• The neglected 3.5-7.5tonne market sector will get a boost
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next year when both Renault and Iveco Ford launch new or revised ranges.
Renault will be supplementing its dated 50 Series with a new line-up called the B range at the beginning of 1991. Later in the year, Iveco Ford intends to expand its TurboDaily range to offer bigger payloads and more power.
Renault has been selling the B range on the Continent for some time now; right-hand drive production is scheduled to start in November.
The B range line-up is similar to the Iveco TurboDaily — a rear-wheeldrive design, using a ladder-type chassis, twin rear wheels, and a front beam axle with disc brakes. The cab is taken from the Master van range.
There are two basic models in Europe: the B80 and the B110 (previously the B70 and B90). Both are powered by the latest direct-injection 2.5-litre diesels from the Fiat-owned Sofim plant, and while the B80 gets the naturally aspirated 56kW (76hp) version, the B110 has the turbocharged 78kW (106hp) engine (which is already used in the TurboDaily).
CM understands that only the turbocharged B110 variant will be coming to the UK, both in integral van form up to 5.0 tonnes, and in chassis-cab and crew-cab forms up to 6.0 tonnes, with the range extending down to 3.5 tonnes.
The chassis-cab can accommodate bodies between
2.1 and 6.1 metres, while the vans range up to the new highcapacity 14m3 version shown at the Paris Show.
Renault will be aiming the B range at the retail market, while the heavier 50 Series will be retained for its loyal customers in the utilities. The 4x4 version of the B110 on sale on the Continent is unlikely to form part of the UK launch line-up, but could follow later.
No doubt partly in response to the new challenger from France, Iveco Ford is uprating its TurboDaily range.
A spokesman at the Paris Show indicated that the maximum gross weight would be increased from 5.0 to 6.0 tonnes, while the additional payload would be accommodated by more power, with the current 2.5-litre turbodiesel being boosted to around 90kW (120hp) thanks to charge cooling. It is not yet clear if larger bodywork would accompany the higher GVW.
The heavier TurboDaily is expected to get its launch at a Continental show next spring, with UK sales likely to begin during the summer.
The source at the Paris Show indicated the change could spell the end for the slow-selling 6.5 and 7.5-tonne GVW TurboZeta integral vans.
A UK spokesman has denied this but it seems likely that when the Iveco-derived light truck to be built at Langley next. year arrives, the days of the Turbo-Zeta will be numbered.
Iveco Ford still has no plans to bring in the less powerful naturally aspirated version of the Daily, largely because it would clash with the Transit. This is prohibited by the terms of the understanding between Iveco and Ford.