IRISHVAN&TRUCK +SUV
IRISH VAN & TRUCK MAGAZINE
WINTER 2010 €2/£2
IRELAND'S DEDICATED LCV PUBLICATION
More verve in Vito!
TOUGH DISCOVERY CADDY CARRY-ALL
VANETTE IS BACK
www.volkswagen.ie
The New Caddy TDI. Our best small van just got better. The new generation Caddy with its economical TDI engine, greater functionality and added class all from as little as €12,155* demonstrates an obliging nature at its best. But that’s not all. This accommodating van is further enhanced by its stylish and fresh front design not to mention the lower associated fuel consumption, emissions and running costs. There’s no denying that when it comes to getting the job done, the new Volkswagen Caddy works like a trooper. Test drive one today at your authorised Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles Dealer.
Think vans, Think us. *Price excludes VAT and related delivery charges.
Commercial Vehicles
IRISH VAN & TRUCK+SUV Winter 2010
IN THIS
Amarok in April
ISSUE NEWS Doblo wins IVOTY 2011.................4 Adjusting to Kuga..........................6 Transit hits 45................................8 Renault's Van Scrappage ...........12 Leasing the real deal . ................21 New Outback rolls soon..............29
FEATURES Renault's new Master plan.........10 Vito revitalised.............................14 Dashing Doblo.............................16 Movano might..............................18 Vanette returns............................20 Kildare.TV uses Transporter........22 Caddy Carry-all............................24 Discovery hangs tough...............26 Sportage is for the real world.....27 Truckin' Women!..........................28 Trade topics.................................30 Irish Van & Truck+SUV is published by WhelanByrneAssociates, Kilcullen, Co Kildare, Ireland. All content strictly copyright the publishers and original contributors. Every care is taken in ensuring that information herein is correct, but the publishers take no responsibility for errors or other matters arising therefrom. Managing Editor: Brian Byrne. Publications Editor: Trish Whelan. Phone: +353 45 481090 +353 86 8267104. Email: irishcar@gmail.com
Robust and tough, as well as being a good looker, VW's first 1-tonne pickup Amarok will appeal to more than just the van market when it arrives here in April/May next year. Besides businesses looking for a useful pickup, the Amarok will also catch the eye of those involved in agriculture, sport and leisure pursuits with its cross-country mobility, high level of comfort, good fuel returns and low tax. Volkswagen claim the vehicle is bigger and more versatile than the competition which includes Ford's Ranger and Toyota's Hilux. Paul Burke of Volkswagen Commercials claims it is best in class for performance, specifications and in its dimensions, with the biggest interior and widest-in-class load area in its class. It certainly attracted enormous interest on the VW stand at the recent Ploughing Competition and this has led the company to increase their volume order for 2011 in advance of its arrival here in right-hand-drive in April/May of next year. The order book is now open and Paul Burke expects to move around 120 units in a full year. The Amarok is already on sale in some countries with left-hand-drive and the brand says is getting 'rave reviews'. It will be available in double cab form in right hand drive versions only. It will be powered by a 2.0 bi-turbo diesel engine outputting 120 and 163hp. Amarok can shift a 1,000kg load up a 100 percent gradient, or haul up to
2800kg worth of heavy machinery, trailers, boats or caravans. In tests, it has covered 1,000kms on one tank. It is offered in Selectable 4MOTION AWD, Permanent 4MOTION AWD and Rear-wheel drive (single cab only). There's also a choice of suspension settings. The 4MOTION comes with Hill Holder and Hill Descent Assist. Other driving aids include Electronic Stabilisation Programme (ESP), Electronic Differential Lock, ABS and Anti-Slip Regulation to give the driver maximum control on any surface. Three specifications are offered, Baseline, Trendline and Highline. Baseline — priced from €31,650 including VAT — offers as standard ESP & Off Road ABS, 16-inch steel wheels, height-adjustable front seat, tow bar preparation, and under ride guard in front. Trendline — from €34,460 — adds 16-inch alloys, body coloured front bumper, fog lamps, Climatic air conditioning, central locking with remote, cruise control and a multifunction display. The top specced Highline — from €35,650 — moves to 17-inch alloy wheels, chrome-plated rear bumper, automatic air conditioning, front spoiler with chrome and dark tinted glass in the rear.
IRISH VAN & TRUCK+SUV Winter 2010
New engines for Peugeot vans Peugeot is fitting out its van range with a series of new Euro 5 DHi diesel engines. The engines will offer CO2 emissions from 109g/km and will help reduce running costs for owners. The Peugeot 207 sees the introduction of two Euro 5 HDi diesel engines into the range. The first is the HDi 70 with CO2 emissions of 110 g/km and the second is the HDi 92 which emits 115g/km. The Peugeot Bipper van is now available with a new 1.3 litre HDi 75 diesel engine and Stop-Start technology, providing CO2 emissions of 109 g/km. The introduction of the HDi 75 engine also results in the vehicle’s payload increasing from 610kg to 660kg. Further Euro 5 engines will be added to the Peugeot LCV range over the course of the next twelve months.
PSA, Mitsubishi, electric agreement Mitsubishi and PSA Peugeot Citroën have signed an agreement to start the technical development of an electric version of Peugeot Partner and Citroën Berlingo LCVs built at the PSA Vigo plant in Spain. Under this new cooperative agreement, both partners will specify all technical and industrial aspects to be able to commence production of these electric versions by the end of 2012. This is a continuation of the previous Cooperative Agreement on the jointly-developed European Peugeot iOn and Citroën C-ZERO models based on the Mitsubishi iMiEV.
Golf VI van The Volkswagen Golf VI Van is on sale in Ireland priced from €21,890. The van retains all the attributes of the passenger car, and offers a choice of two engines and trim levels. The Golf Trendline 1.6TDI 3DR 90hp Van starts the range at €21,890 and the Golf Comfortline 1.6TDI 3DR 105hp Van is on sale for €23,795.
Doblo wins International Van of the Year 2011
The Fiat Doblo Cargo is the International Van of the Year 2011. The new van achieved 128 out of a possible 168 points from a jury made up of 24 specialist commercial vehicle trade journalists representing the same number of countries. Announcing the 2011 result, chairman of the International Van of the Year jury, Pieter Wieman, said: "The winning van design has impressed the jury on a number of fronts and above all Fiat has succeeded in widening the number of platform and body varieties to a higher number than any other van in this category. "The jury was particularly impressed with the wide range of engines. Furthermore it was impressed with the driving qualities and the high level of comfort that the different versions of
the Doblo offer.” Lorenzo Sistino, Fiat Professional CEO, said the New Doblo Cargo has been an innovative vehicle right from its concept. "With Doblo we offer our customers the widest choice, the lowest emissions, and the most advanced technology in this category. The award is a testimony to our product innovation capacity. The fact that the Doblo has won demonstrates its level of innovation, but also the extent of the changes in order to respond to new customer needs.” Offered in Europe with a choice of four low emissions, Euro 4- and 5specification engines, the new Doblo comes in seven different forms — Cargo, Cargo Maxi, Cargo SX, Cargo Maxi SX, Combi, Combi Maxi and Platform Cab — to offer something for a wide spectrum of van users.
Ford ups vans' efficiency Ford's small vans have been given new Euro V compliant diesel engines. They are the Fiesta Van, which gets a 2 percent increase in power in its 1.4 diesel to 70hp, and an extra 5hp in the 1.6 diesel to 95hp. The 2011 models also get diesel particulate filters. Ford Transit Connect customers can now benefit from improved fuel economy and lower emissions by choosing the new 1.8-litre Ford Duratorq TDCi engine 90hp or 110hp option that exceeds the new Euro Stage V emission requirements. They also include a DPF with vaporiser technology that collects over 95 per cent of all engine soot emissions. When the DPF is full, the new vaporiser technology heats the DPF to 600degC to turn all the soot into CO2 and water. Additionally, all Stage V engines will now have a Variable Nozzle Turbo (VNT) that boosts low end torque, improves driveability and also reduces emissions.
www.peugeot.ie
VEHICLES BUILT FOR THE WAY YOU WORK
PEUGEOT PARTNER FROM €12,468* EX-VAT
PEUGEOT EXPERT FROM €17,906* EX-VAT
PEUGEOT BOXER FROM €19,336* EX-VAT
*Price excluding vat valid for Partner 1.6 HDi 75 level 1 625kg, Expert 227L1 H1 1.6 HDi 90 1000kg & Boxer 330 L1H1 2.2 HDi 100 1155kg. Prices exclude dealer delivery related charges.
PEUGEOT RECOMMENDS TOTAL THE OUTSTANDING LCV RANGE FROM PEUGEOT
PEUGEOT
LCV RANGE
IRISH VAN & TRUCK+SUV Winter 2010
M-B improves Actros ABA Mercedes-Benz has introduced an enhanced version of their Active Brake Assist system on their heavyduty Actros trucks. Besides applying the brakes automatically when a slow-moving obstacle is detected ahead of the vehicle — as was the case before — this latest version also springs into action to apply the brakes when it detects a stationary obstacle ahead such as a motorway traffic tailback. Active Brake Assist uses a radar-controlled system to detect stationary obstacles and is effective within the speed range from 0-89 km/h. It is robust under all weather and light conditions. ABA was first introduced on the Mercedes-Benz Actros truck in 2006. Insurance companies are convinced of its merits, prompting some to offer discounts on premiums for commercial vehicles equipped with this technology.
Adjusting to Kuga
One of Ireland’s leading insurance loss adjusters has taken delivery of eight Ford Kuga Commercial vehicles from Fort Motors for use by some of the company’s nationwide team of adjusters. ProAdjust, which is headquartered at the Centrepoint Business Park in Dublin 12, has been in business since 2004, dealing with more than 10,000 insurance claims a year on behalf of leading insurance companies.
In their everyday work, the ProAdjust adjusters clock up a considerable mileage as they travel the roads of Ireland visiting sites for assessment, sometimes in excess of 40,000km in a year over every kind of road: motorways, mountain roads and small boreens. With prices from €24,390, the Kuga Commercial includes ESP and has a 5-star Euro NCAP crash test rating for adult occupancy protection.
Citroen Business Centres SPCA Connects Barry Pender Motors, main Ford dealer in Kilkenny, has donated a Ford Transit Connect van to the Kilkenny Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA). The Connect replaces an eightyear-old vehicle. It will be used for a wide variety of the Society’s work, including transporting equipment and materials; answering call-outs to help with injured or sick animals and where necessary, transporting small animals.
Citroen Ireland has opened seven specialised Business Centres for its LCV and fleet car sales, and will open more in 2011. They have been set up as part of a pan-European programme designed to build and support the Company’s presence in the small to medium LCV and car fleet sectors by offering these customers even more dedicated sales and aftersales services. These Business Centres will offer an expanded range of services, complementing those already offered by the existing Citroën dealer network. Dealers that have been appointed as Citroën Business Centres will have made a
commitment, investing in additional facilities, stocking, personnel and specialist training. These include the provision of a specialist LCV and business car sales person; a designated LCV display of at least four models; a wide range of car & LCV demonstrators available; and workshop facilities capable of servicing all LCVs. The initial centres are in Mallow Road Motors, Cork; Bluebell Motor Company, Dublin; Kenny Galway Ltd, Galway; Billy Naughton Ltd, Tralee, Kerry; Kilkenny Citroen Centre, Kilkenny; Edward Conway, Castlebar; and Byrne Car Sales, Ardcavan, Wexford.
The New Vito has arrived - A van that doesn't break the bank. My van. The new Vito A van that doesn't generate any unnecessary cost. Because long service intervals and short downtimes ensure that a Vito isn't left standing around doing nothing. And the running costs hardly blot the balance sheet either: the new Euro 5 diesel engines see to it that fuel consumption is reduced. The Vito is more profitable than ever.
The New Vito has now arrived. Motor Distributors Ltd., Naas Road, Dublin 12. Tel (01) 4094 444
IRISH VAN & TRUCK+SUV Winter 2010
Sprinter smooch Dairyglen, the Irish owned company that produces the Smooch brand of real dairy soft-serve ice creams and milkshakes, has purchased a 5-tonne Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 515 unit fitted with a 16ft GRP box body supplied to them by Malcolm McKinstry of MUTEC Van Centre at Long Mile Road, Dublin. In business for almost 20 years, Dairyglen was first to introduce a luxury soft-serve ice cream to the Irish market. Their range of Smooch products includes real dairy milkshakes, fruit slush, cones, tubs, sundaes and the popular ‘choose your own toppings’ My Smooch ice cream. The company services the Irish market from headquarters at Bray and Carraigtwohill.
Safety push Mercedes-Benz in Ireland has praised the ‘Drive 2 Zero’ safety initiative being undertaken by oil products distributors Reynolds Logistics, themselves a major user of Mercedes-Benz vehicles. Citing recent figures which highlight the very significant reduction in road deaths that has taken place in Ireland in recent years, Mercedes-Benz commercial vehicles sales manager Fergus Conheady pinpointed the Reynolds initiative as one designed to ensure that progress is maintained. "By its example, the commercial vehicles sector has a major role to play in helping to foster improved levels of road safety," he said.
Transit hits 45
The Ford Transit, which turned 45 in August, has sold some six million copies across Europe. Here in Ireland, almost 120,000 Transits have been sold and, down the years, they have played a significant part in this country’s economic development. It is estimated that they have travelled more than five billion kilometres in the process. There have been five distinctive styles of Transits, the second of which came after 13 years. With it came more fuel-efficient OHC engines and a new automatic transmission. A new model in 1995 saw more developments, like new security features, three-point seatbelts with pre-tensioners and optional airbags. The current Transit arrived in 2006, as the Celtic Tiger was in full roar, helping it to become one of the bestselling vehicles – car or van – on Irish roads. There are now over 140 configurations of the van available as standard. The most recent version is the Transit ECOnetic which is based on the FWD Transit T280 Van with short wheel base and 2.2-litre
115 PS Duratorq TDCi engine. As the 'greenest' van on the road, the new Transit ECOnetic has target fuel economy of 7.2 l/100 km (39.2 mpg), while average CO2 emissions are 189 g/km and best in class. The Transit ECOnetic is the first Ford commercial vehicle to offer Stage V emission standards in its segment. The Transit has twice been the winner of the Semperit Irish Van of the Year award. The Transit stable also spawned the Transit Connect, a sub 1-tonne sibling. The Transit family’s payload now stretches from 768 to 2,200kg. Almost every sizeable Irish company with a transport need has used the Transit down the years. Eircom, An Post, Iarnroid Eireann, the Irish Army, the Health Boards and the Garda Siochana are just some of the household names which adorn the side panels of Transit vans. But the countless one-man operators are the mainstay of the Transit custom. The term 'white van man' reflects the fact that over 90 percent of Transits are delivered in white.
DAF offers EEV-compliant 6.7 engine DAF is offering its 6.7-litre PACCAR GR-engine in an EEV-compliant version, making DAF the first truck manufacturer to have its complete engine range available in ultra low emission versions. EEV-specified vehicles (Enhanced Environmentally-friendly Vehicles) emit at least 33 percent less soot particles when compared to the current Euro 5 emission standard. A number of versions of the 12.9 litre PACCAR MX engine are now EEV-compliant, without the need for fitment of a soot filter.
THREE FIRSTS. EUROPES NO.1 BEST SELLING VAN RANGE. IRELAND’S FIRST EVER VAN SCRAPPAGE. FIRST TO OFFER 5 YEARS WARRANTY WITH UNLIMITED MILEAGE ON VANS.
:*9(74@=(5 PL SCRAP YOUR VAN IF IT’S FIVE YEARS OR OLDER FOR A NEW KANGOO, TRAFIC OR MASTER – EUROPE’S BEST SELLING VAN RANGE. AT THESE AMAZING SCRAPPAGE PRICES IT’S A VANOMENAL TRADE-IN FOR TRADESMEN. Renault “Scrap my Van” offer is restricted to customers buying a new Renault LCV sourced only from Renault Ireland and registered by an authorised Renault Dealer in the Republic of Ireland before the 31st January 2011. Renault “Scrap my van” offer applies to light commercial vehicles aged 5 years and older. Trade-in registered on the 31st January 2006 or before qualifies for Renault Scrap my van allowance. Customers must provide a Vehicle Licensing Certificate in his/her name to qualify for this offer. Prices stated exclude wheel trims and delivery & related charges.
IRISH VAN & TRUCK+SUV Winter 2010
Renault's new Master plan
The new generation Renault Master is a fine-looking large van. Certainly the one that was made available to me to review had a strong presence on the road, thanks to the new front of techy grille and complex headlamp pods. The vehicle is shared with Opel, who market theirs as the Movano, and as you’ll read later in the magazine, the Opel side of the team say they had a significant input into the interior comforts. But Renault is the lead maker in this joint effort, so we should given them credit for providing a seriously strong competitor in the large panel van segment. Where the operator works from is perceivably more comfortable than the older generation Master. With some increase in cabin length, there’s an immediate gain in legroom. The visibility is very good,
and the seats are much improved, with better adjustments, especially for the back. The steering wheel is lower down and at a better angle. And there are considerably greater options for storage, especially if the three individual seats option is chosen. New small but useful ideas include a pull-out document clipboard in the dash, and a central seatback table (available when the seatback is folded down) can swivel and is handy
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if the operator uses a laptop. The number and size of various in-cabin storage facilities are extensive. Underneath the whole van there is a brand-new modular architecture which makes it easier both to provide a range of lengths, but also to offer a rear-wheel-drive variant, something which has come about by demand in a number of markets. There’s also a new range of engines, all of 2.3 litres capacity, with power outputs of 100/125/150hp. There are torque improvements, and a 10 percent improvement in fuel efficiency. Renault in Ireland is going head-tohead with market leader Ford Transit in the range of Masters which it is offering, and it includes FWD and RWD variants, as well as crew cab and chassis cab versions. Three specification grades are available, Business, Comfort and Executive. GVWs range from 2.7t to 4.6t, and three roof heights are available, as are three wheelbases. Something for every possible need, I guess. The spare wheel is now racked under the rear of the vehicle. Lowering it for removal can be achieved without unloading the van. I took the Master for a long run down the country and was very pleased with the overall driveability. There’s really good visibility, the engine pulling me was refined and felt ready to lug a full load without complaint. It was a big vehicle, but easy to manage navigation in small towns. And overall, the driver comfort is excellent. The Master is designed primarily for inter-city work, and will manage that without unduly tiring any driver. It also gets Renault’s new 5-year warranty. Prices range from €10,860€27,000 including VAT. The new Van Scrappage Scheme introduced by Renault can make it significantly cheaper for qualifying deals. Brian Byrne.
ThE all-nEw SporTagE. qualiTy comES aS STanDarD. The all-new Kia Sportage. Designed to have head-turning good looks and a truly engaging driving experience. Engineered in the most advanced plant in Europe to meet the most exacting quality standards. Supplied with Kia’s pioneering 7-year warranty and available from an affordable €27,800. The all-new Sportage is now in your local Kia showroom. For further information visit www.kiamotors.ie
www.kiamotors.ie OFFICIAL FUEL CONSUMPTION FIGURES IN l/100km FOR THE SPORTAGE ARE: URBAN: 6.8 – 6.0, EXTRA URBAN: 5.1 – 4.8, COMBINED: 5.7 – 5.2. OFFICIAL CO2 EMISSIONS ARE: 156 – 135 g/km. *Warranty is for 7 years / 150,000km and subject to terms and conditions as defined in the owner’s warranty and service handbook. See kiamotors.ie for more details. Model shown may not be to Irish specification. Delivery and related charges are extra. Metallic paint extra.
IRISH VAN & TRUCK+SUV Winter 2010
Commercial Registrations up Data from Acea, the European auto industry body shows commercial vehicle registrations up 6 percent to 1,300,429 across the EU from January to September, compared to the same period last year. Vans up to 3.5tonnes rose 8.6 percent to 1,098,104 while trucks over 16t dropped 5.5 percent to 120,152. Buses and coaches over 3.5t dropped 12.3 percent to 25,065 for the period. For most vehicle types, the data for September this year compares well with that for last year. Total CV registrations were up 13.7 percent. Vans rose 14.6 percent, heavy trucks rose 20.4 percent but buses dropped 10.4 percent. Acea says most of the growth came from vans.
Renault launches Van Scrappage Scheme Renault Ireland has launched a van scrappage scheme which gives van owners the opportunity to scrap their five years or older van and purchase one of Europe’s number one best selling van range. The announcement of Renault’s Van Scrappage scheme launches a year after the company’s car scrappage scheme. One car out of five taking benefit of government scrappage is a Renault. The van scrappage scheme gives van owners the opportunity to purchase a new Renault Kangoo,
Trafic or the all new Master from just €8,990 and also avail of the five years unlimited mileage warranty as standard. Renault’s ‘scrap my van’ offer applies to light commercial vehicles aged five years and older, registered on the 31st January 2006 or before. The scheme applies to Renault's range of three Kangoo vans, a new model Master and the revised Trafic (below) with its new 2.0 diesel. The company estimates that there are over 200,000 vans in Ireland aged five years or older.
Renault Trafic is upgraded Renault has given its Trafic medium van something of a face-lift and improved its fuel digestion. A revised dashboard provides more spaces for oddments, and there's also a folding clipboard on the top of the dash capable of holding A4 documents. There's a new centrally-positioned storage space, and a storage space above the glove compartment in vehicles without a passenger airbag. The fuel consumption of the 115hp 2.0 engine has been improved, with CO2 emissions now 195g/km, and both it and the 90hp version can be had with diesel particulate filters. The 90dCi engine has also gained 20Nm in torque. Oil change intervals have been extended to 40,000kms or two years.
Atego is ITOY The new Mercedes Benz Atego truck is the winner of the International Truck of the Year award for 2011. Tipping the award in favour of the Atego was the introduction of a hybrid drive that reduces CO2 emissions in line with EU requirements for commercial vehicles.
Vanrentals.ie choose Sprinter On-line van rentals specialists Vanrentals.ie has taken delivery of their 14 Mercedes Sprinter hire vehicles. The Vanrentals.ie online van booking website, in operation since 2005, is the spot hire department of Murphy’s Truck Centre, a company in operation since 1965. Vanrentals.ie operates a spot rental fleet of 110 vehicles and are located beside the M50/N7 intersection at the Red Cow. The new Sprinters purchased by them comprise a mix of 209 low roof and 211 high roof models. All vehicles can be booked online at www.vanrentals.ie. 12
The Nissan Vanette is back and is greener, more fuel efficient and more spacious than ever. VO INTERN TED VAN O ATIONAL F THE Y 2010 EAR
A lower floor makes it easier to load up into the 4.2m3 of cargo space (fits 2 Euro pallets). Agile driving dynamics, a 1.5 Dci engine and a fantastic price. Top off the ultimate package to help drive you to success. The International Van of the Year 2010 from 15,925*.
Book a Test-Drive with your Local Nissan Dealer
www.nissan.ie *Price quoted is the RRP and excludes dealer delivery and related charges.
IRISH VAN & TRUCK+SUV Winter 2010
Vito revitalised
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IRISH VAN & TRUCK+SUV Winter 2010 Mercedes-Benz Commercials have announced the third generation Vito van on the Irish market. Priced from ₏19,190 (plus VAT), the third generation Vito features a new engine line-up and 6-speed van gearbox. It is available in three different body lengths, and two different roof heights. Engine options extend from 95hp to 224hp and permanent 4x4 all-wheel drive is available as an option. Other improvements are increased payload, improved chassis and interior. Like its predecessors the Vito is manufactured by Mercedes-Benz in Vitoria, Northern Spain, hence the name Vito. The first Vito appeared in 1995 and it introduced Mercedes to a brandnew market segment. With a front wheel drive chassis, sliding side doors and rear hatch as well as standard ABS, its design was seen as well ahead of its time. It scooped the 1996 International Van of the Year award and went on to retail more than half a million units before its replacement appeared in 2003. The second generation Vito was more streamlined than its predecessor, but was powered by a new range of engines. The biggest change was to the drivetrain where Merc reverted to rear wheel drive to improve the dynamics and the manoeuvrability through a more compact turning circle. It too was voted International Van of the Year in 2003 and went on to become another major seller for the prestigious brand. The rear-wheel drive drivetrain is retained for petrol and diesel versions of the latest generation Vito. It has benefited from a comprehensive revamp that has seen improvements introduced in all departments, the most notable of which are measures designed to reduce running costs and emissions. Thanks to the introduction of new engines and transmission — matched to the availability of new BlueEFFICIENCY technology that has revolutionised the Mercedes-Benz passenger car range — owners can anticipate lower fuel consumption and emissions. Most models of the 2011 Mercedes Vito range are powered by fourcylinder 2.1 diesels. The entry model is the 110CDI (95hp), followed by the 113CDI (136hp)
and the 116CDI (163hp). Top of the range is the wonderful 224hp V6, which is unlikely to be a volume seller in Ireland. Grossing at from 2.8 to 3.2 tonnes Vito boasts an 800kg-1,330kg payload capacity. Load cubes range from 4.6cu m to 6.49 cu m. Standard safety equipment includes ABS, Electronic Stability Programme, Acceleration Skid Control, Brake Assist and Electronic Brakeforce Distribution. The new Mercedes-Benz Vito is distinguished from previous models by a new headlamp design typical of various Mercedes-Benz passenger cars at the moment and with the redesigned rear, it gives the Vito more independent character than ever. All new models comply with the Euro 5 emissions standard and all diesels are equipped with an oxidation catalytic converter, a particulate filter and cooled exhaust gas recirculation. Other changes include upgraded appointments in the driver and passenger compartment and a striking new facia that includes design elements influenced by features from the passenger car range, all matched to a robustness one expects from a commercial vehicle. As one expects from a vehicle wearing the silver star, the Vito is very impressive to drive. At the European launch in Hamburg, all versions were available for test analysis. The new engine and transmissions bring car-like refinements to the equation, especially the V6, while the improved suspension will be a boon for the long distance motorist. Mercedes have announced the beginning of production on the Mercedes Vito E-cell, the first commercial vehicle to incorporate electric powered engines. By the end of 2010 Mercedes expect 100 vehicles to be produced. By the end of 2011 that figure is expected to rise to a further 2,000 vehicles. The E-Cell is the only model in the new Vito range with front wheel drive. Is it a case of back to the future? Austin Shinnors.
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TomTom alerts for new speed camera zones Company van drivers, as well as lone operators, need to be able to get from A to B as quickly as possible in the course of their work, fitting in a hectic daily schedule of collections or deliveries within a time frame. And also avoid getting penalty points along the way by breaking speed limits. TomTom, the world's leading in-vehicle navigation provider, has announced two products which may help with both scenarios. New content for TomTom's sat nav devices will alert drivers when they are entering or exiting one of the new speed enforcement zones in Ireland; another programme will get them to and from different drop offs as quickly, and safely, as possible. As soon as the driver approaches a speed enforcement zone, an icon will appear on their TomTom screen and a sound will also alert them. The icon will stay visible while in the zone. A sound will alert the end of the zone and the icon will disappear. The system will be preinstalled on new product ranges and automatically be available as soon as you switch on the device. Owners of XL IQRoutes2 will be offered the Speed Enforcement Zones file via a free download from TomTom HOME. As and when the zones change these will be updated at a later date via subscription. For older devices such as the XL and ONE, TomTom will offer a free 'Speed Enforcement Zone Point of Interest' file that is available via tomtom.com. The list of locations where speed camera vans will be located will be available on the garda website.
IRISH VAN & TRUCK+SUV Winter 2010
Dashing Doblo
The new Doblo Cargo has immediate visual impact. And a very good impact too, which is something Fiat hasn't always succeeded in doing. It is especially so in the Maxi version that I had the opportunity of running recently. Long, chunky, and with a thrusting personality. Taking it from the front first, the Doblo Cargo has an almost funky look, but not the kind that made the original Multipla, for instance, something of a Halloween monster. This Doblo ‘face’ is a class achievement, and also a substantial move forward from the previous model. The strong wheel arches front and rear make a good foundation for a strong, edgy and stylish profile. The sliding side doors (just on the SWB variant) are nicely integrated into the whole. Moving to the business end of the van, The Doblo Cargo can pretty accurately claim a best in class in carrying capacity. There’s up to 4.2 cu m in volume available, up to 1,000kg in payload. The dimensions offer a cargo length of up to 2,170mm, a height up to 1,550mm, and a width of 1,714mm. Rear loading height is 545mm and width between the wheel arches is 1,230mm, their intrusion into the cargo space being quite minimal. There is a high-roof option whereby one gets to the top capacities mentioned. Apart from the external style, where
the Doblo Cargo really scored for me was up front where the operator would be spending most of his or her time. It is quite exceptionally comfortable for the class, is finished to a very high quality, and offers a driving position that is outstanding. Because the Doblo Cargo was designed from the beginning in tandem with the passenger version, it has built-in all the advantages of this. Decent instruments, an entertainment setup placed high on the centre dash and with simple and very clear controls, and the ability to hook up MP3 players and Bluetooth phone connections. To be fair to the competitors, the storage space up front in the Doblo Cargo is a little disappointing. There is, though, an overhead oddments shelf. And for some reason, a folding notepad holder system on the top centre dash is not available in Ireland. It would have required the use of a lesser standard radio, though I’ve no idea if that was an issue here. In safety terms, a driver’s airbag is standard, while a passenger one and ESP are options. The side mirrors are both large and have a section to check at ground level, an important consideration when reversing in a confined space. The review van was powered by a 135hp Multijet diesel which offered great pulling power. It comes with Fiat’s Stop/Start system as standard, 16
a fuel-saving gizmo that is only optional in the other powerplants, 1.6 and 1.3 diesels respectively. I have to say that having that punch up under the bonnet made this one a seriously fun van to drive. Not that I was tempted to rush the thing around, but it did mean that when I wanted performance to overtake, or get away promptly from the lights, it was all there for me. Caveat, though: the Stop/Start needs to be experimented with, and requires a full to-the-floor operation of the clutch pedal before it kicks back in. Until you get into the habit of anticipation of lights change, and that flooring, you can be slower away on a green. And there seems to be considerably less tolerance these days from those behind ... The noise in the cabin of the review vehicle was exceptionally quiet for a van, thanks to the soundproofing of the bulkhead. The Doblo Cargo surprised me in how much I liked it. I suppose it shouldn’t have. Fiat in its LCV business has always been very professional. Which is, I guess, why they call the division Fiat Professional now. Prices for the Doblo Cargo, which is, by the way, the International Van of the Year 2011, range from €14,750€20,400, including VAT. Brian Byrne.
TIME TO TRADE
Talk to your Ford dealer about a new Commercial Vehicle It’s Time to Trade at Ford dealers nationwide and we’ve got just the proposition for you. If you trade up to a new Ford, we’ll give you the best possible price on any of our big guns: Fiesta Van, Focus Van, Transit Connect, Ford Ranger. And of course, the Ford Transit: 45 years on and 6 million sales later, is still the driving force behind Irish business – and now with €1,500 off. Want to trade one of yours for one of ours? Drop into any Ford Dealer right now, and see which one fits the bill.
WE WANT YOUR TRADE-IN! FordTransit www.ford.ie
IRISH VAN & TRUCK+SUV Winter 2010
Movano might Vans are an essential part of our lives. They are the reason our supermarkets' shelves are stocked, and that our pubs and restaurants have the drinks and foods we prefer, and enough of them to meet our demands. Sometimes those same consumers forget just how important are all these boxes on wheels that trundle along on every part of our road systems. The new generation Opel Movano was developed in partnership with Renault. It is the Master with some changes for the Opel ethos, in fairness most of them cosmetic. But Opel does say it had a significant input into the overall development of the vehicle, starting back with the market research in 2004. Many of the conversations they had with van drivers then centred around the operator's area, their workplace. And these conversations do appear to have paid off, because there are very noticable improvements in the new generation Movano's cabin. Four key areas came up in the discussions. Visibility, seating, steering wheel position and storage areas. Well, the visibility in the new Movano is very good, within the limitations of just how far you can go about seeing around a large box. The seats are definitely improved, coming with better adjustments, especially for the back. The steering wheel is lower down and at a better angle. And
there are considerably greater options for storage and 'office' type use, especially if the three individual seats option is chosen. With a cabin deeper front to back by 5.7cm, there's a better sense of space that translates into practical comfort. And the small detail of providing three coat hooks on the bulkhead is welcome. The modular underpinning architecture is brand new. There's a new engine, of 2.3 litres capacity, which has three levels of power at 100/125/146hp. Taken overall these represent about a 10 percent improvement in fuel efficiencies and CO2 outputs from the previous 2.5 unit. A similar level of improvement in torque also make the van perceptively a better drive than its predecessor. The other major change to Movano is the availability of FWD and RWD versions for the first time. It seems there were requests for RWD in a number of markets and this was built into the development of the new version, and is available in the larger two of the four lengths of the van. Electronic stability control is standard on the RWD vans, but only an option on the FWD. Although their key 18
competitor in Ireland provides ESP as standard across its range, Opel told us that the extra cost was a factor in their decision, and that anyhow less than 10 percent of buyers had previously taken up the option. We had the opportunity to test ESP and braking during the launch event, in the safe conditions of the ADAC Driving Safety Centre near Berlin. Pushed to maximum on a slalom course, the ESP-equipped Movano proved to be extraordinarily safe in a series of manoeuvres which are unlikely to be replicated in an owner's normal driving experience here. Improvements in the brakes were demonstrated too, with the stopping distance for a half-loaded van reduced from 48 metres to 42 metres in a crash stop from 100km/h. Marking this for the driver behind, the new van has an active braking lights system that flashes the hazard warnings in an emergency stop. Across its markets, Opel expects the 125hp version to pull 60 percent of buyers, although in Ireland most are likely to go for the 100hp variant. Visually, the new Movano has taken on the styling cues begun with the Insignia and continued since through Astra and to the revised Corsa. It looks smart, even imposing. Inside the cargo area a number of changes have been made. The spare wheel is now racked under the rear of the vehicle. Lowering it for removal can be achieved without unloading the van. I found the new Movano to be a significant step upwards from the old. If it was my day to day workplace, I'd be very pleased with the results from those extensive conversations with van drivers. Brian Byrne.
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IRISH VAN & TRUCK+SUV Winter 2010 The Nissan NV200 was voted European Van of the year 2010. In Ireland it is being marketed under the Vanette name because there's a positive sense about a predecessor van of that name which was very popular in this market. The NV200/Vanette is the first of 13 new commercials which Nissan plan to introduce by 2013, with six of them for Europe. In Ireland it is aimed at the Toyota Hiace, Ford Transit Connect and the VW Caddy Maxi. This light van is very useable for a company or sole traders, offering a space-efficient package with good space to carry a large load, a low floor for ease of loading, decent handling including a tight turning circle of 10.6m to cope with busy city streets. Its neat size allows it move easily through traffic. It's also easy to park and ideally suited to city deliveries. Working in a pleasant environment helps make life a lot easier and the Vanette's interior is smart, with nice design and good quality materials. You sit up high and there's good front and side visibility due to the big windscreen, deep side windows and large square side mirrors. Instruments are clear and the gear shifter is on a outcrop from the dash and so is close to hand. It's easy to get in and out of the Vanette. A big plus for drivers who maybe have to perform this many times a day in the course of their work. Seats are really comfortable. There are 13 cabin storage areas designed to hold items you use every day — the passenger seat back folds forward to make a flat workspace. There's also a long, narrow, open area on top of the dash, a good sized glovebox to store paperwork, storage trays between the seats. Large door bins will take an A4 road map for handy reference, there's a deep cupholder on each side of the lower dash, a good sized storage tray — lipped to prevent slippage — on the floor and a small area to keep valuables out of view. A surprisingly good open space at the back between the seats, allows room for a large lunch box or rucksack, or even a coat! There are some you can't see, like the drawer under the driver's seat, a secret compartment in the glovebox and another in the centre console. A full steel bulkhead is standard. The Vanette has two side sliding doors and double rear doors without windows. It comes with a classleading cargo volume of 4.2 cu m, and a maximum 731kg payload, while measuring 4.4m long and 1.6m high. The fuel tank can hold 551 litres. The Vanette also has the lowest floor in the class at 524mm. There were six anchor points on the cargo floor and you can get bespoke load management systems that lock into the side. The only engine available here is an 85hp version of the Renault/Nissan Alliance 1.5 turbodiesel. A 109hp 1.6 petrol engine is available elsewhere but Nissan expect that nine in ten will be bought with the diesel engine. Maximum torque of a respectable 200Nm comes in at 2000rpm. The five-speed gearbox is well matched. Fuel consumption for the combined trip is 5.2 L/100km, and C02 emissions are 137g/km. ABS + EBD, electric windows and mirrors, an immobiliser and remote central locking as well as dual front airbags, an MP3 auxiliary jack, steering rake adjustment and a trip computer are standard, but the potentially life saving electronic stability control (ESP) is an optional extra. A cargo floor covering is standard. Metallic paint is an extra. All in all, this is a competent and adaptable van ideal for city use. Priced from €15,900. Trish Whelan.
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Vanett return
IRISH VAN & TRUCK+SUV Winter 2010
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Leasing the real deal with VW Commercials A new suite of financing options for Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles will include leasing options and attractive HP packages, geared to the buyers of Caddy, Transporter & Crafter and the new Amarok pickup due to go on sale here in April 2011. The Business Lease options will come from Volkswagen Commercial Vehicle’s Leasing Partner LeasePlan, while the Hire Purchase plans will be provided at very competitive rates by Volkswagen Bank. Leasing hasn't been as popular as the Irish distributer expected since its Business Lease plan was rolled out for the Caddy Van in April, according to Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles’s Paul Burke. "In the UK, our colleagues find that four out of five vans are operated with a Business Lease, which makes a great deal of sense, especially in cash flow terms. But here in Ireland there seems to be a reluctance about leasing, despite the many advantages." With a business lease such as that offered by Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, the customer only pays an agreed monthly fee over the operating life of the vehicle, with the added advantage that they know they don't have to worry about residual values at the end of the lease period. This fee includes scheduled maintenance. "In cash flow terms, the deposit on a lease is substantially less than if the vehicle was being bought using HP, as with HP, the usual deposit will be the VAT amount at least" says Paul Burke. "The deposit for our Business Lease is three monthly payments up front. It also has advantages for a company's balance sheet, because if they are buying vehicles rather than leasing them, there has to be an asset value put on the relevant side of the balance sheet using up company equity on the other side – a Business Lease is off balance sheet financing which, of course, is beneficial in these difficult times." At the end of the lease period, the lessor takes back the vehicle and in most instances the lessee has the opportunity to start the whole process again, with a new van and another known monthly cost. For companies which are VAT-registered, the VAT component of the lease payment can be recouped against their bi-monthly VAT bill in the normal way. There are also advantages for the Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles dealer network in that they have a ready and known supply of used vans at any given time, coming in after their lease period. And because such leases include maintenance, as with the Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles Business Lease, they will also have had control over the scheduled servicing of the vehicles, and therefore the quality of the used vehicle will be high. "The used vehicle is an important component of the whole commercial vehicle market, especially for dealer networks," says Paul Burke. "But it depends on having good quality products available, and this is best achieved with the lease/contract hire system. "All in all, and especially in these competitive times, leasing is a win-win for both sides." 21
IRISH VAN & TRUCK+SUV Winter 2010
Kildare.TV uses VW Transporter Kildare TV is an online TV station covering news and events all over County Kildare. As well as covering all aspects of local news, Kildare TV is also home to The Gillian Quinn Show. The show, which has been running since June of this year, covers high profile events in the area. Every Saturday evening at 7pm Gillian chats to celebrity guests, fashion designers and people of interest in Kildare. The Doug Murray show can be seen on Friday evenings on Kildare. TV. Doug visits towns and places of interest in Kildare to bring Kildare people up to date information on what you can see and do in their locality. As a busy TV company, Kildare TV can often have several shoots on in one day. "We needed a van that could
transport a large crew to and from shoots, as well as our equipment," says boss Len Regan. "At any given time we could have cameras, lights, stands, tripods and audio equipment to transport to and from shoots. We primarily film on location around Kildare and so a good vehicle is a necessary part of our company." There could be up to six crew members to transport as well as the equipment and so the spacious 6seater Volkswagen Transporter fits the bill. The feature which best suits the Kildare TV team is the large space that the van offers in an efficient size and shape. "Volkswagen are known for their reliability and good fixed costs and so they are the ideal brand for Kildare TV to work with," Regan adds.
New Outback rolls soon..............19
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Kildare TV is the first company of its kind in the country. As a station that brings high quality media to the people of Kildare, image is very important to it. "We feel that the sleek matt black of our Volkswagen Transporter sends out a message of style and professionalism," Len Regan concludes.
IRISH VAN & TRUCK+SUV Winter 2010
Caddy Carry-all
The new generation Volkswagen Caddy comes with new engines, a revised front end and an upgraded interior. But, and rightly, they haven't fiddled with the overall shape, which has developed its own iconic look since the previous generation was launched in 2004. Now with a range of four diesels, the 1.6 versions are in 75/102/110hp options alongside the 2.0 140hp version. It has two formats, SWB and Maxi, as in the previous version. All Caddys now have ESP as standard, a first in the Irish market in the vehicle class.
The latest Caddy has a completely new front end, reflecting the current corporate 'face' of Volkswagen. The operator's area has also been changed, gaining new instruments, steering wheel and other details from both the Golf and Passat passenger cars. Daylight Running Lights are standard on all versions and options are adaptive cornering lights and a radio/ navigation system. The SWB has a single sliding side door as standard, and the Maxi gets two such doors. Paul Burke of VW Commercials Ireland says the 102hp engine is likely to be the most popular power unit, 24
but the availability of the 75hp unit will extend the entry level sales potential. These are the two engines which are immediately available in Ireland. Caddy has consistently been at the top of its segment in Ireland since the current format panel van was launched in 2004. Over that time, more than 11,800 units have been sold. Around 10 percent of sales are in the Maxi format. Globally, the Caddy has sold over 800,000 units. A 4Motion AWD version is scheduled, as is a CNG variant, and a BlueMotion high fuel efficiency version will have a fuel consumption of 4.9L/100km, CO2 emissions of 129g/km and a range of 1,176kms. Available in mid-2011, the premium for the BlueMotion variant will be just â‚Ź500. DSG automated manual gearboxes are available, a 7-speed one on
IRISH VAN & TRUCK+SUV Winter 2010 the 102hp vehicle, while a 6speed version of the double-clutch transmission is available with the 2.0 diesel. The 110hp engine will be exclusively used for a 4Motion AWD Caddy, and only in the Caddy Maxi. The Caddy comes in 3.7/4.7 cu m versions, and in the Maxi version has the longest load space in its class. Five- and 7-seat MPV versions will also be available as Caddy Life. Servicing costs have also been addressed, and as an example, the timing belt change point has been raised from 140,000kms to 240,000kms. We have had a short introduction to the new Caddy Range, and the new 1.6 engines prove to be refined and have good pulling power. These 1.6 diesels have been rolled out in other cars throughout the Volkswagen Group range of cars, and are proving to be seriously good power units. In the Caddy, they provide the most economical van in the class. Externally, consideration is being given by Bord Gais to the provision of a public filling station for gas in Dublin. In the meantime, fleet operators can get their own gas filling systems if they have enough vehicles to make it worthwhile. A significant cost saving currently pertains to the use of CNG. In addition to a gas tank, there is also a petrol tank for short range use where gas isn't available nearby. At the moment, though, the whole CNG idea is a 'chicken and egg' situation in Ireland, although the clean fuel is widely used by van fleets on mainland European markets. The price range of the initial vans available is €14,710-€16,495
Pro-active maintenance saves money Mitsubishi Fuso Ireland are running a service check promotion up to December 31 2010 that offers a detailed 9-point check, replacement oil, air and fuel filter, an oil change and the completion of any outstanding service modifications on a Canter for €195 + VAT. Any work identified during the check is highlighted to the owner and cost for repair provided, which, the company says, means the owner is in full control of what and when they are spending. Emphasising that skipping a service is a false economy even in these difficult times, Mitsubishi Fuso reminds operators of the over-riding fact that they must ensure their truck is legal. Missing a service could mean that a worn part causes a problem when it comes to DOE testing. Servicing helps to keep a vehicle in efficient, safe running order, improve fuel economy and help the re-sale value. Spending a little money now can make a vehicle more economical and save cash. Ensuring a vehicle's engine is running smoothly, the tyres are in good condition and the exhaust has plenty of life left in it can all result in less fuel being consumed. And yes, that could mean a few extra miles per gallon over the course of a year. Safety and peace of mind are also two important factors. When considering the former, obvious things like tyres, fluids and lights spring to mind. Worn items could at best leave an operator stranded and at worst put life at risk. Spending on a service can often avoid huge bills later on – that’s why it’s called proactive maintenance.
Trish Whelan.
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IRISH VAN & TRUCK+SUV Winter 2010 thanks to better contrast on the graphics. And what was a somewhat intimidating centre stack layout of switches and buttons is now much less baffling to somebody getting behind a Disco wheel for the first time. The Terrain Response rotary control has also been moved from behind the shifter to a spot in front of it, much easier, and safer, to operate while on the run. It retains the nowfamiliar to LR fans various pre-sets for pretty well any kind of driving that might be required. The review car had full leather and an auto trans managing the power from LR's new 240hp 3.0 diesel. It's a big car, with really good room for the main five occupants, and not bad accommodation at all for the two who might occasionally have to rough it in the very back. And, of course, that's the thing about any current LR product: it will take to the rough with the same equanimity that it displays on ordinary road travel. I have driven Discos in places as disparate as the snowfields of Iceland, the rain forests of Laos and the high Andes of both Bolivia and Argentina. They just get on with the job no matter what you ask. Anywhere in Ireland, on or off road, is a doddle after that. My main interest this time around was to see what difference the new 3.0 V6 diesel was like compared to the 2.7 V6 it replaced. The paper specs are impressive: 30 percent more power, a whopping 600Nm of
Discovery hangs tough It may seem that there's little difference between the Land Rover Discovery 3 and the one they now call Discovery 4. And indeed, the basic shape and platform do remain the same. But there are significant improvements. On the cosmetic level there's a front end treatment which comes straight out of the Range Rover themes, with a much sharper grille and lights treatment, as well as the incorporation of distinctively-shaped LED daylight running lights. The bumper work is coherently incorporated into the whole, as well. Changes have also been made to the rear lights. Overall there's a bit more presence, although that characteristic wasn't lacking in the previous version. Inside they have upgraded the interior also to Range Rover levels, with better seat coverings and trim, and also work on the dashboard and instruments. Those latter are substantial improvements. The main instruments are now a little larger and more clear
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torque, yet a 9 percent improvement in fuel consumption and emissions. Discovery 4 is a luxury car as well as a working one, and the refinement of this 3.0 fits right along with that in a way that would make owners of earlier generations of Discovery shake their head in wonder. Along with the tweaked for economy autobox it is one of the smoothest oil-burner motors out there. It is also commendably nippy, offering a 0-100km/h of 9.6 seconds, no mean feat for such a big hunk of motor car. The fuel consumption over the days I had it worked out at a tad over 10L/100kms, or about 29mpg. Right on the button for what the makers claim, and a very good performance for a car of its size and capability. It is a strange world just now for this kind of car. The concerted anti-SUV hype of the last few years, along with the green shift to CO2-based taxation, pretty well stalled the market for this segment. In Ireland more than most European countries. But there's a place for pretty well every kind and size of car, and where there is a user requirement for a vehicle that can take the roughest work in its stride, and still offer a strong level of comfort, there's a place for a Land Rover Discovery. Land Rover, as much as any manufacturer, is working hard at cutting its overall emissions, and the improvements in that aspect of the Discovery 4 are just a part of this programme. Maybe, at the height of the Celtic Tiger's rampage, there were people who bought cars like this for their looks and presence more than what their capabilities are. I reckon, though, the buyers now are getting behind the wheel of the likes of the Disco 4 because they know what they need. Brian Byrne.
IRISH VAN & TRUCK+SUV November/December 2010
Sportage is for the real world My first impressions of Kia's new Sportage were that it is a handsome car, with significantly more presence that the current one. Whether that is enough to revive a segment which has been badly mauled here by a combination of green taxes and a sustained, though misplaced, hype against SUVs in principle, remains to be seen. Even if there are those who would prefer that we all rode bicycles, with the childer on the crossbar and the carrier, we all need family sized cars at some stage in our lives. And the Sportage is just that, a family car. Not some kind of marauding, all-consuming beast. Since the first generation model was introduced in 1996, almost a quarter of a million of the cars have been sold. We got it in Ireland with the current generation, launched in 2005. There's a customer base here of 2,500 Sportage owners. The style of the new car was first shown at the 2007 Detroit Auto Show, in the KUE Concept. Key details include an unusual shape at the windscreen/roof point, as well as the grille and lights styling that's now part of the overall Kia branding. Integrated LED front daylight running lights provide their own distinctive identifier to the car on the road. A high waistline and a strong lower 'character' line on the side panels give the car a very sporty styling compared to the outgoing car. It is longer, wider and lower, and the interior accommodation is better. The back end styling is strong, with a sportback edginess and lighting at two levels. Although the cargo height is lower than the older car, the overall capacity is greater. Getting a lot more by dropping the rear seats is a 'one-touch' operation. In their recent new cars, Kia have substantially upped their interior design and quality game. The new Sportage continues this, offering what the designers call a 'rugged elegance'. The instrumentation is top class for clarity and sensible information delivery. For the Irish market, there will be a choice of 115hp or 136hp diesels. The new Sportage will come in 2WD and 4WD versions, and depending on specification can have 5- or 6speed manual transmissions or a 6-speed automatic. In the AWD variants, the electrichydraulic system offers instant
and accurate intervention when 4WD is required. Its efficiency is clear from the fact that there's only 2g/km of extra CO2 emissions against the 2WD version with the 2.0 diesel. The 1.7 diesel will be a B Band car here, and both variants of the 2.0 diesel will be in the C Band. Driving the 2.0 diesel 2WD vehicle in the countryside around Budapest reinforced my thought that this will be a car for the competition to pay attention to when it gets here. The engine was refined and punchy, and on a mix of highway and hills driving the overall package seemed to be well capable of satisfying both existing Sportage owners as well as attracting family buyers who want an alternative to the MPV and hatchback models they may have been driving. As is our custom, we'll wait until we get the car on Irish roads to give a full appraisal. But it's looking good. Following on from last year's introduction of the Soul, and the new Sorento a while back, with the latest Sportage Kia now have strong contenders in 85 percent of the SUV segment. In the Irish context, the targets are spread from the Nissan Qashqai through Ford's Kuga to VW's Tiguan. As well as, of course, the Sportage's cousin Hyundai ix35. Brian Byrne.
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IRISH VAN & TRUCK+SUV Winter 2010
Truckin' women!
Participants at a Women's Day organised in Gothenburg by Volvo Trucks. More than 100 women took
Volvo is working to make the job Less than three per cent of all freight of truck driving more attractive to is transported further than 500 kms women, who remain a minority in the and two-thirds of goods travel less business. than 50 kms on Europe’s roads. For example, in the UK there are Another argument is that women around 309,100 drivers of heavy don't have the physical requirements trucks and less than one per cent of to make it in the driving profession, them are women, according to figures an argument which to a certain extent for 2008 produced by the independent would have held water 30 years ago, organisation Skills for Logistics. In when working in haulage was usually 2006, Britain had a shortage of 46,000 physically stressful for the driver. drivers and Skills for Logistics, which Today the situation is very different, works in parallel with the transport as, for example, Swedish truck industry, issued a widespread manufacturer Volvo Trucks appeal in order to attract more has long focused on building drivers, both young people and vehicles that suit as many women. people as possible. The situation looks similar “Our vehicles should be across large parts of Europe able to be handled by both and in Sweden, which often tall men and short women,” beats its chest on equality says Rikard Orell, Design issues, the proportion of Manager at Volvo Trucks. women drivers is still just four “A few years ago it was per cent. pointed out that the manual There are a number of gearboxes were difficult to preconceptions about handle for shorter people; Rikard Orell. they had difficulty reaching the professional driving that make women reluctant to come forward. gear lever from the high seat. One is that the career involves long So we immediately changed that." periods of time away from the family, Today these aspects are completely although the fact is that international integrated in the design department’s long-distance transport services are thinking. Driving a truck today is not a just a small part of the transport cake. tough job, Orell says. “Our task is to 28
create trucks that are as comfortable and functional as possible for the specific tasks for which they will be used. The driver should benefit, irrespective of whether it is a woman or a man behind the wheel.” Even those aspects that are not directly connected to the actual driving process have become less physically strenuous. “Previously, loading and unloading was an unbelievably hard operation as, for example, heavy sacks of potatoes were loaded by hand. Today the whole logistics industry is so standardised. All packages are on pallets which are handled using electric pallet trucks, so it requires no strength.” Technology and design are one thing, but the focus is also on making it easier for women to enter the driving profession. In order to target women directly Volvo Trucks in Sweden has been organising all-women events since 1999. “We have too few women in the truck industry," says Susanne Frödin, Market Communications and PR Manager for Volvo Trucks in the Nordic region and the initiator of Women’s Day. "Volvo Trucks would like the situation to be more balanced, making it more fun, more creative and
IRISH VAN & TRUCK+SUV Winter 2010 contributing to the development of the driving profession.” Rolf Wallin, Training Manager at Swedish logistics company BDX in Luleå, believes that women drive in a more environmentally-friendly manner, are fuel-efficient and are more cautious with vehicles. In spite of this BDX only have between five and ten women drivers in its 1,700strong staff. Therefore, in conjunction with haulage interest group ‘Sveriges Åkeriföretag Norr’ and local upper secondary schools, they started the ‘Drivers on the Road’ project, which was all about attracting more young people, mainly girls, to professional driving. “The best way to succeed in attracting women to driving is for women who already drive trucks to talk about what it’s like," Wallin says. "And since there are so few women, we have a problem, so we must get this process underway." Dutch haulage company Oegema Transport hauls freight throughout Europe and undertakes domestic distribution assignments. Of around 240 employees only ten are women, but three of them drive on international routes. “When we recruit drivers we choose those who suit the job best irrespective of whether they are women or not,” says Sibbele Oegema, CEO of the company. “However, I would like to have more women drivers since they drive more cautiously and are more fuel-efficient. My main challenge for the future is to have a sufficient number of drivers to meet customer demand. The problem at the moment is that there
are so few women entering the driving profession.” The European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF) has decided that by 2013, all member associations must take the necessary measures, both at national and at company level, to recruit substantially more women to the transport industry than is the case today. Brigitta Paas, Vice Chairperson of ETF, wants the EU's Transport Commission to survey the actual situation. "I want to have hard figures for the number of women truck drivers on a European level in order to be able to put pressure on transport companies and politicians.” Volvo Trucks wants to play a distinct role in this development. “There is no rational reason why women should not be able to drive trucks,” says Lennart Pilskog, Director of Public Affairs at Volvo Trucks. “It is mainly about attitudes. The transport sector will increase again and when it does, the lack of drivers will once more become an issue for the industry. So it is even more important to be able to attract women to the profession.” Tony Doran.
'I would like to have more women drivers since they drive more cautiously and are more fuel-efficient.' Sibbele Oegema, CEO of Oegema Transport.
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New Outback rolls out soon
The fourth generation of Subaru’s Outback crossover arrives in Irish showrooms in December. The new vehicle is longer, wider and taller than the model it replaces. In styling terms, a new grille features Subaru’s now-trademark ‘wing’ motif while in profile, the Outback shows muscular, flared wheel arches, standard-fit 17inch alloys, and a chrome-framed glass-house. Interior improvements include increased seat adjustability, softer cushioning and reductions in NVH levels. The 2.0 diesel is matched to a 6-speed manual gearbox, and outputs 150hp and torque of 350Nm. Subaru's AWD system is standard.
MOTOR TRADE
IRISH VAN & TRUCK+SUV Winter 2010
Caddy launch
Vito rollout
New Skoda men
Pictured with the new VW Amarok Pickup at the recent Caddy Van launch are Paul Burke and Mark Brady of Volkswagen Commercials Ireland.
The new management team at Skoda Ireland — Zac Hollis, Brand Director; John Donegan, Head of Sales and Marketing and Deputy Director; and Brendan Walsh, Aftersales Manager.
Scrappage call Eddie Murphy, Chairman and MD of Ford Ireland, President of the Society of the Irish Motor Industry, has called for an extension of the Scrappage Scheme into 2011.
MOTOR TRADE
Kia Sportage launch
Fergus Conheady of Mercedes-Benz Ireland at the launch of the new Vito in Hamburg.
Ford Chairman's Awards presented At the international launch of the new Kia Sportage in Budapest were Aidan Doyle and James Brooks of Kia Motors Ireland.
Appointment
Eight Ford dealerships were given the Ford Chairman's Award for their sales and service performance in 2009. The awards were presented by Ford of Europe Vice-President Ingvar Sviggum at a ceremony in the Royal College of Surgeons in Dublin. Pictured are Richard & Annette Downey of Downeys Auto Stop; Maria & Seamus Boland, of Boland Motors; Sean & Madge Lillis of Lillis-O'Donnell; Anne-Brith Sviggum; Bob Clarke of Bandon Motors; Catherine Clarke; Ingvar Sviggum, VP of Ford Europe; Neil Perry of Perry Motors; Eddie Murphy, Chairman & MD of Ford Ireland; Laura Perry; Sheila Murphy; Jackie Cavanagh; Joan Smyth; Conor Cavanagh of CAB Motors; Liam & Marie Herlihy of Cavanaghs of Charleville; and Matt Smyth of Ashley Ford.
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Ford dealership Tallaght Ford Airton Road has announced the appointment of Aidan Kane to its sales team. Aidan will be well known to Ford customers in the Rathfarnham area, having 18 years of car retailing under his belt. A native of Drumcondra, his experience spans both cars and commercial vehicles. Tallaght Ford is part of the Fort Motor Group, which last year celebrated 50 years in business.
IRISH VAN & TRUCK+SUV Winter 2010
Quality at the right price
CANTER SE RVICE C HECK
€195
Everything you've come to expect from Mitsubishi FUSO. And now Main Mitsubishi FUSO Dealers are offering an excellent service package on any Canter registered from 2003. This includes: �Detailed 9-point check of your vehicles’ battery, cooling system, lighting, brakes, tyres and other key components. �Replacement oil, air and fuel filter. �Oil change. �The completion of any outstanding service modifications. �Complimentary Mitsubishi FUSO merchandise gift.
All of this is available for the unbeatable price of €195 (excluding VAT). Your Canter will be checked by a factory trained technician and Genuine Mitsubishi Parts used. What's more, Genuine Parts are manufactured to the highest standard, tested to ensure precise fitting and help maintain the value of your Canter. To book your Canter Service Check, contact your local Main Mitsubishi Dealer today and quote this offer. For further information visit or call
www.fuso.ie 1890 41 51 61
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