LDV's Bulldog breed
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by Toby Clark • LDV has revealed its lineup for 1 99 5. These include new bodywork options and the final changes to the Birmingham firm's 200 and 400 Series chassis before "Bulldog"—a major facelift —is launched next year.
Chief Executive Allan Amey announced intermediate financial results showing a pre-tax profit of £8.3m from £72m turnover (on deliveries). This compares well with last year, when the company was formed from the vans division of Leyland Daf: 1993 saw profits of £8.6m on turnover of ,£.80m for the whole year.
All 200 Series vans and chassis-cabs are now fitted with a
Peugeot diesel engine, replacing both the Perkins Prima diesel and the petrol option. The 1.9litre indirect-injection Peugeot XUD9 unit produces 71hp (53kW)-18% more than the 2.0-litre DI Perkins—and complies with new EC emissions regulations.
The engine weighs 30kg less than the Perkins, and is considerably quieter. It drives through the new Land Rover R380 gearbox, a five-speed manual unit also fitted to the 400 Series vee eight, now the only petrolengined LDV model.
The new engine allows the fitment of power steering to the 200 Series, and this becomes standard across the 200 and 400 range. All panel vans are now also fitted with a sliding side load door as standard. Both features become delete options which reduce list prices by £250 and £200 respectively. A dual passenger seat becomes standard on the 200 Series,.
The 2.6-tonne 200 Series City van now costs £1 0,690 (exVAT), £849 less than before.
LDV's Special Vehicle Operations has introduced a range of Luton and box bodies for the 400 Series 3.5-tonne turbo-diesel chassis, each with a payload of around 1.5 tonnes. The GRP bodies are available on long wheelbase or extra-long wheelbase chassis and have an internal headroom of 2.0m, giving a load volume of between 12.8m3 (4 52ft3) and 16.8m3 (593ft3). Fitted with a rear roller shutter door, a plywood floor, load restraints and a translucent roof, prices range from £18,627 to £19,527 (ex-VAT).
The "Bulldog" facelift should be launched at the end of 1995. LDV Technical Director John Rae told CM that it is intended to have a life span of three to five years, before an all-new, possibly front-wheel-drive model is introduced.
"Bulldog" will use the existing floorpan design, roof and side panels of the 200 and 400 Series, but has a restyled front end, fascia and door panels.