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Contender at the ready
Page 46
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Voting for the International Van of the Year 2010 is set to take place this month, and the competition is as hot as ever as the jury assembles to select the winner. UK judge Andy Salter reports on the shortlist...
Words: Andy Salter
Despite the economic turmoil of the past 12 months, there's been plenty of activity on the van front. Manufacturers are continuing to invest in their product line-ups in readiness for the much-soughtafter upturn.
The shortlist for the International Van of the Year 2010 (IVoY), which is made up of light commercial vehicles (LCVs) launched in the past 12 months that have been deemed to have made a significant contribution to the efficient carriage of goods by road, has been as hotly contested as ever.
Runners and riders
The final line-up to face the judges is as follows: Ford Transit Connect; Iveco EcoDaily; Mercedes-Benz Sprinter; Nissan NV200: and Volkswagen Transporter.
The jury, made up of members from 20 countries throughout Europe, will now assess each product based on efficiency criteria and will cast their votes in the first two weeks of November.
The result will be announced in December.
Here is CM's guide and our predictions to which vehicle we think will emerge victorious and claim the title of International Van of the Year 2010. a
VFORD TRANSIT CONNECT
Ford's Transit Connect scooped Van of the Year gold in 2003 when it was launched. The latest development of the Transit Connect is little more than a minor facelift, although the significant development is it will now be sold in the US.
The changes over the previous model are primarily restricted to styling, and with the new front bumper and grille, the Connect shares the same 'kinetic' styling now evident across the entire Ford line-up. New headlamps and rear light clusters sharpen the appearance of this popular van.
The main changes have occurred in the interior, with the design taking its styling cues for the dashboard from Ford's S-Max and Fiesta cars, which give a brighter, more luxurious look than the utilitarian aspect of old. While we're on the innards, the seats have been redesigned, for the better, and all Connects feature a full-width parcel shelf above the windscreen.
The entry-level machines now feature electric windows and remote central door locking. Likewise, the standard safety equipment includes ABS with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution and Electronic Stability Programme that offers Active Yaw Control, Roll Over Mitigation and Roll Movement Intervention, Traction Control System, Engine Drag Torque Control, Electronic Brake Assist and Hill Launch Assist.
The verdict: We've always liked the Transit Connect. At its launch, it created a whole new sector of the market. The changes this time around, however, aren't so ground-breaking, and we can't see it troubling the scorers.