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LDV LEADS THE WAY ON VANS
Page 56
Page 59
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While most of the van industry can be found in Hall 9, LDV has struck out on its own to launch the new Maxus.
Chief among the new launches in the van sector this year is LDV's Maxus, getting its first public airing at Birmingham. The model launched to the press in January, is sure to be one of the main highlights of the show, as the UK's only domestic van maker seeks to convert the investment in new product into market success.
The Maxus is a completely new van range and will be exhibited at Birmingham in five different versions.A six-seat Kombi version gets its public launch and will be joined on the stand by short wheelbase versions in standard and high-roof form, as well as long wheelbase vans in high roof and extra high roof variants A couple of the outgoing Convoy models will also be on view.
Ford, as its market position dictates, has the biggest stand of the van manufacturers and will be using its massive stand to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the ever-popular Transit range. To mark the occasion.Ford has launched a number of special edition Transit and Transit Connect models and the Leader,LX Plus, Hallmark and SilverBlue will be on show on the Ford stand at Birmingham.Also new from Ford is a Transit Connect crew van concept vehicle as well as a new tipper version of the Ranger 4x4.
Toyota plans to gives its new Dyna threeway factory-built tipper body a first public airing at the NEC. Available from spring this year on medium wheelbase versions short wheelbase follows later in the year the purpose built-aluminium dropside body is said to reduce build lead times dramatically. Toyota will also have its Hilux and Hiace commercials on display.
Located beside the Ford stand,Volkswagen will be showing its Transporter and Caddy ranges at this year's show. VW will also be challenging show visitors to a wheel changing competition.Top prizes are on offer for the fastest wheel change recorded each day.
One of the fastest growing players in the light commercial vehicle sectors, albeit from a low base, is the Italian builder Fiat. The company saw its CV sales rise 16% in 2004 compared with the previous year and its Ducat° van (sales up 35%) was the main driver of this growth. As you'd expect Ducat° will feature strongly among Fiat's show exhibits along with the Doblo Cargo and Scudo ranges.
Citroen shares much of the same hardware with Fiat for its CV range, although not engines, and will heat the CV Show in force. Pride of place on the French builders stand will be its new C2-based commercial, the C2 Enterprise. "At £7,495 ex-VAT, it is as much as £1,300 less than its rivals and has a best-inclass warranty," says Citroen CV operations manager Robert Handyside.
The Daily range from Iveco received a significant power boost last year with the arrival of a new 3.0-litre common rail engine and this will be the focus in the van section of the Iveco stand. Top billing on the Mercedes van stand will be the reigning International Van of the Year for 2005, the Vito.The stylish new range will be joined on the stand by the Sprinter van, itself updated two years ago.
As part of its "year of the conversion", Vauxhall will show the Luton-built Vivaro as well as the Movano,Astravan, Combo and the Corsavan.There will also be a nine-seat Vivaro minibus conversion and a debut for the new six-speed clutchlessTecshift transmission system for the Movano range, which saves around 8% on fuel, says Vauxhall.
French van builder Renault will be giving a UK debut to four new models at Birmingham:a new nine-seat Trafic minibus, a Master minibus, a Master Combi and the new Master rear wheel drive dropside. Renault will also be equipping itsTrafic and Master range with the same automated transmission as Vauxhall, although Renault prefers to call it the Quickshift6, and details of the new transmission can be found on the stand. •