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BEDFORD 424
Page 38
Page 39
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THE GROWING links between BedfOrd and Japanese manufacturers are well illustrated on the company's stand. Pride of place goes to the smallest and very latest panel van in its light commercial vehicle range — the Bedford Rascal (see page 18). This forward control 1.41-tonne GVW micro van is based on the recently launched Suzuki SK4I0 model — Bedford's parent company General Motors has a five per cent stake in Suzuki — and will be built at Bedlinuls revitalised Luton van plant from February next year.
The same vehicle, Fudged as the Suzuki Super Carry, will .ilso be produced on the Luton assembly line and sold through Suzuki UK dealers.
The Rascal is offen.'d as a van and a pick-up, and has a 33kW (4411p) 970cc Four-cylinder single overhead Cain petrol engine, which delivers a peak torque of 75Nnt (55 lb ft). This makes the Rascal LIR: most powerful micro model offered in the UK.
With its 2.65m3 (93.6(t3) load volume and 550kg-plus payload, the Rascal offers a practical alternative to existing ear-derived vans, although it will obviously be better suited to urban delivery work than extended motorway running. Nevertheless, the company does offer an optional five-speed gearbox with 0.t.411: I overdrive top gear which will help fuel economy at high speeds.
loth the Luton-built Suzuki Super Carry and Bedford Rascal have been engineered to suit European tastes and will have an initial EEC content of around 60 per cent, rising to 80 per cent by 1988. The engine, gearbox and back axle, however, will come from Suzuki in Japan.
The Rascal's van body has a I,895mm long load platform, an interior height of 1,230mm and a maximum internal width of 1.255min. Twin sliding doors and the large lifting rear tailgate provide good access to the body.
Another example of Bedford's Japanese connection is the shown by the 1.8-litre petrol engincd Midi van which is also based on a Japanese design — the Isuzu WFR — but again built at Luton. The short-wheelbase model on show has a 1,210kg payload and a 5.2m3 load volume.
Taking the company into the up-to3.5-tonnes GVW heavy van sector is the familiar CE2. The display model is a long-wheelbase chassis cab with GM's two-litre petrol engine fitted with Ii ydraulic valve liiters and electronic ignition. Net power is 58kW (78hp) and its payload/body allowance is 2,163kg (2,089kg when fitted with the 2.3-litre diesel engine).
The recently launched big-volume version of Bcdfin-d's highly successful Astra van — the Astramax makes its UK show debut at Glasgow. Compared with the estate car body-based Astra van, the Astramax offers an extra 24 per cent more load volume in its 2.32m3 body, and higher payloads.
The show model is the 1,300cc petrol engined 560 with base trim, which has a total carrying capacity of 635kg with a driver on board.
To handle the higher payloads, Astramax models have a new rear suspension with a straight tube rear axle ;Ind single-leaf parabolic rear springs. Alongside the new Astramax is a standard Astravan with a 40kW (54hp) l.6-litre GM diesel and highs /ecification L trim.
Completing Bedford's light CV hneup, and also its Japanese influence, is the K131)4 I 4 4 pick-up which is built in Japan by Isuzu (GM holds a 38 per cent stake in the company). The KB's twolitre 34kW (46hp) diesel engine is matched to a five-speed gearbox with a two-speed transfer case. Its payload is Just under a tonne.
Moving up the weight range Bedford's distinctive Techliner aerodynamic TL cab package is shown on a 101kW (135hp) non-HGV TL 750 model. It includes a fully-retractable root mounted air deflector along with an under bumper air dam, and flush grille panel and wheel covers.
The 2440 6 x 4 TL chassis on show is powered by an 8.2-litre Blue Series engine rated at I56kW (208hp) coupled to a Fuller nine-speed gearbox. The 'I'L /440 is available in three wheelbases and provides a body/payload allowance of 18.5 tonnes.
Bedford's TM 38(X) 4 x 2 tractive unit uses a familiar Cummins engine, Fuller gearbox and Rockwell axle driveline. Its :11 kW (283hp) engine makes it suitable for 38-tonne CiCW operations and its kerb weight is low at 5.56 tonnes.