lub-of-Three' I viem offers curt or rear !rive options
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NSTRUCTION of a new riem plant at Batilly, Eas
Fiance, has progressed he stage where three main ldings for body and cab Iduction, paintshop, and embly lines are almost nplete. Work on the 100tare site near Metz rered a preliminary earth yirg operation to shift m cubic metres.
Ehe new RVI plant will proie the Saviem F-range, a Isporter-type light commerof similar weight and size to designs introduced by other opean makers over the last ?e years.
t is planned to start produci towards the end of next year an 150 units will be built h day. The Saviem F-series be a "Club-of-Three" pro as it incorporates the SOF1M diesel engine made by the Italian engine works jointly owned by Alfa-Romeo, Fiat and Saviem. The engine is already used in the new Fiat/OM Daily range to which the Saviem vehicle will have more than a passing outward resemblance.
Where the design differs, however, is in the availability of front-wheel-drive versions — the FB — as well as rear-drive units, designated FC. Front-wheel drive has always been popular with French users, who make good use of the low floor facility for many different applications.
Although foreign makers who have previously offered fron-wheel-drive vans on the French market have discontinued such designs, Saviem user research indicates that there still is a considerable demand for this layout. AT THE SAME time reports from Czechoslovakia reveal that the Avia 30 — based on a Saviemlicensed design obtained 10 years ago — is being extensively modernised to continue for several years yet as one of the technically most advanced light commercials in the East Bloc.
By increasing the bore of the four-cylinder diesel engine from 98mrn to 102mm, volume has been raised to 3.596 litres. Although maximum output at 58.8kW is unchanged, it is now reached at 3,000 instead of 3,200rpm. Max torque is now 206Nm at 2,000rpm. One of the objectives of the engine modification has been to reduce operating noise. Driving conditions, are also improved and component life increased.
Last year's production of Avia commercials totalled 8,000 vehicles, of which the Saviemderived A30 (three-tonner) had a share of 6,800 units. This year's target is a 25 per cent increase to allow exports to rise to 3,000 vehicles. Egypt and Hungary are the main cus-tomers: the latter country is also taking delivery of Avia chassis for a new lkarus midibus (type 553) with 19 to 24 seats.