I.DV CONVOY &
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yno can almost detect the irony in the words of LDV boss Allan Amey, when he says: "We've never pretended we could go forward alone." Yet with the demise of the joint LDV/Renault Excel van project in the wake of the Daf debacle, the Birmingham-based van maker has had little choice but to do just that.
This week the fruits of its £30m "Project Bulldog" break cover at the Fleet Show at Silverstone. The latest Pilot and Convoy medium and heavy-duty panel vans feature revised bodyshells, new interiors, a more refined ride and improved anticorrosion measures.
Despite the fact that more than 80% of the exterior panels are new—only the side walls and floor-pan are carried over from the old range—van buyers will have little difficulty recognising the Pilot's and Convoy's lineage. Along with the existing 200/400 Series' drivelines. LDV has retained the old model's interior load volumes. The new range will attract a "modest" price premium of around 2% on top of current list prices.
• Exterior revisions
While rival van makers have moved to embrace a wedgeshaped front end LDV has declined to follow suit. "Our
research told us that our customers wanted to keep its semi-bonneted approach," insists LDV technical director, John Rae.
However, a quick head-on glance at either the Pilot or Convoy reveals a smoother. more curved front end with a practical edge to the latest styling which includes a new grille.
The rounded injection-moulded polypropylene front bumper, on a steel armature, has separate wrap-around corner pieces for easier replacement in event of a minor knock.
Further body protection is provided by new rubbing strips and side blades over the redesigned rear wheel arches which protect the entire lower panel from the wheelarches rearwards I,DV says that these measures reflect feedback from dealers on typical accident damage to vans and minibuses.
Both the Pilot and Convoy benefit from improved headlamps which provide up to 40% more illumination; larger lights are also used at the rear. LDV says it is dipping its toe in the water with composite materials with the use of a one-piece plastic bonnet on the Pilot range, the Convoy retains a zinc-coated steel hood.
Following the industry trend, LDV's vans have gone for a deeper leading edge on the side windows, thereby improving lat eral visibility, particularly close up. The side glasses have also been moved 12mm outwards reducing drag and giving a
flush-fit appearance. Pilot and
Convoy have improved wipers and rearview mirrors.
LDV has fitted new door handles, release mechanisms and tougher security locks on all its new Pilot and Convoy models.
While the Pilot van comes with a single roof height, the larger Convoy comes in standard and high roof versions with the latter offering a l .8.5m interior height. The high-roof Convoy has a more aerodynamic profile at the front than the previous 400 Series -but its predecessor's load volume has been retained. A small Luton head allows up to 30kg to be stored over the driving compartment.
At the back highroof Convoy models have single piece fullheight doors which are up to 150% stronger than those fitted to the old 400 Series. "And because they're one-piece, there's less problems with rust lines," reports Rae.
On that subject LDV is offering a six-year perforation and two year cosmetic corrosion warranty across the Pilot and Convoy range, described by LDV sales director Tony Lewis as "the best warranty bar none." Service times have also been cut.
• Driveline
The previous 200 and 400 Series Peugeot engine-based drivetrains have been carried over to Pilot and Convoy. The former has the 1.9-litre IDI diesel producing 70hp; the latter comes with the choice of either a 71hp unblown 2.5-litre in-line four or a 95hp turbo version. For Ambulance applications there's still the trusty Rover vee-eight pushing out 143bp.
As before, all models conic with a five-speed box along with single taper leaf springs on the front and rear with the option of rear air suspension on 3.5 tonne and 17-seat minibus models. Power steering is standard across the range.
LDV defends its diesel-only policy on its standard vans and chassis cabs by asserting that "90% of the market is diesel!"
While the engine options may have remained the same, UN has spent Limitlion on reducing noise and vibration using Ricardo as consultant on the project. On the Pilot, new engine and gearbox mountings have been adopted, along with a revised power steering pump bracket on the engine. There's also a modified propshaft assembly.
On the Convoy the air cleaner has been revised to reduce induction noise, the engine mounting cross member is stiffened and engine mounts improved. Both models have extra noise insulation material too.
ID Interior improvements
While the exterior may look familiar, the interior, redesigned with the help of Ogle, is definitely a change for the better, liDV has paid particularly attention to what drivers want from a van, especially when it come S to storage space. The Convoy cabin has some nice touches like the rubber double thinks can holder which can be taken out and washed. There's also a useful oddments tray in the middle of the dash (fitted in the Pilot as well) and a large bin on the driver's door that can take a three-litre soft drinks bottle, clipboard and maps.
The rubber floor covering looks hard wearing and definitely easy to wash out while the overall two-tone blue colour scheme is light without being impractical. The sitting position in both vans is good, helped by the high quality lsri driving seats.
There's a new heating and ventilation system with improved flow and side window demist for the first time as well as a revised instrument binnacle and smaller steering wheel with control stalks lifted off the Rover 800 range. All the changes are positive. Operators would be well advised to fit the optional full bulkhead and resin-bonded cargo floor covering and sidewall liners which will help keep load damage to a minimum and residuals up. Cross alb access in the Convoy is good; there's less room for moving around in the smaller Pilot.
ars overall impression of the latest interior is of a solid quality feel that should be appreciated by drivers.
However, from a fleet opera tor's point of view the 1 Convoy still retain enott old 200 and 400 Series' to be an evolutionary, ra revolutionary step Whether those attribi woo new buyers in t side—a market that LE to sell more in—remai seen. But for existing tomers LDV looks brought the 200 and 41 up to date. A rase of flu with more bite....
II by Brian Weatherl, Commercial Motor will dn'oing impressions of range next week's issue.