Here’s my belated write-up from the CV Show 2018, which took place at the Birmingham NEC at the end of April. It was a bit of a quiet year for new van models, but there were a few highlights, including a couple of new models which made their UK debuts at the show.
We start with the Isuzu D-Max Arctic Trucks Stealth. Based on the 2016 D-Max Arctic Trucks AT35, only 10 examples of the Stealth will be made:
Only 10 examples of the Isuzu D-Max Arctic Trucks Stealth will be made. Seen here @ CV Show 2018.
The changes over the standard D-Max include an extensive de-chrome pack with black roof bars, black side steps, black radiator grille, black front fog light surrounds, black rear bumper trim, black door mirrors, door handles, black front Isuzu badge and rear D-Max Arctic Trucks badges. You can see why they named it Stealth.
Moving on, Ford launched the latest addition to its popular Sport Van lineup, the Fiesta Sport Van:
The new Ford Fiesta Sport Van was unveiled at the CV Show 2018
This new model will be powered by a choice of 125PS, 1.0-litre EcoBoost petrol or 1.5-litre TDCi diesel with 120PS.
The load compartment offers a length of “almost 1.3 metres” and a gross payload of about 500kg. A mesh bulkhead and sidewall trim are included, along with a rubber floor and four tie-down hooks.
Upfront, drivers will enjoy Ford’s SYNC3 infotainment system as standard, which supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The SYNC AppLink feature means that lots of apps from your phone can be accessed through the vehicle’s own much larger touchscreen.
Ford Fiesta Sport Van
Naturally the new version of Ford’s star Transit Custom van also made an appearance, seen here painted in ‘hard to ignore’ orange, with Sport Van stripes:
The new 2018 Ford Transit Custom at the CV Show
Meanwhile converter Cartwright showcased its lightweight Luton conversion, seen here in a fetching livery that riffs on the group’s own logo and emphasises its built-in-Britain credentials:
Converter Cartwright’s lightweight Luton body
One of the most memorable motorsports events I’ve been to over the years was a round of truck racing at Thruxton. Here’s one of today’s crop, the Giti Racing Truck:
The Giti Racing Truck at the CV Show
To be honest, this was probably one of the highlights of the show. Because there really wasn’t that much new in the van world this year. Virtually every van was a model I’d seen before, mostly at last year’s show.
One exception, I think, was this Mitsubishi Shogun Sport Van, which suggests that the Japanese firm hopes to continue dominating this small but useful niche – small vans with genuine off-road ability…
Mitsubishi Shogun Sport Van – a vehicle with very few rivals.
… however, Japanese rival Toyota isn’t giving up without a fight. The latest version of the Landcruiser Commercial was on display. And for serious off-road use, the Landcruiser remains in league of its own:
The Toyota Landcruiser Commercial at the CV Show
To round things off with a vehicle that’s on-topic for a van hire website, here’s one of car-sharing firm Zipcar’s petrol-powered Volkswagen Transporters:
One of Zipcar’s petrol-powered Volkswagen Transporter vans. These are used in London.
That’s it for 2018! See you next year.