LIGHT VEHICLES
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• A 1.7-litre diesel engine will be offered in Spanish-built seat car-derived vans and pickups being introduced into the UK next spring by Seat Concessionaires (UK). Preproduction units are being developed in conjunction with Ricardo, the UK-based diesel research firm.
The high-capacity van, the 500kg payload Marbella Trans, may be powered by a new three-cylinder petrol engine, Commercial Motor, April 5.
• A Sherpa ambulance is being developed by Freight Rover with a turbocharged and charge-cooled version of the 2.5-litre Land Rover diesel fitted in the Sherpa 300-Series, Prototype engine work starts soon at the Wiltshire-based turbocharged specialist PAO Preparations.
While Freight Rover is developing the Land Rover diesel, Austin Rover is only months away from launching its two-litre direct-injection diesel engine based on the 0-Series petrol unit.
• Light vehicle bodybuilder Walkers has revised its small steel dropside builder's and general purpose truck body to fit the new Transit range.
E A refrigerated body suitable for the Bedford Rascal and Suzuki Super Carry micro pickup is offered by D.A. Werber, of Harrow, Middlesex. The Rascal/Super Carry Polar Van can carry 2.94m of frozen produce and costs between £5,700 and £6,800 depending on specification. • Volkeswagen and Optare, the Leeds coachbuilder, predict annual sales of 400 vehicles for the City Pacer 25 minibus, which goes into production this month.
The minibus has 25 seats and a modified VW LT55 goods vehicle chassis is used. Says VW special vehicles project manager Ken O'Brien: "Our intention is to ensure that Optare receives support to ensure that this is the most successful minibus ever produced."
II PAO Preparations has completed its turbocharging development work for Peugeot Talbot on the 2.5-litre diesel-engined Talbot Express van.
The above stories can be found in greater detail in Light Vehicle News, Commercial Motor, April 5.
• Peugeot Talbot, reports Campaign, is putting 1 million behind an aggressive campaign for its light commercial vehicles. The advertising, through Millest Fraser, broke in March in the trade press, followed by the main consumer drive in national publications in April. The campaign, to run to the end of the year, promotes the Express, 504 pickup, and 305 and 205 vans, under the overall theme "Built better to work harder".
INVolkswagen has raised the prices of the Golf Caddy and LT by three per cent and Transporter prices by 4.6 per cent.