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MIX &
Page 38
Page 39
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MAX
What do you get when you combine a Japanese sourced LCV with a French manufacturer? A Renault Maxity of course. But is it a clash of cultures?
Badge engineering can work wonders for a vehicle manufacturer who needs to fill a gap without having to raise a model from birth.The not insignificant cost of designing and engineering a model is immediately avoided, along with the working hours it takes to get it to the show room.
For those who don't know. Renault has also been badging its LCV range as Nissan, as the French company owns the Japanese one, But, we hear you cry, why create a direct rival to your vehicle range? Well, it all comes down to economies of scale and market share.
However, in a role reversal, Nissan has submitted its Cabstar for a French makeover, allowing Renault to plug a gap we thought didn't exist between its Trafic and Master dropsiders. But this particular model is sold through Renault Trucks UK, which is owned by Volvo so its fits below the company's Mascott. Understand? Nope, neither do we.
Called Maxity, the forward-control LCV comes in single or double cab form with three engine options:a 2.5-litre turbo-diesel with either 110hp or 130hp, or a 3.0-litre version with 150hp. GVWs are also varied with 2,800, 3,200,3,500 and 4,500kg available.
Matched to this are three wheelbases and a variety of bodies including drop-side, tipper, refrigerated and recovery.
We've gone for the 110hp, medium wheelbase common-or-garden drop-side, which comes in at £17,350.
Rivals are in two distinctive camps:The likes of Toyota's Dyna and Mitsubishi's Fuso arc in the same forward control vein,while the likes of ForesTransit and Mercedes' Sprinter go with the European engine forward layout and the argument for and against has yet to be concluded.
Productivity
Aerodynamics is not among a cab-forward design's strong points thanks to the near-flat windscreen and general box-like cab dimensions. Pushing on through blustery weather you can feel the impact on the vehicle as it cuts through with all the finesse of a hippo, which can have a negative effect on fuel consumption — the Maxi ty produced 24.6mpg for a laden run,just I mpg (or a set of road