Author Archives: Van Rental

New Renault Master unveiled: more power, less fuel

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2014 New Renault Master

The new Renault Master goes on sale in June 2014

As expected, Renault has announced details of its updated Renault Master van today, to coincide with the opening of the CV Show 2014, where the updated Master has been unveiled to the world’s press.

More power please

Perhaps the biggest change is the updated range of engine choices. The 2.3 dCi engine remains, but has been updated to provide more power with lower fuel consumption and emissions.

Four power levels will be available, 110hp, 125hp, 135hp and 165hp, replacing the previous range which offered choices from 100hp to 150hp.

According to Renault, the 110hp and 125hp versions are designed to provide an attractive trade-off between price and fuel consumption, while the 135hp and 165hp will use the company’s Twin Turbo technology to provide superior performance and fuel efficiency.

Cutting fuel costs

Naturally, these Twin Turbo models will cost a little more than the basic engines, but for high mileage operators the fuel savings are likely to be worthwhile. Renault says that the 165hp version will provide a fuel-consumption saving of up to 7.3 mpg, despite delivering 15 extra horsepower and 10Nm of additional torque.

This will bring the fuel consumption of the L2H2 165hp version of the new Master up to 40.9 mpg / 180g of CO2/km.

Master for long-distance couriers?

The new Master will continue to be available in front and rear-wheel drive, but two new versions will be available — L4H2 and L4H3 models with single rear wheels.

Translated into English, this means the extra-long models will be available with a long final drive ratio and single rear wheels (rather than the rear-wheel drive model’s standard twin rear wheels). These models are designed to provide good fuel efficiency and to maximise pallet-carrying ability — attributes needed to compete directly with the Transit Jumbo and Sprinter XLWB and compete in the long-distance and courier markets.

Keeping it under control

Elsewhere, Renault has  introduced a new Trailing Swing Assist system, which automatically alternately applies the brakes and limits the delivery of engine torque when it detects excessive trailer swaying, helping to bring the trailer under control and prevent a rollover or jackknife scenario.

Finally, the van’s electronic safety systems have been updated, and all Masters now come with the latest-generation ESC with Load Adapative Control as standard, as well as optional Hill Start Assist and Grip Xtend, which optimises grip in difficult conditions, such as snow, mud and sand.

Van Rental from just £22 per day with Hertz + collect Nectar Points

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Hertz logoHertz Van Rental is currently running a promotion offering van rental from just £22 per day and the chance to collect Nectar points on your hire — remember these can be used for payment or part-payment when shopping at Sainsbury’s and Homebase.

Offer details: 5% Off and Van Rental from £22 per day with Hertz – collect Nectar Points too

Valid from: Ongoing

Promotion Code: 778636

Click here to visit the Hertz website

 

 

Terms and conditions apply, see Hertz website for details.

Nissan NV400 van gets higher spec, lower emissions

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Nissan NV400 rangeNissan has announced improvements to its NV400 range including a low emission Euro 5 engine and a number of specification upgrades on both panel vans and factory-built conversions.

The four versions of the chassis, tipper and dropside turbo engine have been replaced with a single 2.3 litre turbodiesel engine which boasts an improvement in fuel economy and sees the NV400’s CO2 emissions fall by 8g/km.

The updated variants maintain their nimble performance and generous load space, with the improvements meaning the NV400 becomes an increasingly viable option to businesses looking to reduce the emissions of their fleet.

Additional specification now included on the E grade panel van as standard includes deadlock, power mirrors, front electric windows, FM audio system with MP3 / iPod compatibility, USB / AUX socket input and Bluetooth connectivity, cargo floor load mounting hooks and immobiliser and alarm.

All panel van, crew van, tipper and dropside conversions now have a Thatcham approved Category 1 alarm and SE grade panel van, crew van and Crew Bus SE derivatives now have remote control locking with a three-button key, while the Crew Bus also has a standard immobiliser and pre-wiring for alarm.

All rear wheel drive panel vans, crew vans and chassis now come with twin rear wheels.

Nissan corporate sales director Barry Beeston commented:

“The improvements to the NV400 will further increase its appeal to businesses both large and small. Its comfort and reliability on long journeys is now matched by the efficiency of a high performance engine which will deliver tangible cost savings.

“The extra security features on both the E and the SE models will also provide drivers and fleet operators with extra peace of mind that their vehicles and loads will be safe and secure when left unattended.”

As the Nissan NV400 is a rebadged Renault Master (a van also sold as the Vauxhall Movano), then I wouldn’t be surprised to see similar updates from Renault and Vauxhall in the near future

New Fiat Ducato beats Relay & Boxer with higher GVW and auto gearbox

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Revised 2014 Fiat Ducato

The revised 2014 Fiat Ducato

Fiat has released details of its new Ducato van, one day later than its PSA partners Citroën and Peugeot, who published details of their new Relay and Boxer models yesterday.

As with previous models, all three vans are essentially the same vehicle, but also as with previous models, Fiat has chosen to put its own spin on the Ducato, resulting in some distincitive differences that could make the difference for certain groups of buyers.

The biggest change — which affects all buyers of the Ducato — is that Fiat will continue to offer its own 2.3-litre Multi Jet diesel engines, rather than the Peugeot/Citroën 2.2HDi engine. The 2.3-litre engine will be available in 110hp, 130hp and 150hp versions, and the engine range is topped with a 180hp, 3.0-litre model. (Peugeot also offers a 3.0-litre option, so perhaps it’s using the Fiat 3.0-litre Multi Jet engine too?)

The second thing that makes the Ducato stand out, especially in the European motorhome market, where it dominates all other manufacturers, is that Fiat offers its ComfortMatic automated manual transmission as an option with all engines, except the entry-level 110hp 2.3l unit. As far as I can tell, neither Peugeot nor Citroën offers an auto gearbox option for the Relay/Boxer.

The final difference between the Ducato and the Boxer/Relay is that Fiat has beefed up the suspension a little more and the heaviest Ducato model has a maximum GVW of 4.25 tonnes — 200kg more than the 4.05 tonnes on offer from the Peugeot/Citroën ranges. According to Fiat, the new Ducato will boast the best Gross Vehicle Weight (up to 4.25 tonnes); best weight on the rear axle (up to 2.5 t) and best van payload (up to 2.1 t) of the ‘single wheel’ segment.

In truth, I suspect that both the auto gearbox option and the 4.25 tonne weight option are mostly aimed at specialist conversion markets, such as the motorhome, ambulance and minibus sectors, where the extra weight will be useful and automatic gearboxes are a much more popular choice. Most van operators will be reluctant to operate vans at 4.25 tonnes, unless they really need the extra weight over a 3.5t van, as it will mean that drivers are required to use a tachograph and work to much more stringent and complex working hours regulations.

New Citroën Relay & Peugeot Boxer revealed ahead of CV Show

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New 2014 Citroen Relay

The new Citroen Relay will be unveiled at the 2014 CV Show.

Citroën has revealed details of its new Relay van ahead of its official CV Show debut next week (29 April – 1 May).

The new Relay, which will also be sold as the Peugeot Boxer, will be available in 3.0, 3.3, 3.5 & 4.005 tonne gvw formats, as well as in chassis cab format. Citroën’s Relay Specialist pre-built conversion range will be continued, enabling buyers to order Relay tippers, dropsides and Lutons direct from Citroën  dealers.

Peugeot will offer a similar range, along with its ‘back-to-back’ model — two cabs without chassis delivered as pairs for specialist conversions requiring a different chassis. These are typically used for removals vans and large motorhomes, which use larger, lower chassis platforms than conventional conversions.

As is increasingly the trend with large vans, the Relay will be powered by a single engine, a 2.2HDi, which will be available in three power outputs, 110, 130 and 150PS. Peugeot is opting for a slightly different approach, and while the same 2.2HDi engine, in 110, 130 and 150PS formats will power the bulk of Boxer vans, it is retaining a 3.0-litre HDi 180 model for buyers who are looking for a good long-distance, heavyweight performer.

Both firms will market the new panel van models in four lengths, ranging from L1 (8.0 m3 and 2.67m load length) to L4 (4.07m load length and up to 17m3 capacity). Three roof heights, H1, H2 and H3 will be available, although as with payload options, not all combinations will be possible.

New Peugeot Boxer cab interior

Inside the cab of the new Peugeot Boxer, whose sister van, the Citroen Relay, will be unveiled at the CV Show 2014.

The new vans will be front-wheel drive only, but will be available with Intelligent Traction Control/Grip Control, the PSA electronic limited slip differential system that helps provide additional traction in slippery conditions. Electronic Stability Control will be standard on all models, while a Lane Departure Warning System and Hill Descent Control will be optional extras.

Finally, both vans will boast extended service intervals of up to 30,000 miles/two years, although in my opinion, only high mileage users should even consider this: my view is that extended service intervals are one of the reasons that modern diesels suffer so many expensive problems once they get out of warranty.

I also believe that from a safety perspective, all vehicles should have an annual service: honestly, what kind of business can’t schedule half a day downtime for each of its vans, once a year, in the name of safety, reliability and durability (not to mention resale value)?

Ford reveals details of all-new Transit Courier small van

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Ford van range 2014

The all-new Transit Courier will go on sale this summer, completing Ford’s new range of Transit vans.

Ford has confirmed the specification of its all-new Transit Courier small van, which the firm hopes will take market share from the Peugeot Bipper/Citroen Nemo/Fiat Fiorino model, which is made by the French PSA group.

The Transit Courier goes on sale this summer, and is the final model to be added to Ford’s all-new four-van range, following the Transit Connect, Transit Custom and Transit.

Engine room

Transit Courier will be available with three engine choices, all of which promise outstanding fuell efficiency and low emissions:

  • 95PS 1.6-litre Duratorq TDCi diesel: 76.3mpg / 97 g/km CO2
  • 1.0-litre EcoBoost petrol: 54.3mpg / 119g/km CO2
  • 75PS 1.5-litre diesel: 72.4mpg / 103g/km CO2

All of these figures are for vans specified with Ford’s optional Auto-Start-Stop system and in some cases a 100 km/h speed limiter, but they promise impressive fuel consumption nonetheless.

Ford Transit Courier

The new Ford Transit Courier

All powertrains offer extended one-year/20,000 mile service intervals and the vehicle design has been optimised for ease of serviceability and repair.

A multi-piece rear bumper, rugged body-side protection and high-mounted front and rear lights help to reduce the cost of accident damage and lead to lower insurance premiums. Expensive fuelling errors are avoided by the unique, standard-fit, Ford Easy Fuel system.

Load up

In the load department, the Transit Courier promises a lot, too. The van will have a maximum payload of 660kg and can hold a standard Euro pallet, while the load compartment will include a number of features that should make it attractive to fleet buyers and tradesmen:

  • Longer load length at floor level of 1.62m, and easier loading of bulky items via optional sliding rear side doors (width 453mm with bulkhead)
  • Full-height, full-width steel bulkhead (glazed or unglazed), fully compliant with the internationally-recognised standards for load restraints DIN and ISO
  • Ford Transit Courier interior

    Inside the new Ford Transit Courier

    Optional folding mesh bulkhead (DIN- and ISO-compliant) and fold-dive passenger seat for longer items up to 2.59m, and maximum load volume of 2.6m3 (SAE)

  • Six cargo tie-down points (DIN- and ISO-compliant), including four rear side-mounted points to avoid obstruction of the floor area
  • Multiple pre-installed bodyside fixing points to mount racking or framework
  • Optional ultra-bright LED loadspace lighting for the van bodystyle

Safety first

Finally, Ford continues to raise the bar in terms of safety — traditionally a weak spot for many vans.

Customers can specify Ford SYNC with Emergency Assistance, the latter of which assists the occupants to call the local emergency services operator in the event of an accident, as well as Speed Limiters and a Tyre Pressure Monitoring System. The standard Electronic Stability Control system features Hill Start Assist, Traction Control and Roll-Over Mitigation.

The passenger-carrying Kombi model (effectively a crew cab) also offers side curtain airbags, knee airbags and second-row seat beltminders, in addition to cab area driver, passenger and side airbags.

As with Ford’s other new Transit models, it’s hard to see the new Transit Courier failing — Ford’s cars and vans are amongst the best in the world at the moment, and while it may lack the cachet of the German brands, Ford’s new vehicles don’t want for anything in terms of quality, driveability, practicality or safety.

You won’t find one of these vans at your local van hire firm

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Eskimo Express dual compartment van by Paneltex Somers

One of Eskimo Express’ new Paneltex Somers dual compartment conversions — the temperature difference between the two compartments can be up to 50C!

For most van users, a standard panel van, perhaps with some racking or tie-down points, is all that’s necessary, making it relatively easy to source replacements from hire companies and van dealers.

However, some van operators have much more demanding requirements. One example is specialist courier Eskimo Express, which runs a fleet of 20 temperature controlled vehicles and does a lot of work for the pharmaceutical industry, transporting materials all over Europe.

The firm’s latest vans are Citroën  Relay models with high-specification dual compartment bodies that enable the Citroëns to operate at -25°C in one compartment and +25°C in the other. This means it’s now possible for Eskimo Express to use one vehicle for jobs that previously required two.

Of course, building a conversion like this isn’t simple: consider the level of insulation needed to effectively separate two compartments that might have a temperature differential of 50°C.

Chertsey-based Eskimo Express sourced the new vans from Norwich-based refrigerated body manufacturer Paneltex Somers. Each van uses Paneltex’s Flexi-Temp bulkhead system to provide effective separation between the two compartments, and Tony Colato from Eskimo Express says that the firm hasn’t found any other converters which can offer such high quality refrigerated conversions:

“Much of our courier work is specifically for the pharmaceutical industry and we have found that, apart from Paneltex Somers, no other vehicle body manufacturer can manufacture such a high level of refrigerated conversion that is ideally suited to this industry. Our vehicles work extremely hard, on deliveries and collections all over Europe, so the reliability and consistent performance achieved by our refrigerated vehicles is vital to the success of the business.”

The new Citroën  Relay vans are both L3H2 (long wheelbase medium-high roof) models and the Paneltex Somers conversions have been completed to ATP Certification Class C, which is recognised as the gold standard for refrigerated conversions in Europe. The Flexi-Temp bulkhead has can be secured in two positions, allowing the relative sizes of each compartment to be changed, to suit the loads being carried.

Each van has Europe-wide satellite tracking and twin temperature recorders, ensuring that the load’s integrity is never questioned and that clients have full visibility of ‘their’ van’s location at all times.

Definitely not your average van.

UK van parc up 29% as lorry numbers decline

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The number of vans on UK roads rose by 29% to 3.3m between 2002 and 2012, with the biggest rise in the north east, where van numbers rose by 82.5% over the ten-year period.

A new report commissioned by the RAC Foundation found that every tenth vehicle on UK roads is now a light commercial vehicle, but said that over the same period, car numbers had risen by just 11% to 28.7m.

Interestingly, the number of lorries on British roads fell by 5% to 460,000 between 2002 and 2012 — suggesting that perhaps some lorry traffic has moved into vans, either for reasons of load efficiency, or more worryingly, because the van sector is very lightly regulated compared to the heavy goods sector, and drivers are cheaper to employ, are not required to have an additional driving licence, and are not required to use a tachograph to monitor their working hours.

Here is the full table, showing the changing number of vans on UK roads between 2002 and 2012:

REGION Number of vans – 2002 Number of vans – 2012 % change 2012 on 2002
North East

77,300

141,000

82.5%
South West

270,100

391,100

44.8%
Wales

124,400

176,000

41.4%
Scotland

174,600

241,500

38.3%
South East

388,700

526,400

35.4%
Yorks & Humber

182,000

246,000

35.2%
East Midlands

220,600

278,000

26%
West Midlands

307,900

382,000

24.1%
East

274,000

330,300

20.6%
London

194,000

203,000

4.7%
North West

282,500

294,500

4.2%
GREAT BRITAIN

2,542,300

3,280,600

29%

(Source: Department for Transport)

The RAC report concluded that while an increase in internet shopping and home deliveries was one possible contributing factor to the increasing number of vans on our roads, there wasn’t sufficient data to draw a definite conclusion — in other words, the reports authors didn’t have any idea why van numbers have shot up so fast.

Alarm fleet switch to Mercedes-Benz Citan sounds warning for competitors

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Abel Alarm Company Mercedes-Benz CitanThe Mercedes-Benz Citan appears to be making solid inroads into the small van sector, eroding the market share of the primarily French companies who formerly dominated this sector, along with the Ford Transit Connect.

Despite being based on the Renault Kangoo — in itself a good van — the Citan seems to have succeeded in capturing the core Mercedes virtues of build quality, reliability, prestige and cost-effectiveness. One of the latest converts to the Citan’s cause is high-end security technology firm, Abel Alarm Company.

The Leicester-based firm, one of the UK’s largest privately owned providers of electronic security systems, purchased its first three Citans from city Dealer Mertrux. All Long-bodied 109 CDI models, they have joined its fleet of 55 light commercial vehicles.

Abel Alarms’ Fleet Administrator Lisa Smith says the company plans to buy more Citans as its other vans fall due for replacement:

“We’ve been sourcing our fleet from another manufacturer for a long time, but last year conducted a comprehensive evaluation of all the alternatives,” she explains.

“We trialled demonstration units from various suppliers and gave them a thorough workout. We also turned some over to our engineers, and asked them to rate the vans against a series of criteria, with scores of one to five.

“Most of the vehicles we looked at scored highly in some areas, less so in others. But the Mercedes-Benz Citan stood out, achieving fours and fives across the board. It was far and away the best and most popular choice, and definitely the most cost-effective van we could buy.”

Launched last year, the Citan marks the entry of Mercedes-Benz into the small van market. The range combines impressive fuel efficiency of up to 65.7 mpg with CO2 emissions as low as 112 g/km, and is packed with clever features such as a folding bulkhead, to provide maximum load length as well as protection for the driver.

“Fuel economy and overall running costs were high on our list of criteria,” continues Lisa Smith. “As well as returning excellent mpg figures, the Citan offers long service intervals which translate into lower maintenance costs and less downtime.

“Another benefit is the standard three-year, unlimited mileage manufacturer’s warranty,” she continues. “Our engineers cover the whole country from a network of 13 depots throughout the UK, and they each rack up around 25-30,000 miles per year. It’s reassuring to know their vehicles are fully covered, no matter how far they drive.”

Established in 1965, Abel Alarm Company provides security systems to large businesses and public sector organisations such as universities and hospitals, as well as small- and medium-sized enterprises and residential customers – it numbers high-profile sports and media personalities among its clients.