the renewal of the Peugeot range which started with the launch in the UK of the new Boxer in October 2006.

“The V6 engine offers a smoothness of power delivery and an absence of engine rumble that will take people used to diesel commercial vehicles by surprise”