Author Archives: Van Rental

New Mercedes V-Class Delivers MPV Luxury

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New Mercedes-Benz V-ClassMercedes-Benz has released the first official images of its new V-Class, the luxury MPV version of the Vito/Viano minibus.

The new V-Class will come to the UK in early 2015, and I also expect to see a new model Vito van around that time, too, as the models are built on the same platform, and are, essentially, the same vehicle.

The new V-Class ups the stakes in the luxury van-based MPV department.

Mercedes says that the new V-Class will be “the perfect vehicle for everyone who appreciates great spaciousness but does not want to sacrifice style and comfort”, and it’s easy to see why from photos like this:

New 2015 Mercedes-Benz V-CLass

Inside the new V-Class, expected to reach the UK in 2015.

The V-Class will be powered by state-of-the-art 2.1-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel engine with two-stage turbocharging, which has already been used successfully in a number of Mercedes’ cars, and has been tweaked further for use in this MPV model.

The standard model offers 163hp and 380Nm of torque, with combined cycle fuel economy of 46.9mpg and CO2 emissions of 149g/km. There will also be a more powerful 190hp version, designed to replace the outgoing model’s 3.0-litre V6 diesel option.

All V-Class models will include the Mercedes-Benz Intelligent Drive system, which a combination of eleven driver assistance systems that use radar, camera and ultrasound sensors to control safety systems such as Crosswind Assist and Attention Assist, which is a fatigue detection system.

A wide range of other safety and convenience systems will be optionally available, as will several seating configuration options and a raft of luxury features, such as leather seats, wood-look trim, multi-zone climate control, LED headlamps, electric rear windscreen and Agility Control suspensions.

Once the new V-Class hits UK shores, you may be able to hire one from your local car or minibus hire company (click here to compare prices on MPV and minibus hire) — although these are more likely to be rented out under luxury car tariffs than minibus tariffs, with lower spec models such as the Viano/Vito 9-seater available for minibus use.

Kate & Pippa Take To Road In QMS Sprinters

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One of QMS' new Mercedes-Benz Sprinters

One of QMS’ new Mercedes-Benz Sprinters, ‘Kate’.

The most famous ‘named’ vehicles on UK roads are probably those operated by haulier Eddie Stobart, but it’s a surprisingly popular practice.

Take road marking and specialist surfacing business Quality Marking Services, for example.

The firm’s seven-truck fleet is all named, and when it took delivery of two brand-new Sprinters recently, QMS invited its customers and staff members to suggest a pair of sisters’ names for the new vans.

The most popular choices — “by a landslide”, according to Greg Clark, QMS operations director, were Kate and Pippa, a.k.a. the Duchess of Cambridge and her sister.

Based in Newton Abbot, the new Sprinters are 313 CDi models that carry a variety of equipment and materials for use in applying internal markings, such as those found on the floors of warehouses, factories and supermarket aisles.

All-New Ford Transit Connect Is A Hit With Mears Group

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Deliveries of the all-new Ford Transit Connect van have begun to Mears Group – a major building maintenance services provider – which is receiving its first 100 new Fords this month.

The all-new Ford Transit Connect, and its larger sibling the Ford Transit Custom, were key models helping to secure a five-year contract with Mears, with Ford supplying up to 1,000 light commercial vehicles a year. The Gloucester-based company expanded its fleet last year and now manages 4,300 vans and 700 cars nationwide.

Mears Group asset manager, Jo Hammonds, said:

“The new Ford Transit Connect’s fresh styling, greater load space, better economy, emissions and whole-life costs are the factors which make it a very attractive prospect for us.”

Ford Transit Connect operated by Mears Group

Deliveries of 100 all-new Ford Transit Connect have begun to Mears Group.

Mears’ vans are used by the company’s 16,000-strong workforce to provide response and planned maintenance services to local authorities and registered social landlords, delivering 6,000 repairs a day to a portfolio of nearly one million properties.

The all-new Ford Transit Connect offers practicality and flexibility as standard, providing up to 3.6m³ of load space in long wheelbase models, and can carry up to 1,000kg of cargo.

An ingenious load-through bulkhead also accommodates long load items up to 3m, while the flexible dual front passenger seat means three occupants can sit comfortably in the front.

Transit Connect is offered with a choice of advanced petrol and diesel engines, including the award-winning 1.0-litre three-cylinder EcoBoost petrol engine, which delivers 100PS and 170Nm of torque with a six-speed manual transmission. Combined with other fuel-saving technologies, such as Auto-Start-Stop, it achieves fuel savings of up to 24%, and CO2 emissions that are up to 25% lower than the previous model.

Merc Dealer Intercounty Makes Demo Vans More Useful

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Intercounty Mercedes-Benz Citan demonstrator

One of Intercounty’s Mercedes-Benz Citan demonstrators, complete with internal racking and Masternaut telematics.

If you’ve ever test driven a car or van before buying it, you’ll know that most test drives only provide a very limited idea of a vehicle’s capability — in most cases, all you’re able to do is check that it works properly and doesn’t have any obvious problems.

Commercial vehicle dealers often make vans available for longer demo periods — days or even weeks — and that can work well for hauliers and couriers, who typically don’t require any special fittings or customisation; they simply load it up with pallets or boxes and drive it around their usual routes.

However, there are a significant number of van buyers who do need a lot of customisation. The UK’s army of mobile technicians, service engineers and tradesmen tend to have their vans fitted with various combinations of internal racking, roof racks and customised load compartments  — and then there is the question of telematics, which are increasingly widely used by all van operators, but normally missing from demo vans.

Wellingborough-based Intercountry Truck & Van recently decided to try and make some of its Mercedes-Benz demonstrators more useful, by fitting them with top quality racking and telematics, so that customers who use their vans as mobile workshops could have a realistic idea of how Merc’s latest models might perform in service.

Intercounty teamed up with racking manufacturer Bott, and telematics specialist Masternaut, to target businesses from the service sector – plumbers and telecoms engineers, for example. Intercounty is now offering demonstrators from the three model lines that make up the current Mercedes-Benz van family: the Citan, the Vito and the recently launched new Sprinter.

Each has been fitted with space-efficient Bott racking and a Mastenaut telematics system, allowing would-be customers to gain an accurate impression of the vehicle’s performance with their own working environment. Steve Shakespeare, Dealer Principal at Intercounty Truck & Van, explains:

“It makes no sense when you’re trying to win orders from service providers, to give them an empty van for trial.

“What are they to do with it? They can’t put it to work to see how it performs in a real life situation, because it’s not properly kitted out to carry their tools and equipment. Nor do they have the very latest in telematics solutions, with which to measure accurately the van’s impressive fuel economy, monitor the driver’s style and behaviour, or utilise mapping software to aid their own efficiency.

The new fully-specced van demonstrators are already proving popular with operators.  Intercounty has three models:

  • A Citan 109 CDI Long fitted with Bott’s ‘Modulo’ racking, which can be configured and ordered online, and home-fitted in just 60 minutes;
  • A Vito 113 CDI Long, with robust and affordable ‘Uno’ racking, and
  • A new model Sprinter 313 CDI Long, with lightweight, reinforced racking from Bott’s ‘Vario’ range.

All three vehicles have also been equipped by Masternaut with telematics systems that feature ‘eco-drive’ driver-awareness software, which can improve vehicle economy by 10-15%; ‘live’ dynamic map-based tools for best-in-class business reporting, and tax & expense manager, a system claimed to be “the most accurate mileage collection technology on the market”.

The vans are available by arrangement from Intercounty’s branches at Boston, Lincoln, Milton Keynes and Peterborough.

Van Driving On Ice: Stay Safe This Winter

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Snow covered car

Don’t be one of those idiots who just scrapes a ‘porthole’ clear on the windscreen and drives along peering through it, unable to see anything around them. Clear the windscreen and the side windows completely before driving off.

Based on the view out of my window this morning, cold winter weather finally seems to be arriving in the UK — and with it the icy mornings and evenings that catch out so many drivers each year.

The traction problems caused by snow and ice can be reduced by using winter or all-season tyres, but even if you use these cold weather-rated tyres on your own car, you will find that virtually all hire vans in the UK come with ‘standard’ summer tyres.

These provide very little grip in snow or ice — not ideal if you’re driving an unfamiliar hire van laden with your personal possessions or a valuable delivery of business goods.

Driving tips for icy conditions

With the help of Peter Rodger, who is the Institute of Advanced Motorist’s chief examiner, I’ve put together six key tips for driving safely in icy conditions. By following these tips, you can reduce the chance of being involved in a cold weather-related crash and keep your van, and yourself, safe.

  1. Keep to main roads where possible, as they’re more likely to be salted. Also bear in mind that after the frost has gone, ice can remain in areas which are shaded by trees and buildings – and it forms there first, so be careful in the evening as the temperature drops.
  2. It may seem obvious to say, but every year people forget to make sure that they have de-icer and a scraper in their vehicles. If you’re driving a hire van you’ll need to provide your own, so make sure you have a spare or ‘borrow’ them from your car. Whatever you do, don’t be one of those people who only scrape a small area of glass clear and drive along looking through a slit – clear the whole windscreen to be able to see properly, otherwise you are a danger to yourself and other road users.
  3. If the road is slippery when you start off, do it in second gear, releasing the clutch and accelerating gently, avoiding high revs – this will help prevent wheel spin.  As you drive, stay in higher gears to help avoid wheelspin.
  4. It seems obvious, but cars and vans go in ditches every winter because drivers haven’t taken icy roads seriously enough.  If it’s cold outside, treat wet looking patches with great care – they could be ice, not water.
  5. Stopping distances are increased by up to 10 times in icy conditions, so leave plenty of distance between your van and the vehicle in front – plan so that you’re not relying on your brakes to stop, as they may not have any effect in icy conditions. If it is really slippery, slow down early, and use the gears to do it.
  6. If your van loses grip and starts to slide sideways, take your foot off the accelerator, and point the front wheels where you want to go.

Rodger is keen to emphasise that your attitude and mental preparation are key to staying safe on the roads in winter conditions:

“Being mentally prepared as well as having the right equipment is vital, so think about any problems you encountered last winter, and what you need to do to avoid them or overcome them if they recur this year.”

I agree, and suspect that many drivers get into trouble in winter conditions because they simply don’t know — and haven’t ever been taught (or learned) the correct way to drive in snow and ice.

Rodger’s tips make a great starting point, and I’d strongly recommend you read through them a couple of times to ensure that you know what to do when you are faced with an icy road or snowy conditions on a journey you can’t avoid.

Vauxhall Props Up UK CV Manufacturing As Output Drops 22% In 2013

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Vauxhall Vivaro - built in Britain

Vauxhall built 44,657 Vivaro vans at Luton in 2013 — more than half of all commercial vehicles manufactured in the UK last year.

Despite the 14.7% rise in commercial vehicle registrations last year, British commercial vehicle manufacturers had a fairly dire year, producing 21.7% fewer vehicles than in 2012.

In total, 87,671 commercial vehicles (vans and trucks) were produced in 2013, down from 112,039 in 2012.

However, things would have been far worse without UK van stalwart Vauxhall, which produced 44,657 Vivaro vans at its Luton plant last year — more than half the UK’s total commercial vehicle output.

Vauxhall has stayed loyal to the UK, despite the departure of Ford for Turkish shores last summer, and the new model Vivaro, which is due to be introduced later this year, will also be made at Luton.

It’s the twelfth consecutive year that Vauxhall has been the UK’s biggest van manufacturer, and the firm has already invested more than €200m in preparing to manufacturer the new model Vivaro at Luton, where it employs 1,200 people directly.

Commenting on the figures for the UK CV manufacturing industry as a whole, Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, said:

“Production of commercial vehicles struggled in 2013, due to restructuring of manufacturing operations and difficult economic conditions across Europe. With early signs of recovery on the continent and better performance in the truck and bus sectors, there are reasons to be positive, but we expect overall volumes to remain subdued for some months yet.”

The final month of 2013 saw a 25% fall in CV manufacturing output, and the European weakness referred to by Mr Hawes was evident in the year-long figures, which showed a 24.8% drop in export demand for UK-made CVs:

CV manufacturing Dec-12 Dec-13 % Change YTD-12 YTD-13 % Change
Total 6,851 5,136 -25.0% 112,039 87,671 -21.7%
Home 3,301 1,014 -69.3% 48,306 39,761 -17.7%
Export 3,550 4,122 16.1% 63,733 47,910 -24.8%
% export 51.8% 80.3% 56.9% 54.6%

Data courtesy of SMMT (www.smmt.co.uk)

However, perhaps the simplest way to see what’s changed is to take a look at this graph, which shows UK CV output since 2007:

UK CV output 2007 - 2013

UK CV output 2007 – 2013

It’s pretty clear that even if the UK population likes UK-built cars (and it does), it isn’t so keen on UK-built CVs.

BCA Introduces Video Appraisal For Van Auctions

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BCA LCV auction

Buyers at many BCA commercial vehicle auctions will now be able to inspect vehicles online, prior to the auction, using BCA’s online video appraisal service.

Buying a vehicle through an online auction may go against the grain for many buyers, but as the success of eBay Motors has shown, it’s both workable and popular.

Vehicle auctioneers BCA picked up on this theme some time ago and offers a Live Online service allowing buyers to bid online.

However, the firm hasn’t rested on its laurels — BCA has spent the last year trialling an online video appraisal service for commercial vehicles that makes it much easier to inspect and select vehicles to bid on prior to the auction.

Buyers can use BCA’s Commercial Vehicle Video Appraisal service this to make absentee bids or to cut down viewing time before auctions starts, and after last year’s trials, the video appraisal service is being rolled out to “many of the biggest blue chip vendors of light commercial vehicles” in 2014, according to BCA.

BCA’s General Manager Commercial Vehicles Duncan Ward says that videos help boost prices:

“Average residual value performance increased notably when our Vehicle Video Appraisal service was used as part of the pre-sale marketing and first-time sale percentages improved.  Buyer response was overwhelmingly positive and the service proved very popular with BCA Live Online bidders.”

BCA uses the latest generation tablet technology to produce a 360-degree video of the vehicle’s interior, exterior, roof and loadbay condition. The video runs in HD format on PC, tablet and mobile devices and takes 2 minutes to view with a fast scroll option if required. It also offers multiple still images with a zoom feature, to give buyers more flexibility. The video appraisals are accessed through the online BCA stock locator (bca.co.uk).

BCA polled its buyer customers about the new service during the pilot period. Over 70% of buyers polled said BCA’s Online Video Appraisals give them the confidence to bid higher, while 73% said they would be more confident to bid via Live Online.  72% said they would recommend the stock to friends/other buyers. LCV dealers said it gave them the opportunity to pre-sell stock to potential retail customers.

Ward commented:

“Buyers – including those from overseas – have said the videos are the next best thing to being there in person, proof indeed that this latest innovation from BCA helps maximise buying power and residual values for fleet vendors.”

Fiat Van Sales Rise By 70% In 2013 As Van Market Rebounds

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Fiat Doblo Cargo Tecnico

Fiat Doblo Cargo Tecnico

Van sales finally begun to rebound last year, but some manufacturers fared better than others in terms of sales growth — and near the top of the pile was Fiat Professional, the firm’s van division, which recorded 70% increase in UK sales, which rose to 13,500 in 2013.

The rise took Fiat’s share of the UK light commercial vehicle (LCV) market to 4.4%, a new UK record for Fiat, which has traditionally been stronger in continental Europe. Fiat claims that its 70% growth rate was ‘twice the rate of growth of its nearest rival’  and that when passenger variants and 4t Ducato vans are taken into account, its total share of the UK LCV market rose to 5.1%.

The growth leapfrogged Fiat to 8th place in the UK LCV market, but its vans have always been more popular in continental Europe, where it is the third largest LCV manufacturer in terms of market share and the leading supplier of motorhome base vehicles, underpinning approximately two-thirds of motorhomes built in 2013.

The sales results come on top of a critically successful year for FIAT Professional in the UK. In 2013 the brand and its products scooped a host of major awards from numerous influential UK publications including (in chronological order) VansA2Z, Trade Van Driver, Fleet Van World, GreenFleet, Fleet Van and What Van?

Banbury Council’s 4X4 Fuso Canter Is Snow Joke

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Banbury Council 4x4 Fuso Canter

Banbury Town Council’s 4×4 FUSO Canter is equipped for snow clearing and off-road duties and will be used to help distribute grit and keep minor roads clear in winter conditions.

I’m always a sucker for any 4×4 vans and small lorries, and Banbury Council’s latest acquisition, a 6.5t, 4×4 Fuso Canter is a fine example.

Equipped with a demountable snow plough blade and grit hopper, it also has a dropside body a 5.0 tonne/metre Hiab XS 055 crane that can lift one-tonne bags of grit, Banbury Council hopes that the Canter will be a key weapon in its mission to keep the town moving when it snows.

The Canter’s arrival coincides with the recruitment by Banbury Town Council of teams of volunteer ‘snow wardens’, who are being provided with shovels, high visibility jackets and gloves, as well as training sessions on how to clear snow effectively and safely from minor roads and pavements in their neighbourhoods.

The authority hopes to be able to call upon some 200 of these wardens when temperatures plummet. Town Council Leader Kieron Mallon was inspired to launch the scheme after one of his constituents was unable to get his frozen car off his drive last winter to take his daughter – who was in labour – to hospital, because the grit bin in his street was empty.

“We want volunteers to link with each other so there will be a co-ordinated response to clearing the roads,” he says. “It’s a good use of council tax payers’ money if we can keep Banbury moving in adverse weather conditions, so people can still go about their daily lives.”

The 4×4 model combines the road-going Canter’s well-established virtues of rugged reliability and low running costs, with high traction, a limited slip differential on the rear axle, and a body and payload allowance of up to 3,880 kg. The 4×4 chassis is also significantly higher than standard Canter variants, the increased ground clearance allowing uneven terrain and steep slopes to be tackled with confidence.

Banbury’s FUSO Canter has a 129 kW (175 hp) engine and five-speed manual gearbox with dashboard-mounted shift lever for easy cross-cab access. Drive to the front axle can be selected or disengaged on the move, to maximise the efficient engine’s excellent fuel economy.

Now, all we need is some snow!

Renault, Citroën & Volkswagen Collect Awards At Business Van Of The Year

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Several of the UK’s most popular vans picked up a awards at the inaugural Business Van of the Year Awards today, presented by Business Vans. Here are some of the highlights of today’s event.

City Van Award

Citroen Nemo van

Citroen Nemo van

The Citroën Nemo was the judges’ choice in the City Van category, thanks to its compact dimensions, high payload and low running costs — the Nemo is only 3.86m long, but has a high 660kg payload and a large 2.5m3 (extendable to 2.8 m3) load compartment, which can accommodate a Euro pallet, or load lengths of up to 2,493mm with the standard Extenso® front passenger seat folded flat.

Combined cycle fuel consumption of up to 62.8mpg means that fuel costs can be kept under control, while CO2 emissions of just under 119g/km ensure that the van’s environmental credentials aren’t questioned.

The final clincher for the Nemo was probably Citroën’s strong presence in the SME and small fleet markets. Since the Nemo is also available from Peugeot (as the Bipper) and Fiat (as the Fiorino), Citroën’s UK Business Centre network is one of the few ways of differentiating between the three company’s offerings — and there aren’t really any other van models that compete directly in this category.

Small & Green…

Renault Kangoo Van Z.E. electric van

The Renault Kangoo Van Z.E. electric van has already sold more than 11,000 units, making it the best-selling electric van in Europe.

The Renault Kangoo was the victor in two categories, taking home the awards for both Small Trades Van and Green Van of the Year, in the form of the all-electric Kangoo Van Z.E.

Proving that the presence of the Kangoo-based Citan hasn’t reduced the appeal of Renault’s offering, judge Ralph Morton, Business Van Manager’s editorial director, said that:

“The small trades van sector is supremely competitive, but the Kangoo wins for us because it’s the best example of how a small trades van can appeal to a wide variety of users in many business sectors.”

It’s a notable victory against the all-conquering Citroën Berlingo, and the judges acknowledged that Renault’s electric offering, the multi-award winnning Kangoo Van Z.E., is also a strong real-world performer, with Mr Morton describing it as, “an excellent choice for small businesses wanting to operate a green van in city environments”.

The Germans make it five

Volkswagen Transporter Sportline

The Volksagen Transporter was the Business Van judges choice for Van of the Year.

Renault managed two awards, but Volkswagen went three better and left the awards ceremony with no fewer than five titles. The German marque’s ever-popular Transporter van was the judges’ choice in the Van of the Year and Best Large Trades Van categories, with judge Ralph Morton describing the Transporter as “the ideal all-rounder for the trades, offering quality, value and reliability in equal measure”.

Meanwhile, the Crafter picked up the award for Best Heavy Van, beating the ever-popular Sprinter to the title, thanks in part to the reduced running costs provided by its BlueMotion specification.

Finally, the Volkswagen’s big pick-up, the Amarok, romped home with the Best Utility Pick-Up and Best Double Cab awards, with Mr Morton describing the Amarok as “delivering high standards of quality and reliability. Everything you would expect from a Volkswagen”.

Away from the vehicles, Volkswagen also won the Best Service Package for Van Owners award, thanks to the “service offering and back-up provided by the brand’s dedicated Van Centre network”

Today’s Judges included Mark Cartwright, head of vans and light commercial vehicles at FTA (Freight Transport Association), Marcus Puddy, director of commercial vehicles with the biggest leasing company in the UK, LexAutolease, Richard Bunn, director of White Hot Vans, Eddie Parker, fleet LCV consultant at GE Capital Fleet Services, Rod Lloyd, managing director of Low Cost Vans, and chairman Keith Hawes, managing director of Magma Automotive Services.