Author Archives: Van Rental

Updated 2013 Fiesta Van Delivers MPG Boost

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Ford Fiesta Van

Ford has updated the Fiesta Van, cutting fuel consumption and boosting specification levels to include many features previously only offered on cars. The new model features the recognisable deep radiator grill that is becoming a feature of all new Ford models.

The new Ford Fiesta Van, an agile and stylish car-derived van for large and small businesses, will deliver class-leading fuel efficiency and segment-first technologies when it launches in 2013.

All diesel engines in the new Fiesta Van achieve sub-100g/km CO2 emissions and 76.4mpg* or better. The Fiesta ECOnetic Van features enhanced fuel-saving technologies to deliver best-in-class 87g/km and 85.6mpg, a feat that no other manufacturer in the class matches.

“The new Fiesta Van is a stylish mobile workshop for light duty tools and equipment that makes great business sense,” said Mark Easton, Ford Britain light commercial vehicle product manager. “Both local tradesmen and urban delivery fleets will appreciate its sharp, professional looks, while relying on its versatility, dependability and exceptionally low running costs.”

With its practical 1.0 cubic metre load space, the Ford Fiesta Van offers businesses an adaptable van with classic Fiesta driver appeal. The load compartment features a secure steel bulkhead and four cargo tie-down hooks, both developed in accordance with the international DIN standard for load restraints, plus a tough rubber floor mat and durable sidewall trim. The van’s load length of 1.3 metres and gross payload ranging from 485-508kg means space for bulkier items.

The Fiesta Van powertrain choice includes two British-built engines; the new 75PS 1.5-litre Duratorq TDCi and 95PS 1.6-litre Duratorq TDCi engines – both built in Dagenham – and the 82PS 1.25-litre Duratec petrol units, assembled at Bridgend. The ultra-efficient Fiesta Van ECOnetic offers the specially developed 95PS 1.6-litre Duratorq TDCi powertrain with standard Auto-Start-Stop, lowered suspension, aerodynamic rear under-tray and wheel trims, and low rolling resistance tyres.

The new Fiesta Van’s package of leading Ford driver assistance and safety features includes a number of important segment-first technologies. Ford MyKey allows businesses to encourage safer driving and limit the driver’s exposure to risk at the wheel as well as providing fleets with ownership information. Following on from the new Ford Transit Custom, Fiesta Van also offers the in-car connectivity system, Ford SYNC.

Ford SYNC with Emergency Assistance directly connects the vehicle occupants to local emergency services operators after an accident, in the correct language for the relevant country. Also introduced to new Fiesta is class-first technology Active City Stop, a system designed to help drivers avoid low speed collisions. It is offered alongside other convenience features such as Hill Start Assist, Easy Fuel and Rear View Camera.

The new Fiesta Van is available to order now, with customer deliveries from January 2013.

*Based on measurement to comply with the European Regulation (EC) 715/2007. These results won’t necessarily be repeatable in real life driving conditions.

Fast Dispatch From Citroën

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A Citroën Dispatch operated by IT services provider Wincor Nixdorf

One of Wincor Nixdorf's 50 new Citroën Dispatch vans

Fleet renewals don’t have to take months and months from conception to delivery, as Wincor Nixdorf and Citroën have just shown.

Fast work was required by Citroën when Wincor Nixdorf UK Ltd – a specialist provider of IT services and support to the banking, retail and business sectors – wanted 50 vans in a hurry to meet the start date of a new contract.

From initial assessment by Wincor Nixdorf to delivery of its 50 Citroën Dispatch HDi 90 manual L1H1 1000 Enterprise vans took just two months.

Jill Woolnough, Wincor Nixdorf’s Fleet Manager, commented:

“To meet the financial, operational and environmental requirements of a new contract, we urgently needed to replace our existing, larger panel vans. The Dispatch was assessed against other vehicles and showed that it was able to meet our requirements, thanks to its mid-size, three-way load accessibility, low running costs and high levels of standard equipment.”

Acquired on three year, with maintenance, Pendragon contract hire agreements, Wincor Nixdorf’s service engineers will cover up to 105,000 miles in their Dispatch vans. The Dispatch vans are the latest face-lifted models, with revisions to further improve fuel economy and cutCO2emissions. They all benefit from the addition of aerodynamic panels underneath the body and a ‘volt control’ function to optimise battery charge management by the alternator, which results in a combined cycle fuel economy of 42.2mpg and CO2emissions of just 177g/km.

Supplied in unliveried Arctic Steel metallic paint, the Wincor Nixdorf Dispatch vans offer their drivers a very high level of standard equipment, including air conditioning, Bluetooth®, rear parking sensors, remote central locking, electric windows and electric mirrors. This is all in addition to Citroën’s standard specification Trafficmaster Smartnav package, complete with Trackstar stolen vehicle tracking.

Van Innovation Fuels Savings For Lenham Storage

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With fuel prices looking likely to remain at record highs, it’s no surprise that forward-looking transport companies are increasingly keen to try out new technologies that promise to deliver significant fuel savings.

One such company is Lenham Storage, which has more than 260 vehicles based at its depots in Maidstone and Andover. The company operates across the weight range, from 3.5t to 44t and is keen to save fuel and cut emissions wherever possible.

One of its latest trials is of this Mercedes-Benz Sprinter luton, which has an aerodynamic Bevan ICON Luton body.

Lenham Storage Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Luton with Bevan ICON body

Lenham Storage's Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Luton with Bevan ICON body

This futuristic body continues to provide a payload of more than 1,200kg but offers the potential for “significantly improved fuel economy”, according to the manufacturer.

Lenham Storage Managing Director Keith Abrehart agrees, commenting:

“Additionally we operate a Sprinter fitted with a futuristic aerodynamic Bevan ICON Luton body; this too is showing valuable savings over and above a traditional bodied vehicle.”

Higher up the weight range, Lenham is trialling the first 12-tonne Atego Hybrid in the UK and after twelve months’ use, the firm is seeing fuel savings of around 15%, with CO2 savings to match — an impressive outcome that shows the benefits of hybrid drivetrains in urban environments; the Atego normally operates in central London.

Lenham is also trialling 14.6m and 15.65m tri-axle trailers with rear steer as part of the Department for Transport’s Longer Semi-Trailers trial.

Got A Problem? A Unimog Will Fix It

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It doesn’t bear any resemblance to a van and it hasn’t got much to do with van hire — but it is seriously impressive and it is a commercial vehicle. As it’s winter and we’ve had a (little) bit of bad weather, Mercedes-Benz has been pimping the benefits of its 4-wheel drive trucks, most notably the awesome Unimog.

There really isn’t much a Unimog can’t do, from pulling trains to fording water more than 1m deep — so without further ado, let’s enjoy a pre-Christmas, all-wheel drive treat:

Mercedes Unimog with snow clearing attachment

As you may have spotted, this picture of a Unimog clearing meaningful amounts of snow can’t possibly have been taken in the UK.

Mercedes Unimog carrying huge Christmas tree

Not sure we’ll get that Christmas tree through the front door, darling.

Mercedes Unimog fire engine fording deep water

Ain’t no river deep enough (to stop a Unimog)…

Mercedes Unimog dual-mode railway model

Leaves on the line? Get the Unimog on the job.

Finally, if there’s ever a time in your life when a Unimog simply isn’t man enough for the job, Mercedes has something even bigger, harder and better up its sleeve. The Zetros can have a gross weight of up to 27t and is a very special and rare machine.

Aberdeen Airport is the proud owner of the UK’s first Zetros, as Mercedes explains:

Aberdeen Airport, which typically experiences much harsher winters than those further south, invested in the UK’s first Zetros – a pair of highly specialised tractors, equipped with state-of-the-art ploughing, sweeping and blowing equipment by Aebi Schmidt.

Here it is, in all its snow-blowing glory:

Mercedes Zetros clearing snow at Aberdeen Airport

Aberdeen Airport was the first UK customer for the Zetros

I hope you’ve enjoyed this brief diversion into all-wheel drive silliness — but if you’d like to see more of Mercedes’ awesome all-wheel drive trucks in action, then I’d strongly recommend this post.

CV Manufacturing Falls Again In November (But Car Output Rises)

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UK commercial vehicle manufacturing output fell once more in November, leaving CV output down by 5.9% for the year to date.

The latest figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) show that UK commercial vehicle manufacturing output continued to fall in November, while car output continued to grow. Luckily for the economy, our car manufacturing output is more than ten times our CV output, but it’s a sad tale nonetheless:

  • UK car manufacturing rose 4.9% in November and 9.2% over the year-to-date.
  • CV output fell by 3.6% in the month and 5.9% over the first 11 months of 2012.
  • UK engine production remained stable in November, down just 1.4% and 0.3% for the year-to-date
Here are the full figures — scroll down for a picture if all these numbers make your head hurt!
SMMT Cars Commercial Vehicles Total Vehicles Total Engines
Data. Nov-12 YTD-12 Nov-12 YTD-12 Nov-12 YTD-12 Nov-12 YTD-12
Total 142,825 1,363,129 10,974 105,188 153,799 1,468,317 223,853 2,345,167
% change 4.9% 9.2% -3.6% -5.9% 4.3% 8.0% -1.4% -0.3%
Export 121,303 1,127,045 5,631 60,183 126,934 1,187,228 132,473 1,457,275
% change 1.2% 8.0% -8.8% -6.7% 0.7% 7.2% -8.8% -12.2%
% of total 84.9% 82.7% 51.3% 57.2% 82.5% 80.9% 59.2% 62.1%
Home 21,522 236,084 5,343 45,005 26,865 281,089 91,380 887,892
% change 32.3% 15.2% 2.6% -4.7% 25.1% 11.5% 11.7% 28.1%
% of total 15.1% 17.3% 48.7% 42.8% 17.5% 19.1% 40.8% 37.9%

If the table above looks too complicated, these graphs are painfully simple — CV manufacturing has not recovered since the recession and continues to fall, while car manufacturing output continues to grow. These graphs highlight the problem for the UK’s CV manufacturing workforce:

SMMT UK Car and CV manufacturing Nov 2012

SMMT graph showing UK Car and CV manufacturing for the six years to Nov 2012

With Ford’s Southampton factory set to close next year, there doesn’t seem to be much hope for a big increase in the UK’s CV output — but at least we should be thankful that our much larger car manufacturing industry seems to be holding its own against global competition.

Beware Bogus Van Rental Firms This Xmas

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My Dad was always fond of reminding me that “if a thing seems too good to be true, it probably is.”

Just like the time when someone knocked on my front door and offered me a sofa suspiciously cheaply, telling me that “they’d ordered too many”, anyone who offers you a rental van at an impossibly low rate with free delivery is probably pulling a fast one.

How to spot a bogus van hire firm

The season of goodwill is here, but for some people it’s just another opportunity to rip people off, so I thought I would pass on these 5 tips from the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA) to help you spot bogus car and van hire companies before you give them your money:

1.   Only use a BVRLA member. Seeing our logo on the front desk or website is a sign that you are dealing with a reputable company that has been vetted and operates to a professional code of conduct. You will also be able to use our conciliation service in the event of any dispute. Find a BVRLA member via the ‘member locator’ on the BVRLA website at: www.carhire.bvrla.co.uk

2.   Never hand over cash. Most reputable rental companies will only want to accept credit/debit card payment

3.   Make sure the company is operating from a bona fide commercial premises, not a PO Box or virtual office, no matter how prestigious the location sounds

4.   Make sure the company actually owns and operates the cars it is offering – all BVRLA members operate their own rental fleet.

5.   Remember, if the price or service being offered seems too good to be true, it probably is and you may well end up out of pocket and disappointed!

As BVRLA chief executive John Lewis points out, it’s surprisingly easy to create a bogus hire firm:

“These companies offer unbeatable prices and free delivery – but they really are too good to be true. Unfortunately it is very easy for fraudsters to build a simple website and set up a call centre to pass themselves off as legitimate businesses.”

For some more excellent tips on car and van hire from the BVRLA, click here.

MINI Clubvan Will Debut At 2013 International CV Show

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MINI Clubvan

The MINI Clubvan will make its debut at the 2013 CV Show

The new MINI Clubvan will make its debut at the Commercial Vehicle Show in April.

Organisers of the 2013 International Commercial Vehicle Show are delighted that MINI UK has taken the decision to showcase its all-new MINI Clubvan.

Commended for delivering style, efficiency and class-leading driving dynamics and fuel efficiency levels not usually found in light commercial vehicles, the Clubvan has already made a big impression on industry experts, just months after its initial unveiling at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.

Never having been considered one of the coolest or most fashionable sectors of the automotive industry, the new MINI Clubvan is set to add a little glamour to the light commercial vehicle sector. Making its debut at the Birmingham Commercial Vehicle Show in April, the MINI Clubvan clearly demonstrates to those who value the importance of both efficiency and style that it can offer the perfect extension to any company brand.

Speaking of the Clubvan’s debut at next year’s Show, James Morrison, Corporate Marketing Manager for MINI UK said, “We are delighted that the MINI Clubvan will be there at the 2013 International Commercial Vehicle Show. We are looking forward to showing how the Clubvan effortlessly combines both the practicality of an 860-litre load capacity with premium features already familiar to existing MINI customers. The MINI Clubvan offers commercial customers both style and substance on the road.”

For more pictures of the MINI Clubvan click here to see my original post on this very cool van — the ultimate company car for a van hire firm.

Euro NCAP Tests Shows Van Safety Standards Lag Behind Cars

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Many current vans lag behind new cars in terms of safety, according to Euro NCAP. 

The Euro NCAP organisation, which awards the safety ratings to all new cars, has tested the 8/9 seat minibus versions of the most popular European vans, and found that many only justify two or three stars. Contrary to what you might think, the vans’ superior size over cars is no guarantee of safety.

In the tests, the Ford Transit Custom was the only vehicle to score five stars. The Hyundai H1 scored three stars. The Fiat Scudo also scored three stars while the Renault Trafic scored two stars. Some of these vehicles are also rebadged and sold by other manufacturers. The Fiat Scudo is available as the Peugeot Expert and Citroën Jumpy. The Renault Trafic also sells as the Vauxhall/Opel Vivaro and Nissan Primastar.

You can see highlights of the crash testing in this video:

Dr Michiel van Ratingen, Secretary General of Euro NCAP, said:

“This time around Euro NCAP has focused on van variants that offer 8 to 9 seats. These vehicles are often used for business or considered by families as alternatives to large MPVs. Being derived from commercial van platforms, these people-carriers are updated less regularly and are generally less equipped for safety than normal passenger cars. If you have a family with a lot of kids and are tempted to buy such a vehicle, please be aware that they often do not offer the latest state of the art in vehicle safety.”

Some manufacturers are responding to Euro NCAP’s call and have committed to better equip light commercial vehicles when sold as family cars. The Ford Transit Custom, designed with Euro NCAP’s protocol in mind, features amongst other items curtain airbags that improve protection in the severe pole side impact test. The vehicle also received recognition in Euro NCAP’s Advanced rewards scheme for offering Lane Keep Assist, an important accident prevention technology, as an option to customers.

Fiat has also responded to Euro NCAP’s assessment. The manufacturer is making safety features such as the front passenger airbag and a Speed Limitation Device standard in more European markets. The Scudo’s Peugeot and Citroën sister models are doing the same.

“We are optimistic that the safety of these vehicles will advance significantly in the next few years,” said van Ratingen. “By and large this is a neglected vehicle category that from a safety perspective is still immature. Per legislation, these vehicles have never had to be well-equipped with safety technologies. Not all offer electronic stability control as standard and most provide poor protection for vulnerable road users such as pedestrians in the event of a collision.”

The protocols used by Euro NCAP to test family and business vans are slightly adapted from those used for passenger cars. The car safety organisation has designed its protocol to encourage greater fitment of safety equipment and to promote all-round protection to car occupants and other road users.

Find out more on the Euro NCAP website: www.euroncap.com.

New Entry Level Nissan Navara Starts At £17,995

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The New Nissan Navara Visia

The New Nissan Navara Visia is aimed at business buyers

In response to strong fleet and business demand, Nissan is introducing a new, highly affordable entry-level version of its popular Navara double cab pick-up starting at £17,995 CVOTR.

The Navara Visia has been carefully developed to offer operators a practical, robust and capable pick-up at a price that’s in tune with the times.

The new model introduces a new version of the respected 2.5-litre dCi common-rail diesel four-cylinder engine, producing 144 PS and 350Nm of torque and is capable of up to 39.8mpg on the combined cycle.

For the new business-oriented Navara, Nissan engineers have worked to cut costs without affecting the vehicle’s abilities.

For example, the interior door handles are finished in black rather than chrome. Similarly the front bumper is specified in body colour rather than having a two-tone element, while the grille struts are painted rather than chromed and conventional wiper blades are used in place of the flat blades found on higher specification versions.

The Navara Visia provides a generous 2.36m2 load bed and a practical internal bed length of 1,511mm. Businesses will also value the Navara’s 2,600kg towing capacity and a maximum 1,250kg payload.

The Navara Visia’s specification includes part-time four-wheel drive, air conditioning, central door locking, six airbags, a CD player and Bluetooth connectivity.

The robust part-time four-wheel drive system provides drive to the rear wheels under normal conditions or a 50/50 torque split to all four wheels when 4WD mode is engaged. The Navara also offers high and low ratio modes, to facilitate serious off-road use and off-road towing. ESP is standard fit to help maximise the Navara Visia’s driver control in all conditions.

Jon Pollock, Corporate Sales Director at Nissan said: “We’re working hard to develop our LCV offering as well as respond to customer needs and the introduction of the Navara Visia is a shining example of this.  We’ve listened to our fleet and SME customers’ desire for an affordable pick-up and we look forward to seeing the Navara Visia working hard for SME fleets from January 2013.”

Order books for the new Nissan Visia are open now priced from £17,995 CVOTR, with deliveries beginning January 2013.

Grit Operator Chooses Ford

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The new Ford Ranger

GRITIT has just bought 40 new Ford Rangers

Every so often, you come across a company that you hadn’t heard about, offering a service you didn’t realise existed.

In this case, the company is ‘winter risk management’ service provider GRITIT. As its name suggests, GRITIT will keep customers’ sites clear of snow and ice in the winter, ensuring that they can remain fully operational and safe in all weathers.

Of course, I knew that facilities management companies did this kind of thing — but I didn’t know that a dedicated company with 92 depots across the UK existed to provide this useful service.

GRITIT passed across my radar today because the company has bought 40 of the all-new Ford Ranger pick-up trucks this year, in addition to 30 previous-model Rangers in 2011. GRITIT also operates more than 70 Ford Transit and chassis cab vehicles.

GRITIT’s fleet has been 100% Ford since 2009 and Nikki Singh-Barmi, GRITIT’s operations manager says that the blue oval’s reliability is key:

“Ford’s vehicles provide excellent reliability which is essential for our business. GRITIT operators visit retail, commercial, industrial, logistics, and health sector premises, demanding the upmost in versatility. Ford’s highly manoeuvrable, four-wheel drive Ranger provides exactly what we need.

“We’re constantly monitoring the competition but nothing competes with Ford and the excellent aftersales support we get.”

In an average winter, GRITIT will make more than 100,000 customer site visits across the UK from its 92 depots — clearly the company’s 140-strong fleet has to be fully available at all times to meet this level of demand.

GRITIT’s headquarters are in Uxbridge and it has regional bases in Edinburgh, Leeds, Leicester and Bristol, in addition to its 92 gritting depots.

For more information visit www.gritit.com.

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