Fleet van autumn17 webfull

THE OFFICIAL IRISH JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL VAN OF THE YEAR & INTERNATIONAL PICK-UP AWARDS

Volume 14. No 2. Autumn 2017

FEATURES

Ford continues to pioneer with New Transit Custom

VIEWPOINT: Northgate Vehicle Hire REVIEW: National Ploughing Exhibition LAUNCH PAD: MAN TGE • Renault Alaskan MARKETPLACE: LCV Update CANDIDATES: International Van of the Year & International Pick-up Awards

www.volkswagenvans.ie

The difference between spending and investing.

Up to**

€4,an0t C0on0tribution EcoGr

Invest in a new Volkswagen Van. Enjoy 0% HP finance* before December 31st.

You don’t just buy a Volkswagen Van. You invest in your business. With 0% HP Finance across the range, now’s the time to give yours an asset it can always depend on. Plus, scrap any Euro 1-4 diesel car or van and you’ll get an EcoGrant contribution of up to €4,000 towards the cost of a new Caddy, Transporter or Crafter. For full details visit volkswagenvans.ie, call into your local Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles dealer or call 1850 812 762. *Typical Finance Example (HP): Caddy PV TDI 75HP M5F. OTRP €18,265. Deposit / Part Exchange €5,701. 36 monthly payments of €349. Total cost of credit €0.00. Minimum deposit is 19%. Subject to lending criteria. This offer is made under a business hire purchase agreement. Volkswagen Bank GmbH Branch Ireland is authorised by the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority in Germany and regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland for conduct of business rules.

This offer is subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time. **EcoGrant offer is available to retail customers with orders submitted from 8th September 2017 until 31st December 2017. This offer cannot be used in conjunction with other existing 172/181 Volkswagen offers and does not apply to fleet sales. Contribution of €2,000 incl. VAT on Caddy and €4,000 incl. VAT on Transporter and Crafter. Registration of qualifying units can be in 2017 or up to 30th June 2018. The EcoGrant is available for owners of all makes of vehicles and not restricted to Volkswagen owners. Vehicles being scrapped must have been registered in the name of the purchaser of the new vehicle for at least 6 months prior to the date of registration of the new vehicle. Qualifying trade in vehicles must be scrapped within 60 days (before or after new vehicle registration date) at an approved end of life authorised vehicle treatment facility (ELV).

California and Amarok are excluded from EcoGrant offer. Please contact your local Volkswagen dealer for full details.

www.fleet.ie | 3

Contents Autumn 2017

Fleet Van & Utility holds the Chairmanship of the International Van of the Year Jury

4 News • Versalift has new owners • Volkswagen CV continues with Marie Keating Foundation • Presenting the StreetScooter EV • Isuzu’s Artic Truck’s D-Max • Leisure concepts from VWCV • Fiat Professional at Caravan Salon

21 Review I IAA Frankfurt Motor Show 2017

8 Viewpoint From Northgate Vehicle Hire

25 Candidates Ii International Pick-up Award 2018 contenders

10 Cover New Ford Transit Custom Fleet Van & Utility Magazine, D’Alton Street, Claremorris, County Mayo, Ireland.

Tel: +353 (0)94 9372819 Fax: +353 (0)94 9373571 Email: enquiries@fleet.ie Subscription Hotline: 094 93 72827 Editor: Jarlath Sweeney Contributors: Cathal Doyle, Rob Van Dieten, Paul White, Gerry Murphy

Photography: Jarlath Sweeney, Cathal Doyle, Rob Van Dieten, Paul White, Gerry Murphy Administration: Orla Sweeney, Denise Owens, Paula Mullarkey Advertising: Mary Morrissey, Orla Sweeney Design: Eamonn Wynne Printed in Ireland

Disclaimer: Fleet Van&Utility Magazine management can accept no responsibility for the accuracy of contributed articles or statements appearing in this magazine and any views or opinions expressed are not necessarily those of Fleet Transport management, save where otherwise indicated. No responsibility for loss or distress occasioned to any person acting or refraining from acting as a result of the material in this publication can be accepted by the authors, contributors, Editors or publishers.

The Editor reserves the right to make publishing decisions on any advertisements or editorial article submitted to the magazine and to refuse publication or to edit any editorial material as seems appropriate to him. Professional legal advice should always be sought in relation to any specific matter.

12 New Fleet New Mercedes-Benz vans & Volkswagen commercials 14 Launch Pad I Introducing the MAN TGE 16 Fleeting Shots Featuring stories from around the globe

22 Review II National Ploughing Championships, Tullamore 24 Candidates 1 International Van of the Year 2018 contenders

26 Marketplace Lowdown on current state of the LCV nation 28 Round Trip Touring Britain in a Renault Trafic 9-seater 30 Product Update Latest from LDV

P6

18 Launch Pad II Renault Alaskan is set to arrive 20 Product Briefing From Volkswagen CV Ireland

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4 | NEWS I

Versalift changes from Irish ownership to American

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ersalift, the manufacturer of commercial vehicle mounted aerial lifts primarily for the telecom and electricity utility markets, which has been owned by the O’Flaherty family for over forty years, has been sold.

In recent months the O’Flaherty Holdings subsidiary Time Manufacturing Company, which operated the Versalift based division, has been taken over by the Sterling Group, a middle market private equity company based in Houston, Texas, USA. The value of the transition was not disclosed.

Time Manufacturing Company is headquartered in Wako, Texas and is a market leader in Europe with a strong presence in Denmark, UK and France in particular.

According to media reports, the O’Flaherty family was keen to sell its Time business following the death of Nigel O’Flaherty, the company Chairman in 2016. O’Flaherty Holding’s name is synonymous with the Mercedes-Benz brand in Ireland as well as owning a number of car and commercial vehicle dealerships across Dublin.

Commenting on the sale, Charles Wiley, CEO of Time Manufacturing Company said: “Sterling is the right partner for Time as we continue to pursue the significant growth opportunities that exist for the company today. The Time team is

excited to partner with Sterling, and together we expect continued success in this next phase of our company’s history.”

“The team at Time has built the company into an industry leader that provides outstanding products and services to its customers, and we look forward to further supporting their future growth,” added Kent Wallace, a Partner at The Sterling Group.

“Sterling has a long history of partnering with management teams of family - and entrepreneur-owned businesses in the industrial sector.”

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles Ireland continues partnership with the Marie Keating Foundation

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fter four years of supporting the Marie Keating Foundation, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles has increased the sponsorship deal in providing a second Volkswagen Caddy van to assist with the vital work that the Foundation staff and volunteers undertake in their daily schedule.

“The support we receive from Volkswagen is immeasurable. Since 2013 we have had a Volkswagen Caddy Maxi van which enables us to transport all materials and merchandise to events and seminars, where needed. This year, Volkswagen has gone the extra mile by making available a second Caddy for our nurses, so now they can reach people in remote areas that our Mobile Units cannot. Th is is helping us to get our vital message to people on the importance of early detection of cancer, prevention and support following their diagnosis. We cannot thank Volkswagen enough for their support and we hope they realise just how much they are not just supporting the Marie Keating

FLEETVAN&UTILITY | Autumn 2017

Foundation but also the people of Ireland. For this we are truly grateful,” expressed Linda Keating, Fundraising Director of Marie Keating Foundation in gratitude.

Commenting on the partnership, Kim Kilduff, Head of Sales & Marketing, at Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles Ireland, (pictured left with Linda

Keating) said: “The work the Foundation undertakes daily touches the lives of so many people in Ireland. We are delighted to continue our relationship and donate a second Caddy to the Marie Keating Foundation to assist in further development of the Foundation going into 2018. We wish them all the best for the year ahead.”

NEWS 1I | 5

Deutsche Post DHL Group & Ford present StreetScooter EV

I

ntroducing StreetScooter WORK XL, a new concept based on the 2-tonne Ford Transit chassis. It is fitted with a battery-electric drivetrain and features a body designed and built to Deutsche Post DHL specifications.

Deutsche Post DHL, StreetScooter and Ford plan to build 2,500 e-vans by the end of 2018.

During 2017, around 150 early build e-vans will be manufactured in the StreetScooter plant in Aachen, Germany. Deutsche Post DHL will use the e-vans to support its urban parcel delivery service in Germany.

Each WORK XL could save around five tonnes of CO2 and 1,900 litres of diesel fuel each year. With 2,500 vehicles in service as planned, this could result in a total saving of 12,500 tonnes of CO2 and 4.75 million litres of fuel every year.

The WORK XL will have a load volume of 20 cubic metres and provides storage space for more than 200 parcels. The e-van is fitted with a modular battery system delivering 30 kWh to 90 kWh of power, giving it a range of between 80 km and 200 km.

The WORK XL not only is different in size and range from its sister vans produced by StreetScooter - the WORK (4 cubic metres load volume) and the WORK L (8 cubic metres load volume) – but differs also in terms of the body construction.

The WORK XL’s load area is fitted with shelves and is accessible from the driver’s cab. The vehicle can be loaded via the tailgate and a kerb-side sliding door. With a charging capacity of up to 22 kW, the average charging time is three hours.

Isuzu’s Dream Extreme D-Max: Arctic Trucks AT35

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n iconic vehicle, even before its time. The Isuzu D-Max Arctic Trucks AT35 sets itself apart from the other players in the market and draws big interest at motor and trade shows across the globe. Now, the new generation D-Max has done all of its muscle building training and is ready to wear the Arctic Trucks AT35 gear.

The Isuzu New Generation D-Max Arctic Trucks AT35 is a 1-tonne Pick-up truck engineered to shine in the most gruelling conditions. It is the result of close technical collaboration between Isuzu and respected off-road and Pick-up specialists

Arctic Trucks, a company with a long and renowned history in Iceland and Scandinavia as a creator of 4x4 vehicles able to take on the most demanding terrains.

Arctic Trucks AT35 is powered by Isuzu’s new 1.9 litre turbo diesel EGR engine producing 164PS and 360Nm of torque, that meet Euro 6 standards without AdBlue. The 2017MY Isuzu D-Max Arctic Trucks AT35 will be available as a double cab with a choice of manual or automatic transmission.

www.fleet.ie

6 | NEWS III

Volkswagen Leisure Concepts to enter production

T

wo exhibitions separated by two continents were the focal points generated by Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles to announce that two concept vehicles will enter production within the next few years. The I.D. BUZZ Microbus will eventually replace the popular Transporter based California leisure vehicle and become part of Volkswagen’s electric drive initiative. Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles’ Executives, Dr. Herbert Diess and Dr. Eckhard Scholz made the announcement at the recent Concours d’Elegance in Pebble Beach, California.

Meanwhile at the Caravan Salon 2017 in Düsseldorf, Germany, the creative work of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles’ Chief Designer Albert-Johann Kirzinger was premiered in the shape of the California XXL, a prototype developed from the recently launched Crafter van. The big brother to the existing California from the Transporter 6 range, the XXL provides more space, convenience and comfort.

The production model of the I.D. BUZZ will also have its batteries mounted in the vehicle floor. As the electric drive doesn’t take up much space, this means the front and rear axles can be mounted very far apart from one another. This results in a long wheelbase and short overhangs, which makes for more space in the interior.

“The vehicle therefore looks like a short compact van on the outside, even as it offers the generous interior space of a large van,” Dr. Diess explained. “The result is a superior package that offers both the driver and passengers plenty of room for a comfortable journey,” he added. Those who wish to use the model to transport loads will get what they need as well, according to Dr. Eckhard Scholz: “Along with a minibus version, we’ll also be offering an I.D. BUZZ

Cargo variant for zero-emission delivery operations in a Level 3 (autonomous) vehicle that boasts a high degree of automated driving capability,” he said. “It’s an ideal electric van concept, particularly for inner cities.”

Due to customer appeal and demand, the California XXL will make it to the assembly line in due course. Equipped with a fi xed high panoramic roof, an extended rear section with a large bed, an alcove for a baby’s cot, all-wheel drive, pneumatic suspension and a comfort driven well thought-out new interior, planned right down to the last detail, this concept vehicle shows what the bigger California could be like in future.

Fiat Professional presents Ducato 4x4 & Talento Campers at 2017 Caravan Salon Düsseldorf

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t the 2017 Caravan Salon in Düsseldorf, the world’s biggest recreational vehicle show, Fiat Professional once again had a major presence, as the leading Eurpoean brand in this sector.

The Ducato 4x4 Expedition built on the four-wheel drive variant, played the starring role. More and more enthusiasts are viewing their recreational vehicles not just as a practical solution, but also as an expression of their personal lifestyles.

Fiat Professional also showcased a more compact mobile leisure vehicle based on the Talento, its mid-size van.

For 2017, the European campervan market is projected to total more than 105,000 units, an increase of 10 percent with respect to the previous year, which already recorded significant growth.

Th is means that the market has taken off again after the global slump which began in 2009, recording a 60 percent increase in sales since that time. A large share of this increase is thanks to FLEETVAN&UTILITY | Autumn 2017

the campervan category, i.e. the segment of recreational vehicles built on a van base, which accounts for about 30 percent of the market.

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WINNER LCV of the Year

8 | VIEWPOINT

"The perception that vehicle rental is short-term needs to be dispelled, as flexible solutions are the future" says Natasha Fry, National Business Development Manager at Northgate Vehicle Hire

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or many years, the belief has existed among businesses that vehicle rental is a short-term proposition; something to temporarily plug the gaps.

The truth is that this model is becoming increasingly archaic, as new, flexible, longer-term solutions are introduced that help to boost mobility while reducing the headache associated with contract hire or purchase.

Of course, different businesses have different ways of acquiring their essential fleet, and some are understandably wary about committ ing to a longer-term rental arrangement.

Common misconception Fleet managers perhaps typically acquire the majority of their vehicles through purchase, lease or contract hire, and do not consider rental as a long-term solution.

Th is means rental is often used within fleets as a short term solution initially, with fleet managers coming to realise that flexible vehicle hire is a perfect way to acquire a fleet once they have begun to reap the benefits.

Often when speaking to a fleet manager of an SME, the individual is not even aware of flexible vehicle hire during the initial conversation, and this is another common obstacle – raising awareness of the model and its multitude of benefits.

National companies, on the other hand, have a different perception – larger businesses very much view it as a longer term solution, as they have an understanding around the no commitment and flexibility parts of the rental package, which many misinterpret.

Case study One of our biggest clients is based in the pharmaceutical and healthcare sector. Our partnership was initially based mainly on short-term rentals used by the company to transport drugs and other products to and FLEETVAN&UTILITY | Autumn 2017

from its many stores and warehouses, and deliver essential medicines across many general practitioners and care homes.

but there would be significant benefits in expanding the flexible, longer-term approach to the entire fleet.

As our relationship with this customer developed, we discussed with them about developing the agreement and augmenting its fleet management and acquisition strategy to a longer term, flexible arrangement which would prove more cost effective for the business.

Manifold benefits The greatest value in employing a long term rental model is having all assets managed. Northgate takes care of servicing, maintenance and repair, and keeps vehicles on the road for longer through a partnership with the AA, while the flexibility to adjust the fleet without penalty reduces downtime and saves money, making it ideal for a long-term approach.

A tender process was required, but in doing so Northgate helped the business to move from a model where 80 percent of its fleet was on short-term hire, to a longer term approach with flexibility and no contract that provided multiple benefits.

Having an open partnership with your vehicle supplier in this way enables a more strategic approach.

Northgate’s services are split between different parts of the company, with one arm employing a strategy to purchase outright through Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles and then topping up the fleet with 150 Northgate vehicles on flexible terms.

The other arm of the business has 1,000 vehicles, 600 of which are rented through Northgate, meaning the bulk of the fleet is on flexible rental. The remainder of the fleet is purchased through Renault,

With costs of maintenance, road tax, annual checks, road fund licence and much more being taken out of the client’s hands, effectively the whole life cost of the fleet is reduced, delivering both cost and time savings.

In an industry like healthcare and pharmaceuticals, where downtime can result in spoiled products and create supply chain problems, it is vital to have solid and sustained fleet performance.

The partnership with the pharmaceutical client is evidence that it is possible to change the perception of vehicle rental as short-term, and illustrate the many benefits that can be had from switching to a flexible, long-term model – something that is applicable to businesses of all sizes in every sector.

You can have any colour you want, as long as it’s green.

Henry Ford once famously said, “You can have any colour you want, as long as it’s black”. And, if it’s a commercial vehicle you need, now is the perfect time for us to help you upgrade from your old van to the new Ford Transit range, while driving all of our commitment towards a cleaner environment.

Whether you choose black, white, silver or red, with our smarter, innovative, commercial engine technologies, you will always be buying green.

So, Clean Up for 181 with a bonus of up to €4,000 towards the new Ford Transit range and let’s go further together by discovering how a modern Ford does not cost the Earth.

*This offer applies to all Transit orders taken up to December 31st 2017 and registered by January 31st 2018 at participating Ford Dealers. A Ford Clean Up for 181 bonus of €3,500 and €2,000 is available on Transit Custom and Transit Connect models respectively for the same period. Models are shown for illustrative purposes only. Alternative Ford Clean Up bonuses are available on other selected Ford commercial models .The Ford Clean Up for 181 bonus applies to all Ford or any other commercial vehicle brands which are taxed and insured at the time of trade in and were built prior to 2016. See Ford.ie for full terms and conditions.

CLEAN UP

WITH €4,000

*

BONUS

10 | COVER

Ford forges ahead with new Transit Custom

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lmost 100 years to the day since Henry Ford & Sons introduced its fi rst 1-tonne commercial vehicle, Ford Europe revealed the latest evolution of its most popular van – the Transit Custom. Over the century the design theme has remained the same, with a wheel at each corner and a similar load capacity within a body frame. However, everything else about the Model TT in comparison to the Transit Custom has changed. Changed utterly. There is no further need for the starting handle and air-fi lled tyres are no longer optional!

Today, the Transit Custom is Ford’s fourth best selling vehicle in its complete line-up. When fi rst introduced in this model design in 2013, 36,200 units were sold that year. In 2016, that figure topped 118,000 units across Europe. The success of the 1-tonne Transit Custom, along with the other members of the Transit family, has helped to elevate Ford to the #1 spot overall across 20 EU Member States, with 13.2% market share in 2016 (from 328,600 units). Back in 2012, its 8.5% share had the ‘blue oval’ brand in seventh place. A remarkable performance and

significant gain considering the vibrant competition between manufacturers in this sector. From the January – July 2017 YTD figures, Ford remains No. 1 with 13.3%, ahead of Mercedes-Benz (12.0%) and Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles (11.7%).

Interestingly, if the recently aligned Peugeot, Citroën and Opel/ Vauxhall combine their market shares, the PSA Group commands a 20.3% share. The sales performance of the Transit Courier (up 19% YTD) can be attributed in part to the discontinuation of the Fiesta van for now. Due to the new model changeover, meeting this demand requires an increase in manufacturing capacity. At its factory in Kocaeli in Turkey, Ford plans a two-phase production increase from 290,000 units per year to 315,000 and then reach full capacity of 330,000 by September 2018.

Ford’s future vision is already underway with a number of electrification and mobility solution projects due for engagement soon. The Transit Custom PHEV – Plug-in Hybrid programme commences in December while StreetScooter, a joint project with Deutsche Post DHL based on an electric version of the 2-tonne

New Ford Transit Custom Sport Van and Ford Transit Tourneo

FLEETVAN&UTILITY | Autumn 2017

COVER | 11 Transit will see 2,500 units delivered by the end of 2018. Further developments in telematics are also being worked on.

Hans Schlep, Ford Europe’s Commercial Vehicle Overview Director commented to members of the International Van of the Year jury at a special gathering in Frankfurt at the end of August on the new Transit Custom range which includes the Tourneo passenger carrier. “Transit Custom has been a runaway success since it was introduced, and this new version raises the game once more. We have listened carefully to our customers, and delivered a one-tonne van that is even more stylish, even more productive, and packed with smart features.” He is also confident that even more attention will transcend on the Transit Custom once the Plug-in-Hybrid (PHEV) enters a series of test trials in London later this year. It’s scheduled for production in 2019.

From Ford Europe’s design team, Jörg Stephan explained about the many modifications made for the new version. “Sporting a bold new front-end design with three bar grille, new Transit Custom also features a completely new cabin that offers best in class stowage, improved comfort and ergonomics and easy connectivity.”

Ford Transit Tourneo

“Its new front-end appearance shares the same design DNA as Ford’s latest passenger cars, with a high-mounted trapezoidal grille and dynamic, slim headlamps.”

“The cabin interior is completely new, with an instrument panel based on Ford’s new interior design philosophy – pioneered on the all-new Fiesta, which offers an att ractive, user-centre layout that is influenced by consumer interactions with smart devices and tablets.”

With the dash console now more horizontal, the width of the cabin is emphasised more, allowing for more storage areas and larger air vents. Up to 25 litres of additional space is provided in the instrument panel alone, including three open bins on its upper area, with the glove box now being the only closed compartment available. It is big enough however to hide away a laptop or A4 sized folder.

Cup holders are placed around the driver and passenger area and the new door panel design incorporates a far more userfriendly grab handle and arm rest. As with the new Fiesta, just launched, the 8” colour touchscreen tablet (with Ford’s SYNC3 communications portal and entertainment/information systems) protrudes from the centre dash area. As it is placed flat on the panel it is slightly out of the driver’s line of sight. A slight swivel towards the driver would make a big difference.

Traffic Sign Recognition, Cross Traffic Alert with Blind Spot Warning, plus Pre-collision Assist with Pedestrian Detection Emergency Braking system.

Ford’s EcoBlue 2.0 litre Euro 6 diesels, launched last year offer a power output choice of 105, 130 or 170PS with either 6-speed manual or SelectShift automatic transmission. Pete Reyes, Vehicle Line Director, CV Global also mentioned that the rear air suspension system on the Kombi (passenger) models is up for consideration to include in the main van specification sheet to suit certain fragile or specialist load carriage operations. “A subtle, controlled and level ride across a wide range of load conditions can be delivered with this unique-to-segment factory fitted rear-air suspension,” he said.

Driven by customer feedback, Model Year 2018 Transit Custom features 2,200 new parts and components. It will be available to order towards the end of the year with deliveries expected from next spring.

For Transit Customs not specified with the 8” display (or 4” unit also available), the MyFordDock module in the centre of the instrument panel facilitates the storage and charging of devices.

Access and information on the various driver assistance and safety features can be obtained through the centre console or centre dash area which includes Intelligent Speed Limiter, Text & Photos: Jarlath Sweeney – editor@fleet.ie

www.fleet.ie

12 | NEW FLEET

Sprinters are tops for the DPD & Iceland drops!

Another heads down Green Avenue!

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he highly lauded MercedesBenz Sprinter is the delivery van of choice for two major fleet operators. Supermarket chain Iceland and DPD, the nationwide express parcel carrier, have both added new Sprinters to complement their respective fleets.

1. Iceland has taken delivery of four additional new Sprinter vans that have entered service alongside its original purchase of five units last year. All four are 314/36 medium wheelbase vans, converted by Paneltex and fitted with Alex Original fridges. Other features include high roof, automatic gearbox, reverse camera and ParkTronic parking and manoeuvring aid.

These latest units will be used for Iceland’s expanding Home Delivery operation and will be deployed to new Iceland stores opening at Gorey, Shannon, Limerick (Watch House Cross) and Cork (Ballincollig). These new store openings will bring to 20 the total number of stores Iceland operates across Ireland.

In Britain, four years after resolving to switch its entire fleet of home delivery vehicles to Mercedes-Benz, Iceland Foods has taken delivery of its 1,000th Sprinter panel van.

2. Meanwhile two DPD parcel delivery

franchises have taken the decision to enhance their fleets with the recent addition of two new Sprinters each.

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Suppl ied by 2 Mercedes-Benz Commercial Vehicles Main Dealer, Kinahan Commercials of Moate, County Westmeath, two of the new units will operate from the Mayo depot in Foxford, with the other two servicing the Longford / Roscommon base.

Finished in DPD’s familiar white, red and black livery and complete with the Sprinter 21st birthday pack, the 314/43 vans all feature an upgraded radio with 14.7 cm TFT display (Audio 15), cruise control, multi-function steering wheel, reverse camera, leather steering wheel and adjustable steering column.

With roots tracing back to 1986, DPD Ireland now handles in excess of 13 million parcels per year. Recently, the Athlone, County Westmeath headquartered firm doubled its hub size and trebled its sortation

3

capacity from 7,000 to 21,000 parcels per hour.

3. Finally, pictured at MUTEC’s newly opened Mercedes-Benz Commercial Vehicle dealership on the Naas Road, Dublin is Green Avenue Landscape’s new Sprinter van, which will operate out of its Naas base.

Blackwater Motors opens Volkswagen CV Centre

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lackwater Motors’ new Van Centre is now open for business on the Model Farm Road in Cork City. It is the first and only dedicated Volkswagen Van Centre in Ireland and will carry a full range of new and used Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles.

After conducting his inaugural new van sale, Brad O‘Donoghue, Sales Manager at the Van Centre spoke about the opening to Fleet Van & Utility: “We are delighted that our new Van Centre is now a one stop shop for all our commercial customers, be it for sales, finance or aftersales solutions.

The same dedication and customer service will be shown to all our business clients and of course we offer the best value to be

FLEETVAN&UTILITY | Autumn 2017

Brad is pictured (right) at the handover of the keys of a new Volkswagen Caddy van to Roy McSweeney from Roy McSweeney Heating & Plumbing, the first customer at Blackwater’s all new VWCV Van Centre.

had from our premium Volkswagen products.”

At the opening of the new Volkswagen Van Centre at Blackwater Motors are, from left to right; Brad O’Donoghue; Blackwater Motors Sales Manager, Alan Bateson; V WCV Ireland, Danny Mac Sullivan and Adam Sheehan; Sales Executives at Blackwater Motors, Cork.

N E W P E U G E OT E X P E R T

W I T H N E W G E N E R AT I O N P L AT F O R M

ITS MISSION: YOUR BUSINESS FROM €295 p.m. + €3,500 SCRAPPAGE

RT

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A VA N D E S I G N E D FO R E V E R Y B U S I N E S S Choose the Peugeot van that best suits your business. From our best selling Partner, the new-generation Expert and the load-lugging Boxer, we offer a van for every business. Don’t wait any longer. Come and discover the full Peugeot light commercial van range, presented to you by professionals that understand business.

Combined consumption (l/100 km): from 5.1 to 5.9. CO2 emissions (g/km): from 133 to 155.

FINANCE EXAMPLE: New Expert Active Compact 1.6 BlueHDi 1200KG. On the Road Price†: €22,270. Customer Deposit / Part Exchange: €5,827.50. Finance Amount: €16,442.50.

Monthly payment: €295. Terms: 61 months. Total Cost of Credit: €1,679.48. APR %* 3.9% Fixed. †Includes delivery and related charges. Models shown for illustrative purposes only. *Lending criteria and terms and conditions apply. APR is inclusive of a once off documentation fee of €63.49 and a once off purchase instalment of €63.49. To qualify for this Finance Offer; a minimum deposit of 25% is required. Rate quoted is correct as at 1st January 2017 and is subject to change. This finance offer is available on all Peugeot Partner, Expert and Boxer commercial models registered before 31st October 2017 at participating Peugeot dealers only. This is a Hire Purchase agreement provided by Bank of Ireland t/a Bank of Ireland Finance. Scrappage available at participating Peugeot dealers on selected models and scrappage allowance varies by model.

NEW PEUGEOT EXPERT

14 | LAUNCH PAD I

MAN’s first real foray into LCV market with TGE to 46-tonnes GVW. Front, rear-and all-wheel-drive models will all feature in the MAN TGE’s range, with two wheelbase lengths, and three roof heights; Standard, High and Extra-High plus three vehicle lengths of Standard, Long and Extra-Long; 5,983mm, 6,833mm and 7,388mm, respectively. Maximum payload for a 3.5-tonne van will be close to 1,500kg, with a load volume on the largest vans in excess of 18m3 thanks to vehicle heights of 2,340mm, 2,575mm and 2,800mm.

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erman brand MAN is best known for its broad range of truck and bus products, sold worldwide. MAN Truck & Bus is now extending its offering with its fi rst real foray into the light commercial vehicle sector. Some decades ago, MAN shared branding with the Volkswagen LT range and that business relationship has been established once more, but in a different manner.

Launched at the Rockingham Speedway Circuit in the UK last month, the new TGE line-up signals a clear strategy for the Munich headquartered marque as it seeks new customers in a crowded and very competitive van sector.

The new TGE will be built alongside the new Volkswagen Crafter at the Volkswagen

Group’s recently constructed, state-of-theart manufacturing plant in Poland. Th is is a massive facility, the size of three hundred football pitches where production capacity will reach 100,000 vehicles within the next three years.

Due to arrive in Ireland in 2018 when customers can choose between a panel van, a combi van, a crew cab with platform body or a chassis cab with platform body, the TGE will be marketed with front-wheel, all-wheel and later with rear-wheel drive.

Manual and automated transmissions will be available.

Covering a wide range of load capacities, there will be a choice of weight options too.

These will span from 3 to 5.5 tonnes, but importantly for MAN it means its overall vehicle selection will extend from 3-tonne

Power is provided by the Volkswagen Group’s 2.0 litre TDI engine with four power ratings of 101hp, 121hp, 138hp and 174hp. The three lower-powered engines will all use a single turbocharged unit, with the 174hp engine getting a twin turbo. These will be branded as 100, 120, 140 and 180 respectively. There will also be two gearboxes available; 8-speed automatic or six-speed manual.

Included in the spec options available will be Park Assist, Trailer Assist with the inclusion of cameras, and Side Wall Protection Assist which helps drivers in avoiding side damage by the placement of sensors along the side of the vehicle as well as front and back.

Management at MAN is keen to point out that it has a clear view of where this van will sit in the competitive LCV marketplace.

Initially, it is targeting existing customers which have MAN truck or bus fleets and need the backup of a van, or more than one van to support whatever the number of vehicles that they are operating. Th is van is the solution to provide that backup.

The TGE is also aimed at van fleet customers and, as some of its dealer network already offer round-the-clock service to their truck and bus customers, that same support and recovery solution will be extended to their van customers, which can be seen as a bonus for van fleet customers.

Claiming that with over a century of expertise in goods and people transport,

FLEETVAN&UTILITY | Autumn 2017

LAUNCH PAD I | 15

MAN Truck & Bus is more tuned into the individual needs of their customers and aiming to bring levels of service from the truck and bus world to that of light commercial vehicles.

Thomas Hemmerich, Managing Director of MAN Truck & Bus UK expanded the point at the recent press launch by stating: “MAN is very proud to be a member of the Volkswagen Truck & Bus group and obviously it’s a huge competitive advantage for us to be a member of this family. Ten years ago we celebrated 100 years of MAN truck production and now are gett ing into the LCV sector, which offers us real possibilities. We started from the road transport business and now we are down trading to the van business.”

“Th is is a perfect integration. We are not passenger car makers which build vans; we are a commercial vehicle specialist.

We understand the business and most importantly our customers will get the aftersales service we provide to our truck and bus customers.”

“Having these commercial-vehicle genes gives MAN a huge commercial

advantage in the delivery of support and enables customers to stay on the road.

MAN see that selling the vehicle is just one part of the process; backup and support throughout the lifespan of the vehicle is what customers need and if the customer is happy with that support, they will return again and again,” added Thomas.

All new MAN TGE vans will have a threeyear unlimited manufacturer’s warranty with 24/7 roadside assistance, provided by MAN with specially trained technicians on board to get customer’s vans back on the road in the shortest time, helping to reduce costly downtime.

new electromechanical steering system which is standard on all vans.

Emergency brake assist is also offered as standard, while parking assist, a side assist that alerts the driver to a vehicle in the van’s blind spot, and an active lane assist that guides the van back if it is drifting out of its lane are all available as an option.

Rear traffic assist, which intervenes if the driver is reversing towards an obstacle, and trailer assist, which helps steer the van backwards while towing, making life in the TGE a genuinely safe experience for the driver and other road users.

Out on the track at the Rockingham Circuit, the vans in all their guises displayed an adept ability with all engines performing superbly. The 180 badged version was particularly impressive in both front and four-wheel drive forms.

Funding will be available through MAN Finance - with various packages supported

by Volkswagen Bank - with agreed residual price guarantees to suit. Bespoke repair, service and maintenance agreements to cater for the needs of individual customers can be tailored.

Inside the van, drivers will be more than impressed with the layout, the comfort and the car-like driving position. One of the true highlights is the weight and feel of the steering, at speed and during the various manoeuvres. This is complemented by the

Although prices for Ireland will not be announced until the van arrives on these shores in 2018, it is estimated the new TGE will cost around the same as the award winning Volkswagen Crafter on which it is based.

Text & Photos: Gerry Murphy – gerrym@fleet.ie

www.fleet.ie

16 | FLEETING SHOTS

From Malaysia to Hannover with love!

Four vintage Volkswagens complete the journey of their lives

A

fter a journey lasting three months that crossed two continents and 20,000 kilometres, five Volkswagen fans have successfully competed a trip in classic Volkswagens from their homeland in Malaysia all the way to Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles’ assembly plant in Hannover. Driving three T-Series vans - one T1 and brace of T2’s, plus a Beetle, Cliften Nathaniel, Terence Moses, Stephen Pang, Monica Xavier and Udhaya Kumar received a warm welcome on their arrival at the production site from Volkswagen's Friedrich Mattiszik.

“We know that we have Bulli fans across

were built. Now we not only know how quality vehicles drive, but also where they originated over the vehicle generations. It is impressive how perfectly humans and robots work together and how large the factory is,” said Stephen Pang. the globe. But to see them travel to us from such a distance in their vintage vehicles – we have never experienced this before. It is an honour for us to show our plant to these globe-trotting fans. This is, so to speak, the birthplace of the vast majority of T-series vehicles.”

“This is a dream come true for us. We always wanted to go to the place where the Bullis

By the time they return to Malaysia the vintage vehicles will have travelled a total of 50,000 kilometres (over 31,000 miles).

“Bullis are simply indestructible. And when they do need repair, we can usually handle it ourselves.” said Terence Moses. To ensure this was possible, they had tyres, replacement parts and tool sets lashed to their fully laden roof rails, along with countless pieces of luggage.

7-Up Cross-Country Victories for Overdrive Racing

O

verdrive Racing recorded its seventh FIA World Cup offroad rally victory of the season when Qatar’s Nasser Al-Attiyah driving a Toyota Hilux with French navigator Matthieu Baumel secured the win in ORLEN Baja Poland, round nine of the FIA World Cup for Cross-Country Rallies, in Szczecin.

World Rally and Off-Road veteran Nasser finished 3min 54sec in front of series rival Jakub Przygonski (Mini John Cooper Works Rally) with Bernhard Ten Brinke in another Toyota third. Nasser now takes an unofficial 81-point championship lead

Attiyah. “I built up a good lead and was able to slow down a bit and control the pace. I do not mind that we have not achieved the championship yet. Kuba (Jakub) is a friend of mine and we try to make our sport as attractive as possible.”

to the remaining two rounds of the series in Morocco and Portugal, where there are a maximum 90 points at stake for the winner of both events.

“I am delighted to take another important victory with this win in Poland,” said Al-

Commenting on the win, Overdrive Racing’s CEO Jean-Marc Fortin said: “It was an excellent job from Nasser, Matthieu and the team to achieve the win. It was a difficult rally with a lot of rain before the start, and this morning again it was raining and it was slippery. We had a good control of the race and having Bernhard on the podium as well is very good for his comeback.

Isuzu shares Welsh Rugby’s values

I

suzu and the Welsh Rugby Union have signed a shirt partnership deal which means Warren Gatland’s Wales will wear Isuzu’s logo on their jersey for the next four years.

Isuzu will take pride of place on the chests of Wales’ international stars for the first time this autumn, as Gatland’s side faces Australia, Georgia, New Zealand and South Africa in the Under Armour Series at the Principality Stadium.

In addition the multi-million-pound partnership sees Isuzu extend its support to the senior Wales women’s side, which will also carry the logos on their playing

FLEETVAN&UTILITY | Autumn 2017

Phillips.

“In terms of the Isuzu partnership alone, this is the biggest national jersey partnership in the history of our national game. The partnership also gives Isuzu a raft of marketing and media rights which will increase brand awareness and connection to rugby supporters,” he added. kit until 2021, and includes the supply of Isuzu D-Max vehicles to the WRU’s community department which reaches out across Wales.

“We are delighted to welcome a company of the size, stature and international renown of Isuzu,” said WRU Chief Executive, Martyn

“This partnership is the first of its kind for us and it has long been our objective to make the Isuzu brand better known. This sponsorship will achieve that, by taking the brand to a huge audience, including millions of television viewers,” added Isuzu Managing Director, Paul Tunnicliffe.

Text: Jarlath Sweeney – editor@fleet.ie

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18 | LAUNCH PAD II

Renault Alaskan brings diamond spark to Pick-up truck’s golden era

I

nteresting and busy times in the Pick-up segment of the automotive industry as a number of new players have, or are about to, enter the marketplace. Established marques such as Toyota, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Ford, Isuzu and Volkswagen are gearing up for the newcomers, namely Renault and Mercedes-Benz, while Fiat Professional arrived with its offering last year. It could be said that the 1-tonne Pick-up truck segment is entering a golden era worldwide and Renault wants a piece of the action.

Global sales of Pick-ups in general have reached 4.66 million units annually and are continuing to grow. The North American market leads the way, while South America, South Africa and Asia also have extensive numbers of loyal, traditional customers.

Meanwhile Europe is beginning to make an impact, recording consistent growth with volumes up by 51% since 2009. Hence the interest from European brands to get serious, develop new models and reap the benefits.

Of the nine brands mentioned above, Group Renault, through its Alliance partners Nissan and recent collaborator Mitsubishi, can take credit for being involved in five models. Spawned from the latest Nissan Navara is the new Renault Alaskan, and soon to arrive Mercedes-Benz X-Class, while the new Fiat Fullback is derived from the current Mitsubishi L200.

With its new Alaskan Pick-up, Renault aims to cover two distinct customer profi les - those of business and pleasure - when it goes on sale across its European car and commercial (Renault Pro+) dealerships towards the end of this year. Following the global premiere of the new 1-tonne Pick-up truck in Colombia, South America last year, and its appearance at a number of motor shows, the next phase of the new product’s launch got underway last month with the inaugural press test drive programme in Slovenia.

FLEETVAN&UTILITY | Autumn 2017

Leading up to the event in Ljubljana, Ashwani Gupta, Global Head of Renault-Nissan LCV Business said: “Renault is entering Europe’s particularly buoyant one-tonne Pick-up segment which registered growth of 25% in 2016 and 19% in the fi rst half of 2017. As a major player in the LCV market and with a network of almost 9,000 sales outlets across Europe, Renault continues to extend its range with Alaskan. Following Alaskan’s release in Latin America, its availability in Europe is further evidence of Renault’s global ambitions. Alaskan is a robust, powerful pick-up that has been designed to meet the needs of demanding business customers and private buyers alike.”

LAUNCH PAD II | 19 (160hp/403Nm) or twin (190hp/450Nm) turbo, and already popular in the Renault Master light commercial range. The engine’s twin-turbo technology combines a small turbo to provide strong torque at low revs and a larger turbo to provide more power at higher revs. It can be specified with either a sixspeed manual gearbox or seven-speed automatic transmission.

With a factory estimated combined-cycle fuel consumption of 6.3 litres/100 km (44.8mpg) and a CO2 emissions rating of 167 g/km, Alaskan is deemed to be one of the cleanest and most efficient vehicle in its sector.

In developing the Alaskan, Renault availed of the decades of four-wheel-drive (4WD) experience and expertise of its Alliance partner Nissan, together with its own knowledge gleaned from creating SUVs from its car division and lighter Pick-ups on sale through its Dacia subsidiary (see separate story). The many unique design traits of the current award winning Nissan Navara have been successfully transferred over to the Alaskan, with Renault’s design department putt ing the French brand’s latest and distinctive model range theme on it. Renault Pro+ LCV Design Director Louis Morasse is passionate about Pickups, to the extent that the Canadian claims that he was born in the back of one! In his eyes Pick-ups are dream machines, the only car that is full of adventure. It’s so easy to fall in love with them, he said, and is particularly pleased with how the Alaskan turned out.

Thanks to its five-link rear suspension, developed by Nissan for the Navara, the Alaskan offers outstanding travelling comfort both on and off-road. And as proven once again on both the rough and soft terrain on the test sessions under the shadow of the snow capped Alps, the vehicle’s off-road capabilities or rugged qualities haven’t been compromised either. The highly resistant ladder frame chassis, working in tandem with the five-link rear suspension, allows for a payload of more than one tonne, and offers up to 3.5-tonne towing capacity, features that are likely to be key selling points of the new Pick-up, along with an expansive dealer and repair centre network across Europe.

Alaskan features the Group Renault engineered fourcylinder 2.3-litre dCi diesel engine, available as either a single

The brown and silver 4WD 190hp models driven with automatic transmission had 125kg of sand in the load bay safely stored in a hard plastic lockable box that is just one of the many accessories available for the Alaskan. Driving on the tarmac was as comfortable as any SUV, though with a better driving position and all round visibility. The 360 degree camera view from the dash mounted screen was also invaluable when it came to turning and manoeuvring, and proved beneficial too along the narrow gravel tracks with full 4WD Low engaged.

Alaskan is a standard European sized Pick-up that meets the demands of both business customers and private motorists.

Building contractors, tradespeople and farmers are one side of the potential customer base, while other more private buyers will like its style and individuality that SUVs don’t offer. With some extra kit fitted from the accessories list, special versions can be created in order to stand out from the crowd.

Mr. Gupta mentioned that some retail customers want a spacious vehicle with cabin comforts worthy of a conventional passenger car, but with a generous rear load space and a high towing capacity for leisure use, all combined with exceptional off-road capability to tackle any kind of adventure. Alaskan can meet that need. At the business end, there are many different ways of configuring Alaskan to suit the needs of operators who work in the construction, freight or medical sectors, with a number of bespoke body conversions on offer.

Manufactured at Nissan’s Barcelona plant, Alaskan goes on sale in Europe in September 2017 with its Double-Cab, 4x4 version initially, and will arrive in Ireland in Q2 of 2018. Expect pricing to be similar to that of the Nissan Navara.

Will Dacia join the European Pick-up Party?

A

t the end of 2015, Renault launched the (Dacia) Duster Oroch in Latin America – a successful model in the half-tonne Pick-up category. Based on an SUV platform, the Duster Oroch is also a double-cabPick-up with four doors and five seats, but more compact and lighter. Nearly 30,000 Duster Orochs were sold in Latin America last year.

Almost 15,000 more were sold over the fi rst six months of 2017, representing an increase of 35 percent.

Oroch is another model-in-waiting for the Dacia brand here in Europe.

Text & Photos: Jarlath Sweeney - editor@fleet.ie

www.fleet.ie

20 | PRODUCT BRIEFING

Tough market at present, but Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles looking forward with confidence

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s with the passenger car sector, Brexit is already having a significant impact on Ireland’s commercial vehicle market. The falling value of sterling has seen a surge in the number of vehicles being imported from the UK in 2017, leading to a not insignificant drop-off in the sale of new vehicles here. According to SIMI figures (which include N1 conversions such as two-seater SUVs), sales of light commercial vehicles are down over 14% as of the end of August compared to 2016.

of its best-selling small van, the Caddy. Starting with an 85hp TFSi petrol variant, prices start from €14,995 including VAT or €13,995 with the ECO Grant, making it the lowest cost van of its type currently on sale in the Irish market. 1.0 and 1.4 litre petrol engines will follow. While acknowledging that not being able to claim VAT back on petrol may prove a deterrent for some, Alan said that petrol Caddys will suit many city and urban operators, highlighting the lack of need to regenerate EGRs as is the case with diesels, let alone regularly refi ll with AdBlue.

With imports likely to remain at high levels for the short-term at least, distributers here are having to come up with innovative ideas to tempt buyers to ‘shop local’. That includes Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles Ireland which has just announced a range of new offers for the rest of 2017 and into 2018.

Despite overall volumes being down, 2017 has been a successful year for the second best LCV manufacturer in Ireland behind Ford, with Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles achieving a growth in market share of 0.4% year to date. “We have had a good year so far in 2017 with Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles being the only brand within the Top 3 in Ireland to have gained market share.” said Alan. He is particularly pleased with demand for the new Crafter launched earlier this year, despite limited production to date, noting that Ireland has the highest order intake in Europe.

Additional versions of the flexible van continue to be rolled-out, including rear-wheel drive and 4-MOTION versions.

Among them is EcoGrant, a new scrappage scheme which allows customers to trade in older (Euro 4 or earlier) diesel cars or commercial vehicles against the purchase of a new Caddy, Transporter or Crafter in return for between €1,000 and €4,000 scrappage value (the grant amounts vary by model). As part of the package the traded-in vehicle will be scrapped at an approved ‘End of Life Treatment Centre’ to ensure it does not reappear on the road later.

In addition Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles is highlighting that customers can also avail of 0% HP Finance and 1.9% PCP Finance with the scrappage scheme, something that is unique to the segment according to Alan Bateson, Managing Director, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles; “Being the only vehicle brand in Ireland to allow customers to combine the scrappage savings with the 0% HP fi nance option, we have set a new benchmark that offers customers full transparency on the offer.”

The other interesting announcement from the manufacturer is that in a diesel dominated market it will offer petrol versions FLEETVAN&UTILITY | Autumn 2017

Underpinning the brand’s success is Volkswagen Bank, with its unique to the Irish market PCP offering on commercial vehicles proving very popular. 2017 has seen a further increase in acceptance rates, as four out of every five applications have been approved, with the bank lending over €30 million to commercial vehicle customers this year.

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles is also looking to roll out a captive leasing solution shortly, providing a one-stop-shop for customers to acquire their fleet vehicles. “No brand presently offers a lease book owned by themselves,” explained Alan, outlining that they will focus on small to medium sized businesses of up to 50 vehicles. Captive leasing will be launched at selected dealers from October.

Text: Cathal Doyle - cathal@fleet.ie

REVIEW I | 21

67th IAA Frankfurt Motor Show 2017

W

ith exhibitors ranging from manufacturers and suppliers to automotive businesses, IT and technology firms, and including both established players and startups, the 67th IAA Frankfurt Motor Show 2017 boasted no fewer than 228 World Premieres, 64 European

Premieres, and 32 German (National) premieres. With many of interest to the commercial vehicle sector, featured here are a selection of images from the biggest motor show of the year.

Dacia Duster

Mercedes-Benz G-Class AMG

Mercedes-Benz X-Class

SsangYong Rexton

Toyota Hilux

Toyota Yazoo Racing

Volkswagen California XXL

Volocopter

Text & Photos: Rob Van Dieten - rob@fleet.ie

www.fleet.ie

22 | REVIEW II

86th National Ploughing Champi • • • • •

1700 Exhibitors 291,500 Visitors Over 300 Competitors Almost 2 million feet of Trade Space Economic Impact of over €35 million

Carbery Plastics

A warm West Cork welcome was enjoyed by all visitors to the Carbery Plastics stand which celebrated 40 years in business. A new 55 litre Fuel Caddy was launched at the show. Th is handy and innovative compact design ensures safe and secure transport of fuel from the forecourt to hard-to-access areas. Also displayed was a Rain Water Harvesting Storage System.

Chieftain Trailers

Chieftain Trailers (Dungannon, County Tyrone) showcased a number of new products for the transport industry such as its new 3-axle semi-low loader, a 1000-litre road towable fuel bowser, 3-axle Commercial Drawbar Low Loader, Halfpipe Ejector trailer, 16-tonne Multipurpose Dump Trailer with Ramps, and a new Halfpipe Dump Trailer.

ESB Networks

Every year ESB Networks has a large stand where visitors can talk to staff and get important safety information about safety on farms. Th is includes the high risks of operating farm machinery near overhead wires, digging in areas where there may be underground cables, and other areas where operators of electric equipment may be a risk in the farm yard.

FLEETVAN&UTILITY | Autumn 2017

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s the final vehicles exited the car parks in the County Offaly heartland, the total attendance figure for the 86th Championships was announced as a record breaking 291,500 over the 3 days, making 2017 the most successful National Ploughing Championships to date.

CC Lubricants

CC Lubricants’ team at the show informed interested parties of their multitude of great offers and promotions on Texaco’s Agricultural Lubricant range. CC Lubricants also stocks the full range of Havoline engine lubricants, transmission fluids, antifreeze coolants, brake fluids, power steering fluids and gear oils.

Dennison Trailers

Nominated for the Trailer Innovation Award 2018 in the Fleet Transport Awards this September, Dennison Trailers (Naas & Lancaster) returned to the Ploughing Championship with a number of exhibits including its modified Sliding Bogie semitrailer, along with a 4-axle Trombone and a Sliding Skeletal trailer.

Granco/Fruehauf

For over 30 years Granco Ltd has been providing customers with a wide range of services throughout the north and south of Ireland for commercial vehicles, trailers and buses. Th is includes a 24/7 recovery service and 24-hour call out assistance to get stranded customers back on the road. Ten years ago Granco became the agent for Fruehauf trailers in Ireland.

REVIEW II | 23

onships, Screggan, Tullamore Kingspan

Kingspan’s staff were out in force with a raft of solutions designed to help farmers significantly improve productivity, efficiency, reduce costs and protect the environment. Exhibited was a range of renewable energy technology, along with its storage solutions for AdBlue, diesel and oil. Its AgriMaster range of tanks designed for the safe storage of liquid fertiliser has been introduced into Ireland.

Renault

Renault premiered its 1-tonne Pickup, called the Alaskan, which will be new to the Irish market later this year. A sister car to the Nissan Navara, this new model will be a welcome addition to Renault’s extensive commercial range – also on display in Tullamorewere the Master, Trafic, Kangoo and Kangoo ZE.

Toyota

A major debut from Toyota Ireland saw the MY2018 version of the Landcruiser on display, straight from its global premier in Frankfurt. It was not out of place in the mud and the rain at the show. Neither was the Hilux, a model that has been a firm favourite of the farming and construction industries for many years.

Text & Photos: Gerry Murphy - gerrym@fleet.ie

McArdle Skeath

Th is was the first time that McArdle Skeath from Dundalk took a stand at ‘the Ploughing’ and it proved to be a real success for the transport and logistics company. Stand attendees were notified of a recent acquisition of a 21 acre site in Dublin plus many of the services provided there including a 100,000 pallet capacity and a 24/7 secure site.

Sortimo

Sortimo was represented by agency partner Vanfit Solutions (Boley, Abbeyleix, County Laois, which had a fi ne display with one vehicle packed with a wide range of the many van-fitt ing solutions that the German blue-chip van racking specialist provides from its portfolio.

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles were the official motoring partners of the National Ploughing Championships for the seventh year in-a-row. A well as providing on-site vehicles it had one of the largest stands exhibiting the brand new Crafter, Amarok, Transporter6 and Caddy4. On hand was Alan Bateson (pictured), Volkswagen Commercial Vehicle Brand Director. www.fleet.ie

24 | CANDIDATES I

Four Finalists for International Van of the Year Award 2018

S

ince 1992, a pan-European panel of 25 light commercial vehicle magazine editors and journalists has voted for the International Van of the Year, the most prestigious award in the sector. In the past decade, the level of activity among the light van manufacturers has been unprecedented, with numerous new models on sale not only across Europe but also in new frontiers such as China and North America.

VAN OF THE YEAR

Recent winners such as the Iveco Daily IVOTY (2015) and the Ford Transit Connect IVOTY (2014) endorse the now worldwide appeal of European developed light commercials, as verified by the collective jury.

New Ford Transit Custom

MAN TGE

Recent times have seen van manufacturers busy meeting Euro 6 exhaust emission control legislation, either by modifying their current models, or in some cases revising them completely with a new range. While at the same time some entered new segments.

New arrivals were welcomed such as Hyundai and the return of the LDV, although the latter has yet to enter the full European market, while the H350 from Hyundai is being anxiously awaited in righthand-drive form for the UK & Ireland markets.

For the International Van of the Year 2018 contest, four brands are in contention for the big prize, with the winner to be announced at the Solutrans Exhibition in Lyon, France on Wednesday 22 November next.

Renault Pro+ Kangoo ZE.33

Listing in alphabetical order, the second generation Ford Transit Custom has been assessed by the jury, a few months ahead of its on sale introduction next spring. Most notable aspects are the redesigned front end and dramatic upgrade of the interior, with an 8” touchscreen being an advantageous business tool in terms of connectivity and vehicle performance.

MAN enters the fray for the first time, even though the new TGE commercial vehicle range is based on the new Crafter from Volkswagen Nutzfahrzeuge (CV) and built by its German parent in Poland.

The line-up is similar in that TGE will consist of panel vans, minibuses and crew-cabs covering from 3.0 to 5.5 GVW. It will be powered by the Volkswagen Group’s 2.0 litre Euro 6 diesels with power options from 102 to 180 hp with traction through front, rear or all-wheel-drive. Manual and automated transmissions will be available. Expect to see the TGE range here next spring.

Renault Pro+ has revised the Kangoo ZE electric van which now boasts an extended range distance to 270 kms (improved from roughly 120 km) between charges. Termed Kangoo ZE.33, it features an upgraded battery pack, and a more powerful electric FLEETVAN&UTILITY | Autumn 2017

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles Compressed Natural Powered Caddy TGI

motor (now at 33 kW) together with additional connectivity.

Payload at 640 kg has not been affected. It will arrive in Ireland before the end of the year.

Rounding off the quattro of players in this competition is the Compressed Natural Powered Caddy TGI from Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles. In its latest form a new 1.4 litre engine meets Euro 6 standards at ease, offering an acceptable 200 Nm of torque and 110 horsepower. 630 km can be driven within gas fills with its carbon footprint trail being significantly lower. Alas, to date, Caddy TGI is only available in left-hand-drive but we hear that decision may be changed in due course, as Natural Gas is fast becoming a viable alternative fuel across Europe.

Text & Photos: Jarlath Sweeney – editor@fleet.ie

CANDIDATES II | 25

Six of the best to contest International Pick-up Award 2018

E

very second year or so, the PICK-UP AWARD International Van of the Year (IVOTY) jury select the winner of the International Pickup Award (IPUA), based on new models launched by manufacturers during that period. Initiated by Irish jury member and current IVOTY Chairman Jarlath Sweeney in 2009, the IPUA has evolved to become a major accolade in the automotive sector.

Over the years, experience and expertise has been built up by the adjudication panel representing European Member States.

Pick-up trucks have become more popular than ever due to the evolution of the species and customer demand. Here-to-fore this type of utility-cum-leisure pursuits vehicle was dominated by Japanese manufacturers, with Ford and subsequently Volkswagen entering the field (literally). Three more brands see sales growth potential in this specialist segment that’s becoming more mainstream, and have launched or are about to launch new models with their own take on existing products. Following previous test trial evaluation events in Ireland, the UK and Norway where the Ford Ranger and Nissan Navara followed the inaugural winner, the Volkswagen Amarok, the next hosting is set for Romania at the end of October.

Surprising news to many was that Fiat Professional had tied up a deal with longterm campaigners Mitsubishi to make its own version of the L200 Double Cab Pickup, called the Fullback. As parent company Fiat Chrysler Automobiles has Jeep and RA M in its ranks, it was strange that Fiat Professional went down this collaboration road. Everything about the Fullback is L200 as the same drivetrain and interior fittings are used. From the 2.4 litre diesel, 4WD power is provided either by a 150 or 180 hp, offering 430 or 380 Nm respectively.

Two associated brands Renault and Mercedes-Benz, which continue to collaborate on joint car and van projects, have looked to the Nissan Navara (IPUA winner 2016) as a platform to create

their own 1-tonne Pick-ups. The Renault Alaskan and Mercedes-Benz X-Class have benefited from the initial development by their Japanese counterpart and spent some considerable millions in tuning and turning it into their own. Alaskan is more of a sister vehicle to the Navara as it uses the same engine line and body shape. At its heart is the 2.3 litre Renault-Nissan Alliance 2.3 litre twin-turbo diesel.

Mercedes-Benz has stretched the Navara’s body length; it’s also lower slung, a little wider too. Again, the same 2.3 litre diesel is used with options on the power output at 161 or 188 hp. A V6 diesel is due later. Apart from the bodywork and interior changes, the suspension settings on the X-Class have been stiffened further. Significantly both of these new Pick-ups are manufactured alongside the Navara at Nissan’s plant in Barcelona, Spain.

Toyota, with its Hilux, is what many within the industry look up to, due to its long history in the business. This Japanese marque remains a stand alone Pick-up manufacturer, for now that is, as rumours are abounding that the ongoing relationship between Japan and France (through the PSA Group) may be extended further with the provision of the Hilux to Peugeot and rebadged with the ‘Lion’ symbol. This year Peugeot launched a Pick-up in South Africa based on the Rich model from its Chinese partner, Dong Feng.

The latest Hilux introduced last year follows on from decades of heritage stemming from toughness, reliability and long life.

Having benefitted from a slight makeover on the launch of its new V6 diesel engines the latest Volkswagen Amarok has further broadened its power choice and upgraded its specification not only to meet customer demands but also to stem the tide of competition, from the newcomers in particular.

Interesting times ahead as a number of other mainstream manufacturers enter the segment in the next few years. The announcement and presentation for the IPUA 2018 will be made at Solutrans, France in November.

Text & Photos: Rob Van Dieten – rob@fleet.ie

Fiat Professional - Fullback

Mercedes-Benz X-Class

Renault Alaskan

Toyota Hilux

Volkswagen Amarok

Wild Card entry - The latest generation Isuzu D-Max with its 1.9 litre turbo diesel could set the 'cat among the pigeons' at the group test trials in Romania. www.fleet.ie

26 | MARKETPLACE

Economic momentum slowdown indicated

D

espite Ireland’s continual economic growth, there are some grounds for caution due to the underperforming state of the automotive retail market. The ongoing decline in showroom sales is battling against a constant increase in used imports, according to the Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI) Motor Industry Review Q2 2017 by leading economist Jim Power in association with Done Deal.

There's no doubting that the Brexit threat allied to Sterling's weakness has lead to a major increase in used car and commercial imports, which is having detrimental damage to dealers and sales agents such as the leasing companies. Projected residual values are

New Ford Transit Custom

The calm before the storm in Light

L

ots of happenings in the world of light commercial vehicles so far this year despite few actual new van launches during 2017. Expect to see much meat to the flesh to some of the much talked about news in the sector from early next year as 2018 progresses.

Next spring will herald sales in Ireland of the revised Ford Transit Custom and the MAN TGE, the newcomer from the renowned German Truck & Bus brand, which is a badged version of the awardwinning Volkswagen Crafter. On the latter, expect to see a full roll out of all its planned range to include FWD, RWD and AWD traction alongside Crew Cab/Chassis Cab and minibus options Further details of the technology behind Ford’s new PHEV Plug-in version of the Transit Custom have been revealed. It is designed to reach 310 miles with the combined drivetrain of an electric motor and the 1.0 litre EcoBoost petrol engine, with the lithium-ion battery pack placed under the floor. The Transit Custom PHEV van is part of Ford’s global electrification commitment. The automaker and mobility company has invested $4.5 billion to make electric vehicles that offer customers more capability, productivity and performance.

Ford plans to introduce 13 new electrified vehicles globally in the next five years, to be sold in Europe, North America and Asia.

Ford also recently announced an ambitious China electrification strategy and confirmed that 70 per cent of all Ford vehicles sold in China will have electrified powertrain options by 2025. In August Ford signed a Memorandum of Understanding with nhui Zotye Automobile Co., Ltd., a major manufacturer of zero-emission all-electric vehicles in China, to explore the launch of a new line of all-electric vehicles in the world’s largest auto market.

Strong rumours are circulating about a coming together of Fiat Professional and Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles to co-develop the next Doblò Cargo and Caddy. Who knows, this may lead to bigger joint venture projects in the future?

On a global front, Mercedes-Benz will introduce a new Sprinter, which will be a stand-alone product for now, having broken ties with Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles in manufacturing the previous generation Crafter. The big IAA CV Show in Hannover, Germany will host the global premiere of this new LCV range. Links to Renault

FLEETVAN&UTILITY | Autumn 2017

MAN TGE

FordTransit PHEV 2017

Peugeot supplied 100 Partner electric vans to the Royal Mail.

will continue until we actually see the new Master. For Europe and beyond, a new Partner and Berlingo is on its way from Peugeot and Citroën. Opel, their new sister brand within the PSA Group is to benefit from this new development and the new Combo van will be a badge share product line.

Peugeot is helping the Royal Mail to significantly reduce its carbon

MARKETPLACE | 27

by Commercial Vehicle sales decline getting more difficult to ascertain. With almost 97% of the 46,004 used cars imported from the UK (up 42.6% over Q2 2016) the number of used light commercials has been hidden under radar, which is a concern as it is affecting overall sales. “While sales of new LCVs totalled 15,783 in the first half of 2016, imports of LCVs over that period reached 7,230 which is 34.2% ahead of the first six months of 2016,” stated Jim Power in the Report. The ongoing quest for better discount deals from dealers is affecting profitability also.

Despite the 14% decline in new registrations, all of the top five selling brands recorded a rise in market share, with the exception

of Ford. Of the 3,725 units sold, this figure represents 23.6% market share for the blue oval brand, compared to 27% over last year’s two-quarters. Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, Renault Pro+, Toyota and Peugeot saw their sales graph point marginally upwards.

The Ford Transit remains king of the van market with the Volkswagen Caddy in hot pursuit, followed within 100 units by the Renault Trafic. Ford’s other good performer is the Transit Connect in fourth place, while the Peugeot Partner rounds off the top 5 in specific model sales. Expect Ford to strengthen its dominant position from early next year as the new Transit Custom arrives.

Commercial Vehicle sector Renault Pro+ produced the 2.5 millionth light commercial vehicle at its Batilly plant in France.

Iveco has introduced a Euro 6 version of its Daily van into China.

China, the world’s biggest automotive market. Group Renault and Brilliance China Automotive Holdings (CBA) Ltd have signed an agreement to manufacture and sell light commercial vehicles. The deal involves Renault purchasing 49% of CBA, which by the way has a major collaboration with BMW on the car side. As the Chinese market accounts for more than three million light commercials annually, it is no surprise that more European manufacturers will establish a footing there.

No stranger to the Far East is Iveco which recently upgraded its successful Daily van and minibus line-ups to include a Euro 6 engine emission standard, (ahead of its time) alongside the range topping 7-tonne large volume version which offers a class leading 4 tonne payload.

Volkswagen e-Craft er Ford Chariot

footprint with signing a supply deal for 100 Partner L2 electric vans that will be put into operation around the UK at depots that will have new recharging infrastructure installed. With the 67 hp electric motor this all-electric van offers 106 exhaust free miles and a 552 kg payload.

Two leading commercial vehicle producers in Europe, namely Renault Pro+ and Iveco have further strengthened their presence in Text: Jarlath Sweeney – editor@fleet.ie

Elsewhere in this edition, details of Volkswagen’s future vehicles not only include the production of the I.D. BUZZ microbus but also the electric version of the Crafter. (Termed eCrafter).

Ford’s larger Transit in minibus form is leading the way when it comes to city based crowd sourced shuttles around cities in the United States. New York is the latest large urban area to provide this App based booking system called Chariot, which has already been rolled out from Austin to Seattle. To date conventional internal combustion engines are used but it is inevitable that the plug-in hybrid technology used in the Transit Custom PHEV can be transferred over to the so-called larger 2-tonne model and may be extended through other models such as the Transit Connect and Ranger.

Probably the most significant happening in the LCV sector here in 2017 was the centenary celebrations at Ford Ireland, which appropriately coincided with the launch of the first Ford TT 1-tonne commercial vehicle from the ‘blue-oval’ brand. www.fleet.ie

28 | ROUND TRIP

Touring Wales and England in The visit to Cadbury World, just 5.5 miles away had a calming affect, aided by some fine samples from the former original chocolate factory in the heart of Bournville. Walking through the historical tour revealed many interesting facts about the origins of the best selling global treat.

Renault Trafic 9-seater at Cadbury World

T

his was a road trip with a difference, in that it took in business and pleasure. Over 1,900 kms were covered across middle Britain in a Renault Trafic 9-seater people carrier on a journey covering work events and family holiday attractions. From Holyhead in Wales to the eastern English coastline at Whitby and Scarborough, the week-long trip proved memorable for the adults and children involved.

The action packed journey began with the short Irish Sea crossing with Irish Ferries on the Jonathan Swift fast ferry. With four Caterpillar 10,000 hp diesel engines pushing out 64 cubic tonnes of water per second, Dublin Port got further away in no time!

Once off the boat, a long convoy headed East via North Wales on the A55/M56/ M6/A38, which took us the 175 miles to Birmingham.

Irish Ferries Ulysses at Dublin Port

FLEETVAN&UTILITY | Autumn 2017

Our base for two nights was at the Genting Hotel, a new resort complex developed in the past few years near the NEC. Next morning it was destination Alton Towers and thanks to the Sat Nav on board, we inadvertently took the A38/M6/A38/A50 with some B-reads thrown in for good measure. Having heard and written about the M6 and its high toll charges, the £10 fee each way isn’t cheap. The price didn’t seem to deter other road users though, as each lane was busy each way. In fact, our occupants could not come to terms with the sheer volume of traffic, especially trucks, on the motorways. The 60 odd miles took us one and half hours.

Express parking ticket (£16) at the Towers ensured that the long queue was avoided, no point in trying to quell kids’ excitement at this juncture! Surfing the roller coaster ride on the infamous Nemeses left some of us shaken for the day. The others were just as memorable but not as hard on the system.

Another £10 was forked out on the longer journey north-east along the M1 and A1 via the aforementioned M6. After over 3 hours (with a pitstop at Tibshelf North) we arrived at Yarm, north of York. This location at Crathorne Hall is used by the automotive industry for product launches, as it is a gateway to the Yorkshire Moors, one of the most scenic drives in Britain.

Before we got to Whitby, a brief detour was taken to visit Goathland, otherwise known as Aidensfield from the long running, successful ITV series, depicting life in the region from the 1960’s. The unchanged village streetscape was a hive for tourists, all keen to see Mr. Scripps’ garage and Undertaking business with the famous Aidensfield Arms across the road. Tea shops now occupy the other retail outlets used in the camera shots. Probably the most magical memory of the series that featured in the opening sequence of each episode was that of the steam train, puffing its way up the hill to the station. Regular train rides to and from Pickering by North Yorkshire Moors Railway are much in demand by visitors.

Unfortunately, poor weather spoilt the views along the East coast as we travelled from Whitby to Scarborough but not before enjoying what is reputed to be the most delicious ‘Fish ‘n’ chips in Britain’. There

ROUND TRIP | 29

n the Renault Trafic 9-seater is no shortage of dedicated venues for this special recipe in and around Whitby.

Next stop Scissett, West Yorkshire, which runs along the A19/A1(M) to Whetherby and through the outskirts of Leeds. We stopped off at Tadcaster Road Services at York. While at Bagden Hall for two nights, we joined Wellhouse Leisure’s 15th birthday celebration. The motorhome and campervan conversion specialist business established

by David Elliot has made great progress over the years, peaking with authorisation from Ford Europe to convert its Tourneo Custom into a top quality well kitted out campervan. So much so that other big names in the sector have taken notice.

One in particular has seen the potential in the company, as it was announced on the night that Lunar Caravans, one of the big UK caravan and motorhome producers was buying up Wellhouse Leisure, lock, stock and barrel. David will now work alongside Lunar in developing other bespoke and related leisure products.

Harrogate is best described as a traditional English town with Betty’s Tea Shop probably one of its big attractions. Cycling enthusiasts throng to the area following its selection as part of the Tour de France and subsequent Tour of Britain events. Although a twentyminute wait outside the large pane-glassed façade at Betty’s was followed by another 10 idle minutes inside before we got a table, the wait was worthwhile as afternoon tea there will never be forgotten.

From Scissett, the return journey began via Donington Park where Convoy in the Park attracted almost 1,000 trucks, displayed in their finery among the many trade exhibitors at the famous Grand Prix venue. Back in 1993, we witnessed possibly the finest first lap in the wet ever at the European Grand Prix at this venue, courtesy of the late, great Ayrton Senna, driving for McLaren.

Twenty-four years later, we watched high horse-powered race trucks thunder around MacLean’s and the Craner Curves. ‘Convoy’ was the first attempt by Road Transport Media, publishers of Commercial Motor & Motor Transport amongst others, at hosting an event of this size and type. Judging by the massive audience and industry response, the weekend event will be back for more.

Parked outside Mr. Scripps' famous garage in Aidensfield.

A hotel in Liverpool cut the miles back to Holyhead the night before we returned home. Again on heading west through Wales, we met a large trail of Irish trucks beginning their transit through Britain to further European destinations. Sandbach, once the home of ERF and Foden trucks, was another nostalgic stopping-off point, the last before we took the Ulysses, another example from the Irish Ferries’ fleet. This 12 deck high vessel is bigger than the Swift with a gross tonnage of 50,938 and a capacity of 1,875 passengers, 1,342 cars and 240 artics per sailing. Four MAX 9M43 main engines have a combined output of 41,808 horsepower. Facilities on board are impressive with plenty of entertainment and refreshment options for passengers.

There is no doubt the Renault Trafic LL29 9-seat Minibus Sport (to give the passenger vehicle its full title) certainly enhanced all of the miles covered. Although there were only four of us, between suitcases and other

baggage the space inside was appreciated by all occupants. Thanks to all-round glazed areas, plus large exterior mirrors, excellent visibility was provided, all needed on the extremely busy routes taken, with traffic streaming and passing from all sides. The 1.6 litre dCi ENERGY diesel with its twinturbos produced 125 hp and 320 Nm, more than adequate power required for this size and type of vehicle. As an everyday run-around it is a practical vehicle, fairly economical too as we achieved 44 mpg.

Couldn’t manage without the easy to use Renault Media Nav Evo 7” touchscreen.

Didn’t get a chance to use the Eco button much though, just while traversing through a rather congested Leeds, the city made famous by United players Jack Charlton, Johnny Giles, Billy Bremmer and Norman Hunter, but that’s a story for another day.

Actually that’s an idea for another road trip into the future, visiting the iconic football stadiums of the 80s and 90s. BTW, we did call to see the new stadium at Anfield!

Spec Check Make/Model Engine Power Torque Transmission CO2 Emissions Average Consumption Fuel Tank Options fitted Price Wheels/tyres Kerb weight Rear Load Capacity Distance Driven Fuel Consumption

Text & Photos: Jarlath Sweeney – editor@fleet.ie

Renault Trafic LL29 9-seat Minibus Sport 1.6 litre ENERGY dCi 125 16V 123 hp @ 3,500 rpm 320 Nm @ 1,500 rpm 6-speed manual/FWD 149 g/km 5.7 L/100 km 80 litres 17” Cyclade alloys, leather steering wheel, MediaNav EVO 7” touch screen €41,000 215/65 R16 1976 kg 550 L 1930kms 6.5L/100 km 43.21 mpg www.fleet.ie

30 | PRODUCT UPDATE

LDV driving business forward for the Harris Group

A

nyone who passes down the Naas Road heading into Dublin City Centre can hardly fail to notice the extensive facilities to the left on the city side of the M50. Owned by the Harris Group, the impressive assembly, distribution and spare parts premises established in the 1960s by the recently deceased Robert ‘Pino’ Harris have seen countless thousands of commercial vehicles roll out the gates to customers all over Ireland and the UK. The passing of the man who, with the aid of trusted lieutenants, expanded the Harris Group into the giant business it is today is inevitably going to bring changes, but the message emanating from the company is clear - business as usual. Th is is exemplified by the new facility currently under refurbishment at the former CocaCola plant just up the road from Harris’s current facility. When it opens in the fi rst quarter next year, it will not only be the new headquarters for the business, but will boast the largest commercial vehicle showroom of its kind in Ireland - a fitting testament to the man whose name shall remain emblazoned over the entrance.

Indeed if it’s a commercial vehicle you want, there’s a prett y good chance Harris Commercial Vehicles can meet your requirements. The company is undoubtedly best known for its Hino trucks which it has assembled and distributed in right hand drive form for the UK and Irish markets for decades. However the absence of Euro 6 engines has put the Japanese brand on the back-burner for now, with Harris turning towards Japan’s giant Asian neighbour China, offering Higer coaches and locally

FLEETVAN&UTILITY | Autumn 2017

assembled Sinotruk heavy goods vehicles alongside the lighter commercial vehicles from Japan’s Isuzu. A separate part of the company distributes SsangYong vehicles from Korea.

Then there’s the van side of the business.

Last year Harris won the contract from Chinese automotive giant SAIC Maxus (part of the Shanghai Automotive Industrial Corporation) for the distribution of LDV vehicles in Ireland and the UK. Already the vans have become quite a familiar sight on Irish roads, not least because of the extensive contract the company won supplying vehicles to An Post.

Th at Harris is committed to reviving and developing the fortunes of what was Leyland DAF in an earlier life is clear from a quick tour of the Naas Road facilities.

Lined up in row after row are literally thousands of LDVs, everything from panel vans to chassis cabs and mini-buses, as well as all-electric variants.

The V80 is the model currently underpinning the range. A heavily revised update of the LDV Maxus, it’s available in four basic versions comprising short wheel base with low roof, long wheel base models with medium or high roofs, and chassis cab variants. In addition there’s the all-electric EV80 model, and for the passenger market the Mini B mini-bus.

We took a selection of vehicles out for a test drive around Dublin and the Wicklow hills on a recent press day. If build quality and refinement might not be at the cutting edge compared to some rivals, it should be recognised that these are fi rmly aimed at

the budget end of the market. That said, the V80 ticks all the boxes for load carrying and space requirements, and comes with decent safety and comfort features as standard. Add in a five years or 200,000 km warranty that includes five years roadside assistance cover as standard, and it’s a van that will make sense for lots of operators.

Noteworthy of those driven was the EV80 electric van which can offer a range of up to 190km on a single charge with a two hour fast battery charging time. The ease of driving and minimal running costs should make it an appealing choice for those operating set route urban deliveries in particular.

Mark Barrett , General Manager, LDV UK & Ireland said that the company is looking at a scrappage scheme in the UK and possibly extend it to Ireland also.

It’s down the line that we can see LDV starting to seriously worry some of the more established LCV brands. A G10 panel van will arrive imminently, while set to join the family before 2020 is a small all-electric sized vehicle which may also be offered in hybrid and diesel versions.

There’s also a Pick-up model - the T60 - on the way, which will have an all-new Euro 6C diesel engine codenamed D20, and, with somewhat confusing nomenclature, the D90, a plug-in hybrid SUV which may also come with that new D20 diesel engine.

Exciting times indeed for the brand, and the Harris Group.

Text: Cathal Doyle – cathal@fleet.ie

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QUALITY DELIVERED LDV U.K. & Ireland Naas Road, Dublin 12

Telephone: 01 419 4500 Email: info@ldv.ie Website: www.ldv.ie

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Available Models • Low Roof SWB • Medium Roof LWB • High Roof LWB • Chassis Cab Variants • Mini B • Combi Van

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VM Motori Diesel Engine 2.5 TDCi Eco-D 136hp/330Nm Bosch & Continental Electronics

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Finance example Trafic SL27 dCi 90. RRP €23,495. Deposit €8,131. Term 48 monthly payments of €335. APR 3%. Total cost of credit €866 inc doc & completion fee €75 each. Offer exclusive to Renault Bank. Offer is made under a hire purchase agreement. Subject to lending criteria. Terms and conditions apply. See renault.ie [Warning: You will not own these goods until the final payment is made].