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Keen to be green
Page 46
Page 47
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We get behind the wheels of two examples of the new 'green range of Daily and EcoDaily vehicles, and find out if they will improve your driving experience.
Words: Colin Barnett
We looked at the specifications of lveco's new Daily and EcoDaily ranges last week, and we have now had the opportunity to drive them in the UK.
Briefly, the range features additional engines that meet the latest Euro-5 and EEV (Enhanced Environmentallyfriendly Vehicle) emissions standards, with power coming from diesel, CNG and even electricity.
The Agile automated gearbox has been improved, while finishing off the improvements are a restyled frontal appearance and a comprehensive cab interior makeover.
Driving
Over a snowy Midlands morning, we drove two 3.5-tonne examples, which covered all the major new features First was a 35S14 NP van, featuring the 136hp/350Nm CNG engine and six-speed manual transmission.
The engine starts life as a regular 3.0-litre diesel unit, and the bottom end remains largely as standard. The cylinder head, though, has been considerably modified to replace the injectors with spark plugs and to reduce the compression ratio to a more petrol-like level An electronic ignition system has been added, and a relatively simple single-point injection device is installed in the inlet tract. Apart from the gas storage tanks and associated pressure-control mechanism, that's about it.
A 14-litre petrol tank is installed as a get-you-home' emergency measure, only allowing the engine to run at reduced power to comply with legislative demands.
Anyone expecting a massive improvement in NVH (noise, vibration and harshness) and refinement over the diesel engine will be disappointed.
With the Natural Power engine delivering 136hp and the same 350Nm as the corresponding diesel, and only over a slightly narrower power band, 1,50Orpm-2,73Orpm against 1,25Orpm-3,00Orpm, there is little difference in the driving sensation. If you've arranged the gas supply infrastructure, there is little operational difference, either.
The only issue is cost, both the capital cost of the vehicle and of providing that infrastructure. On today's costings, the sums are unlikely to make sense out of a transport budget, but that's not to say "keen to be seen to be green" operators won't find funding in their PR budgets.
The second vehicle was a 35C15 double-cab tipper, with 3.0-litres of diesel power and the newly recalibrated Agile six-speed automated manual.As we already alluded, the refinement of the diesel engine is quite impressive, and the latest Agile improves that. Software revisions give a smoother and more responsive shift, although a heavyduty AMT is never going to be as seamless as a torque converter auto. There is a perceptible delay while the process happens, but nothing to affect the experience.
Improvements
The biggest improvement is in the smoothness and timing of downshifts, both on slowing down and when increased pedal pressure indicates more power is required.
The only negative is that when a sudden call is made for a lot more power. involving more than a couple of ratios, there is a brief delay while the computer gets things lined up, but the new Agile is a worthwhile improvement.
We grabbed a chance to relax and reflect on the interior improvements. Given some of lveco's lairy Daily interiors of the past, it has thankfully resisted the chance to cover the seats in logos from its current marketing icon, Popeye. The new grey trim is a model of taste and restraint, although the use of aluminium finish around the dashboard relieves the greyness, Even the driving seat allows a good range of adjustment, and there's the option of a six-litre storage box under the passenger scat.
The instrument panel is new, with clear markings and a comprehensive trip computer. On the CNG van, our fuel consumption was showing 26 miles per kilogram.
Iveco has reinforced the Daily range's appeal with vans that call for consideration against the best competition. •