Van Guard News

Mercedes is offering the new Sprinter transporter with natural-gas drive, with operating costs 30 per cent lower than comparable diesel-engined versions, the manufacturer has announced.

Fitted with bivalent drive the Sprinter NGT, has a four-cylinder unit with a displacement of 1.8 litres, developing 115 kW/156 hp.

FOR the second year running, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles has received two accolades at Professional Van and Light Truck (PV<) magazine’s annual awards.

Volkswagen was particularly pleased to collect the PV< Compact Van award for the new Caddy Maxi, launched only a matter of weeks ago, as well as a second award for the Crafter, which this year was judged the best Van Derived Chassis Cab.

A new van driver handbook has been published that will help couriers and other drivers of light commercial vehicles operate safely.

The FTA Van Drivers’ Handbook, by the Freight Transport Association, is an easy-to-use reference guide that will help van drivers remain legally compliant.

Named best car-derived van at the acclaimed Professional Van and Light Truck Awards, the British-built Astravan, made at GM’s Ellesmere Port plant in Cheshire, added yet more silverware to the Vauxhall Commercial Vehicles trophy cabinet, which has clocked up over 25 industry awards since 2001.

Manheim’s latest Market Analysis Report shows that the LCV market remains robust, with buyers responding to the recent over supply of duplicated stock, damaged stock and high mileage stock in an entirely predictable and logical way. Healthy demand and bidding continues for the right stock, with duplications, damaged and high mileage stock approached with more caution. Suggestions of price re-alignment in the wholesale market need to be reflective of demand and supply in the entire market, not just for particular segments, models with a particular specification or for those in reasonable condition. The Market Analysis features a special report on ‘lifestyle’ versus ‘working tool’ pick ups.

Citroen’s new Berlingo range makes its world debut at the 2008 Commercial Vehicle Show – and will go on UK sale on 5 June. The all-new Berlingo is set to make a major impact in the light commercial vehicle market. It takes over from its predecessor, which was one of Europe’s most successful light commercial vehicles, with over 800,000 Berlingo vans sold worldwide. With its proven pedigree, the new Berlingo is a giant step forward for the high-cube van sector.

Volkswagen AG, Europe’s biggest carmaker, said profit at the commercial-vehicle unit will rise this year as new vans and trucks boost sales.

“The Volkswagen commercial-vehicle brand is strategically well placed and has, with the current model palette as well as the new model lines, a potential for high growth worldwide,'’ Stephan Schaller, the unit’s chief, said in an e-mailed statement today. “We aim in 2008 to continue our profitable gains.'’

Peugeot has renamed the current Partner Van and rationalised the range in preparation for the launch of the Peugeot Bipper and New Partner vans in June.

The current Partner Van, which was first launched in the UK in July 1996 and has now sold more than 61,000 units, will remain in the Peugeot LCV range alongside the New Partner Van. It will, however, be renamed the Partner Origin to distinguish clearly between the two models.

Mercedes Benz is to launch a 3.2-tonne GVW Vito in September. It will be a definitive model on the manufacturer’s price list, and will be based on the long-wheelbase 111 CDI version of the Vito. Steve Bridge, director of van sales and marketing at M-B, says the 3.2-tonne Vito will help M-B meet the demands of those customers that struggle to stay within the weight limits of existing vehicles, such as the AA and the RAC.