LIGHTS SHINE THROUGH
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['HE NETHERLANDS nay be a far smaller narket for commercial rehicles and bodywork han the UK, but as an ndicator of trends which ire likely to have wide European implications it is rery important.
At the Amsterdam motor show are many new ievelopments, particularly it the light vehicle end, which will interest UK verators. Foremost tmong these will be Volvo's revelation that it is uttering the 7.5-tonne market (as reported in CM last week). On display at the RAI exhibition centre is its new baby — the FL4 which goes on sale in the UK early next year.
Also on view are several new CV products from Iapan which will shortly make their presence felt over here, if importers can set up networks of dealers catering specifically for light-truck operators. Among them are Mitsubishi's Canter range of light-middleweight trucks from 3.5 to six tonnes — a market where Japanese manufacturers have made deep inroads in the Netherlands. Canters have been sold on the Dutch market since 1982, but versions are due to arrive in this country towards the end of this year (see page 4).
At the end of this month Toyota's Lite-Ace 'compact' van goes on sale in Britain; it too is on show in Amsterdam.
At the light end of the Dutch CV market there are no import restrictions so the Japanese have had a clear field and established a 32 per cent market share in the growing 3.5-tonne sector. Last year, this sector increased from 38,000 units to 50,000, although this was helped by a quirk in the Dutch vehicle tax system which allows dealers to remove the rear seats of passenger cars so that they become reclassified as vans — saving the customer tax.
At the heavy end, once again Britain's major manufacturers were notable by their absence from what is a major international show. Although Mazda's Tseries range of light middleweight trucks has been sold in the Netherlands since 1981, the option of rear air suspension on its 3.5tonne GVW T3500 is new. Terberg — the Dutch vehicle engineering company — did the conversion which, according to Mazda, reduces the conventionally steelsprung rigid's fairly hefty 1,970kg kerbweight by 70kg. Volvo has updated its 7.5-tonne model to its FL specification with the FL6 cab and a new direct-injection 3.6-litre engine — as the FL4. Ironically, this makes it heavier and marginally less powerful than the previous F4 model, but an increase in torque gives a better specific fuel consumption. The cab provides a low entry, but poor crosscab access.
Ventilated disc brakes with asbestos-free pads fitted all round, taperleaf springs and a hightensile steel frame combine to minimise unladen weight. Righthand-drive models will be available in the UK from early 1987 with a range of wheelbase options from 2.8 to 4.6m. Daf has extended its ATi 3600 series to include three-axled 6x2, 6x4 and eight-wheeled rigid chassised models.
Daf says the 6x2 market in particular is growing and expects the new model to go some way to satisfy demand.
For the UK only the 6x2 and 6x4 models will be available for the time being. The 6x2 can be specified with either a second steered axle or a rear trailing axle.
The word 'Compact' certainly sums up _ Toyota's little Lite-Ace van — access into the driving compartment is not helped by its sloping A posts and very low roof line.
The 1.95-tonne GVW Lite-Ace goes on sale in Britain at the end of the month, although only in 1.5-litre petrol-engined form — unlike its rival the Nissan Vanette (CM February 15) which is also offered with a diesel power unit. The LiteAce has a 3.5m3 (124ft3) load volume.
Toyota clearly expects the Lite-Ace to appeal to operators who want more payload and space than in a car-derived van, but who do not want to buy a,full-sized panel van. Van Hool produces about 1,900 trailers and semi-trailers each year. Next to the Netherlands, the UK is the company's biggest market.
Although Van Hoof has a full range of semitrailers, including curtainsiders, flats and
bulkers, it is the tanker range which dominates the company's stand.
Among several new designs is this gas tanker semi-trailer with a 30,000-litre capacity. It uses a new lightweight stainless steel in its construction. Volvo's TD41G 3.6-litre direct-injection turbocharged engine, developed for the FL4 7.5-tonne model, gives a maximum output of 90 kW(122hp) at 3,600rpm. Maximum torque of 280Nm(207 lbft) is achieved at 2,400rpm.