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AMSTERDAM
step of introducing hydraulically operated ventilated disc brakes on the front axle of its 6-10tonne Midliner S range while leaving the drive axle with fullair drum brakes.
The company claims this combines the best of the two systems, giving smooth braking strictly in proportion to the pressure applied to the brake pedal.
Discs avoid low speed grabbing and provide automatic adjustment, while air-operated drum brakes offer adequate power for the load carried and are very effective as a park brake.
The first Midliners equipped with discs are expected to appear in the UK by the summer, when it will also be possible to specify the AE tractive unit with a lifting tag axle which until now has only been fitted to drawbar chassis.
Renault's R-range low-deck tractor's fifth-wheel height of 1.06m is partly due to the use of standard 315/70R 22.5 lowprofile tyres. Air suspension is specified at the rear but is not yet available as a factory option for the front.
Oddity The main oddity on the Ford stand (apart from a couple of the soon-to-die Langley Cargos), was one of the latest Escort vans with its roof raised yet further by the Dutch converter Terberg Specials; the load volume goes up with the roof, to 3.3m.
The work of Terberg was to be found on numerous other stands, including glass-fibre roof extensions on the new Volkswagen Transporter and the Opel Combo (Vauxhall Astramax): the company is the official converter for high-roof Transits on the Continent.
Hatchback vans were much in evidence at the RAI, and although many were really cars in drag to suit the local regulations, a few hold interest for UK buyers. Volkswagen displayed the commercial version of the latest Golf (expected over here later this year), while Peugeot showed the neat little 106 van, which is also tipped for the UK during 1991. Renault's Clio van also looked promising, but is unlikely to be imported here after the similar Renault 5 hatchback van was dropped a few years ago.
Another unlikely visitor was the van derivative of the latest Seat Ibiza hatch, but the Spanish manufacturer did reveal a five-speed gearbox for the 900cc petrol high-cube Terra van.