Author Archives: Van Rental

Hilton Rental Adds Sprinter To Hire Fleet

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Bishops Stortford-based van hire company Hilton Rental has added a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter luton van to its rental fleet.

vanrental.co.uk advertiser Hilton Rental has just added its first Mercedes Sprinter to its fleet. The van in question is a 313CDi luton conversion on a long wheelbase. The comprehensive specification includes a Ratcliff Palfinger 500kg tail lift and is proving popular with private customers who are moving house, according to Adam Sydes, Hilton’s vehicle rental manager.

The latest Sprinters benefit from Euro 5 engines and the current 313CDi is 15% — or 4.5mpg — more efficient than the previous model.

Hilton Rental is based in Bishops Stortford and also serves Stansted Airport; its comprehensive range of cars and vans meets most rental requirements.

Remember: If you would like to promote your van or minibus hire company on vanrental.co.uk, take a look at our advertising options.

Citroën Adds Enterprise Pack Option To Berlingo, Dispatch & Relay

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Citroen Relay, Dispatch and Berlingo Enterprise models

The Citroen Relay, Dispatch and Berlingo are now available with an optional Enterprise pack

Citroën already makes an Enterprise version of its popular vans, but it is now going to give buyers of other models the choice of an optional Enterprise pack.

The new Enterprise Packs are available on Berlingo LX, Berlingo XTR+, Dispatch and Relay panels vans.

Priced from just £600 + VAT, Enterprise Packs include rear parking sensors, Connecting Box (Bluetooth® & USB port) and air conditioning.

The Enterprise Packs can save customers up to £420 + VAT compared with specifying the individual options. The pack prices also reflect the price differential between the existing stand-alone Enterprise models and the model on which they are based.

Scott Michael, Citroën’s Head of Commercial Vehicles & Business Centre Programme, comments:

“Thanks to their high specification and competitive pricing, Enterprise versions of the Nemo, Berlingo, Dispatch and Relay vans have proved very popular. These optional Enterprise Packs represent fantastic value for money and enable our LCV customers to further enhance the safety, driver comfort and communications of other Citroën vans to the same high level.”

Ford Transit Custom Enters Production

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Production of the new Ford Transit Custom and Tourneo Custom models is now underway at the Brentwood-based firm’s Turkish factory.

The new Ford Transit Custom is now in production

The engines for the new models are made at Ford’s Dagenham plant. Both models are powered by Ford’s latest 2.2-litre Duratorq diesel engine, which comes in 100PS, 125PS or 155PS versions and offers class-leading fuel consumption of 42.8mpg (Transit Custom) and 43.5mpg (Tourneo Custom).

The arrival of the Transit Custom van and Tourneo Custom people mover marks the first step in a complete transformation of Ford’s global commercial vehicle range by the end of 2013.

“The Transit Custom is a completely new kind of one-tonne vehicle from Ford,” said Stephen Odell, chairman and CEO, Ford of Europe. “This is a stylish, modern van that customers will be proud to have on their driveway, with the hard-working attitude that they expect from a Transit.”

“The Tourneo Custom is a fantastic-looking people mover – inside and out. It offers outstanding day-to-day, real world practicality as well as being great to drive,” added Odell.

The new Transit Custom sits between the smaller Transit Connect and the larger Transit van in Ford’s commercial vehicle line-up; and is also offered as an eight- or nine-seat people-mover, the Tourneo Custom.

The chassis dynamics have been developed to offer a rewarding driving experience in both models, while car-like interiors and stylish modern exteriors are aimed at broadening the iconic Ford Transit appeal.

500 Volkswagen Caravelles Can’t Be Wrong!

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Titan Travel 500th Volkswagen Caravelle

Titan Travel's 500th Volkswagen Caravelle

If you like something, then stick with it — that’s the approach taken by cruise holiday company Titan Travel, who have just taken delivery of their 500th Volkswagen Caravelle.

Titan’s current fleet of 140 Caravelles is used to take transport customers in comfort between their home and their cruise departure points.

The vehicles typically cover 50,000 miles a year each, making the total annual mileage of Titan’s fleet around seven million miles.  They are all silver and replaced every three years at around 150,000 miles, while this year Titan expects to increase its fleet to 200 Caravelles.

“We use the Caravelle exclusively because it provides our clients with the best possible levels of comfort and space, as well as being a stylish and reliable vehicle,” said Dan Whitehouse, Titan’s Marketing Director.

With twin sliding doors to ease entry and exit, the Caravelle is a no-compromise people carrier with space for up to six passengers.  The two middle seats can swivel to face the rear to create a sociable lounge environment in the rear compartment, while all rear seats slide on a runner system to offer the flexibility to increase space for passengers or luggage as required.

Alastair Hemmings, National Fleet Manager, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, said: “The Titan fleet is a great testament to the image, durability and affordable quality of the Caravelle, and we have been delighted to work in partnership with such a loyal and happy customer for so long.”

Remember, you can compare prices for self-drive minibus hire throughout the UK using our unique comparison system — click here to get started.

Payload Swings Helphire Deal For 50 Fiat Ducato Transporters

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Fiat Ducato Transporter

One of Helphire's new Fiat Ducato Transporters. The company chose the model primarily because of its low weight.

Accident assistance specialist Helphire Group plc, has just taken delivery of the first of 50 new Euro 5 Fiat Ducato-based transporters as part of its fleet replacement programme. The first vehicle is scheduled to go into active service at its Leicester depot this week.

The company, which has its head office in Bath, has specified 50 Fiat Ducato 33 B2B chassis 2.3 130bhp MultiJet II Euro 5 transporters built by UK industry experts KFS Special Vehicles Ltd.

The vehicles will be supplied by Fiat Professional dealer, Guest Truck & Van Centre in Birmingham, which enjoys a very strong relationship with Helphire Group plc.

All the transporters – in metallic Aluminium Grey – will be used to transport the Group’s vehicles throughout the national network of over 20 branches and four operational contact centres across the UK.

The KFS converted Ducato-based transporters come with a generous standard specification and include aluminium deck and bearers, load tested loading ramps, recessed tie rings and a maximum payload capacity.

In addition, all transporters will be equipped with options including metallic paint, dual passenger seat, extended wiring loom, uprated battery, normal size spare wheel and a Techno dash board.

Tim Bailey, Fleet Services Director, Helphire Group plc says:

“Running a fleet of over 8,000 vehicles and needing to move them from A to B, more often than not one car at a time, creates a number of challenges for us. Our fleet ranges from the smallest cars right up to the top of the range prestige and sports vehicles, so ensuring we have sufficient flexibility and maximum load weight on any transporter is essential.

We ultimately chose the Fiat Ducato as the base for our replacement transporters as it delivered the best load weight without sacrificing power or driver comfort and at a cost that we found very workable.  In addition to this, we have a very good relationship with Guest which helped us to explore a number of options that eventually led to the Ducato being chosen.”

Olympic Games Lanes Come Into Force: Are You Ready?

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Painting The Olympic 'Zil' Lanes

An Olympic Games Lane in London (courtesy of Copwatcher/Flickr)

Today marks the beginning of the Olympic Games — at least for drivers in central London, who now have to contend with the 30-mile network of new ‘Games Lanes’ that can only be used by Olympic participants between 6am and midnight.

The result, predictably, was additional traffic, with additional congestion in all the usual traffic blackspots, such as the A40, and the A4 in West London. It’s not for nothing that these lanes have become known as Zil lanes.

Games Lanes are in place around one-third of the Olympic Route Network, according to Transport for London, which says that a network of 150 electronic signs around the network will advise motorists when they can use the lane — something that appeared to be causing confusion this morning.

Not too late for van hire

If you have been adopting a ‘wait and see’ approach to Olympic traffic and have now decided that you need to get hold of some extra rental vans or minibuses to enable you to deal with the disruption, then the good news is that there is still some availability, even in central London.

Our unique van hire price comparison system enables you to compare van hire throughout London and the rest of the UK and find the best prices. Wherever we quote a price, it is a ‘live’ price obtained directly from the hire company, so you can normally click through and book immediately at that price.

Click here to compare van hire or minibus hire prices or view all of our London branches here.

UK Van Manufacturing Depends On Exports – Home Sales Falling

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Commercial vehicle production figures for the first half of this year show that the UK is making fewer vans and trucks, and more of them are being exported.

The UK’s commercial vehicle manufacturers are increasingly dependent on export markets for their survival.

In June, home sales of UK-made vans and trucks fell by 45%, reducing reducing the market share of British-built CVs to 37.2%.

Exports rose by 12.2%, absorbing some of the slack and taking exports up to 62.8% of total production. By my reckoning, that translates as an overall reduction in production, something that has been the trend throughout the last two years, as this graph shows:

Graph showing UK car and CV output, rolling year totals

CV (commercial vehicle) production has failed to keep up with the recovery in car production.

Year to date

Looked at over the longer period of the first half of this year, the picture looks even more bleak. Overall production of commercial vehicles in the UK has shrunk by 8.7% so far this year, with exports falling by 4.9% and home sales dropping by 14%.

It’s worth noting that car production is doing much better and rose by 14% in the first half of this year. Total UK car production so far this year is 756,116, while van production is just 56,096 — so the increase in car volumes more than compensates for shrinking van volumes.

Who makes vans?

The two biggest commercial vehicle manufacturers in the UK are Ford and Vauxhall. Ford’s Southampton plant makes some Transit variants, while Vauxhall’s Luton factory manufacturers the ever-popular Vivaro medium van.

There are a number of other smaller manufacturers of more specialist vehicles.

What’s next?

I have long believed that vans registrations are a barometer of the overall health of the economy. New van registrations have fallen more or less continually throughout this year.

The decline in commercial vehicle sales — especially vans — is indicative of the fact that the UK economy has not really recovered from the 2008/9 downturn and is some way from doing so. Van registrations have remained much lower than they were before the recessions, despite a growing shortage of decent quality second-hand vans.

It all adds up to a pretty bleak picture.

Warwickshire Fire & Rescue Gets New Command Support Unit

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Warwickshire Fire & Rescue Command Support Unit

Warwickshire Fire & Rescue's MacNeillie Command Support Unit

Warwickshire Fire & Rescue Service has taken delivery of one of specialist converter MacNeillie’s command support units, which are designed to provide a centralised command and communications facility for major incidents. The unit will be deployed by Warwickshire Fire & Rescue whenever five or more fire appliances are called to an incident.

Warwickshire’s new unit looks broadly the same as the Sprinter conversion taken by Merseyside Fire & Rescue last year, so it could be that this model is becoming a favourite with UK Fire & Rescue services. MacNeillie is also active in the defence industry, with models such as this one.

All systems are fully integrated within the compact overall dimensions of an extra long wheel base high roof Mercedes Sprinter 515 CDI XLWB panel van.  In transit mode, the vehicle can carry a crew of up to five, with the three rear cabin seats being suitable for forward facing travel – or swivelled for use at workstations.

The control room area is fitted with two fully equipped IT desk and screen display positions down the offside of the vehicle.  A full height 19” rack is installed on the nearside of the vehicle, which carries all the electronics required to run the CSU functionality.  An adjacent half height 19” rack houses the computer systems required to operate further functionality within the vehicle.

MacNeillie Sales and Business Development Manager, Phil Peel says:

“The systems and technology which we are now able to build into these units significantly enhances incident management and communications capability, as well as enabling critical decisions to be made with much better and more detailed levels of real-time information.  In addition, the unit can act as a central co-ordinating hub for inter-agency and external communications channels which might be required, particularly during the emergency stages of a major incident.”

Inside the MacNeillie CSU are full IT and comms facilities

Inside the MacNeillie CSU are full IT and comms facilities

A robust, heavy duty awning system is fitted to the nearside of the vehicle extending rearwards from the cab door.  When erected, it can be enclosed with separately attached side, front and skirt panels to create a 4.6m x 3.0m external briefing area.

A 40” external display screen is mounted on the nearside of the vehicle within the awning area and an adjacent fold-out workstation is available for the Incident Commander if required.

The unit can be fully self-sufficient in operation and carries an 8.0kW mains generator set, which is capable of running all onboard systems and equipment.

Input provision for external power is also included via a fully protected mains distribution board.  The rear doors open to reveal a generous equipment compartment, the roof section of which is reinforced to carry a satellite dish if required.

Apart from normal audio visual warning and conspicuity equipment, the unit also carries a public address system.  Externally, the communications antennae, for VHF, Airwave and 3G, are mounted on a 1.8 metre extendable Clark mast, together with a red / white incident control beacon.

Toyota To Sell Rebadged PSA Vans In Europe

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Toyota Hiace

Toyota Hiace panel van - discontinued in the UK from 2012

Back in January, I lamented the passing of the Toyota Hiace, puzzling over why Toyota had claimed to have no suitable Euro 5 engines, when clearly it did.

The answer may now be clear — the Japanese company will be selling rebadged PSA Peugeot Citroën vans in Europe from mid-2013. The new van will be based on the Citroën Dispatch / Peugeot Expert — near enough a direct replacement for the Hiace.

The agreement also includes collaboration on next generation vehicles which are to be produced by PSA Peugeot Citroën.  The collaboration is expected to last beyond 2020.

Toyota Motor Europe will participate in the development and industrial investment costs for the next generation product. There are no plans for the two companies to enter into capital tie-ups or joint production.

Toyota Motor Europe President and CEO, Didier Leroy:

“The Light Commercial Vehicle segment is an important one for us in many markets throughout Europe. By joining forces with PSA Peugeot Citroën, we have found a good solution for our loyal customers following the recent discontinuation of our own Hiace model.  We already enjoy a successful joint-venture partnership with PSA Peugeot Citroën in the small car segment and they are a leader in the European light commercial vehicle market, with a solid reputation for quality and versatility.”

As mentioned above, PSA and Toyota already collaborate in the small car segment — the Peugeot 107, Citroën C1 and Toyota Aygo are all the same car.

Not the real Hiace

The tie-up probably makes sense for Toyota, as it will no longer have to produce a separate version of the Hiace for European markets.

The bonneted Hiace model (pictured above) that was sold in European markets is a special European design — the standard Hiace is a cabover configuration (here’s a picture on Toyota’s Australian website). This model is the ‘real’ Hiace and sells well in Asia, the Middle East and Africa but is not acceptable in Europe — as far as I can tell, because it doesn’t comply with our crash test requirements (but I stand ready to be corrected).

Update: The European model Toyota Hiace was built at Toyota’s Ovar factory in Portgual. According to this article on Just-Auto.com, just 152 have been built so far this year and only 304 were built in 2011. It looks like the time had come for the Euro Hiace to make a dignified exit.

New Ford Transit Custom Has Best Loadspace In Class

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The new Ford Transit Custom is now on sale

The new Ford Transit Custom has now gone on sale, with first deliveries expected in November.

The new Ford Transit Custom will offer the biggest loadspace in the one-tonne class, according to Ford, which says it will be bigger and better than any previous model, offering:

  • 6m³ SAE on short wheelbase model, 6.8m³ on LWB model
  • Widest side-loading door opening (1030mm)
  • Biggest width between wheel arches (1390mm)
  • Can carry three Euro pallets in SWB model (not possible in current Transit)
  • Load-through hatch to passenger compartment for long loads (e.g. pipes)

Brentwood’s finest will also offer a rather plush-looking cab, as this photo shows — it’s worlds apart from my Mk6 Transit!

Ford Transit Custom interior

Driver and passenger space in the new Transit Custom

Not just a pretty face!

Ford says that the new model is ready for use in any global market and has undergone a thorough and demanding testing regime. Kevin Strutt is supervisor CV durability, Ford of Europe:

“The Transit Custom may look stylish and car-like, but that doesn’t mean that we’ve given it an easier time during development and testing. The Transit has a hard-earned reputation for bullet-proof reliability, and we’re confident the new model will follow in the same tradition.”

The testing regime includes the ‘Trailer Tow General Durability’ test which condenses ten years’ use into six months of 24/7 testing, much of it with a fully-laden trailer. Other tests the Transit has passed include:

  • Maximum speed “Autobahn” test simulating non-stop flat-out German Autobahn driving for two months
  • Low-speed, stop-start city drive cycles to simulate the toughest urban delivery conditions, to prove out clutches, transmission, brakes and the latest Auto-Start-Stop technologies
  • Various extreme transmission tests such as “shift cycle” and “hot-rod” for the shift mechanism, and the “bump-stop” test that uses aggressive clutch engagement to introduce very high loads into the gearbox
  • “Figure of Eight” test, which lasts over a month, puts the wheels, hubs, bearings and steering gear through their paces
  • Front doors were slammed 250,000 times to test for durability

You can’t accuse them of lacking imagination! I can’t wait to see one on the road. Any chance of a loan, Ford?