Bedford's Paris debut
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MAKING their debut at the Paris Show are Bedford's van and lorry ranges which replace the CF-Series. new light Contrary to previous practice, type numbers have been dropped in favour of the European system of gvw numbering.
So a 250CF van becomes a 250 van (2.5 tonnes gvw) and a 280CF chassis cab becomes a 280 small lorry, that is 2.8 tonnes gvw. As before the range is from 2.24 tonnes to 3.5 tonnes.
Most significant of the changes from the superseded CF range is the front wing, bonnet and grille assemblies'.
These have a more modern "razor-edge" styling emulating the changes made to the Transit range some years ago, but the change is more than cosmetic as the whole front can now be removed in one section to give access to the power unit.
From a driveline viewpoint, the major change is an increase in GM diesel's capacity from 2 to 2.3 litres. Power is up to 45.5kW (61 bhp) at 4,000rpm with torque of 127Nm (93.7Ibft) at 2,500rpm and, says Bedford, these changes are aimed at improving flexibility.
To reduce interior noise level, a new design of air intake tube has been added which runs from the front panel to the engine intake.
A further reduction is made by using a grp engine cowl insulation and a revised exhaust system with rear-mounted resonator.
For petrol-engined variants, the chaise is still between 1.8or 2.3litre ohc units, developing 5 OkW (6 7 bhp) or (7 9 bhp) previously used on CF.
But the shorter 2.6m (106in) wheelbase versions with either petrol or diesel power have closer ratio gearboxes.
Inside, the new range has improved trim with clothupholstered seats and a parcel shelf.
Panel vans with nominal payloads of 1.02 to 1.98 tonnes (1 to 1.94 tons) have two wheelbases — 2.69m (106in) and 3.2m J(126in) — and these have 5.89cum (208cuft) of loadspace for the short wheelbase and 7.65curn (270cuft) for the long.
There are three wheelbase versions of the chassis cab model — 2.69m (106in), 3.2m (126in) and 3.56m (104in) — suitable for bodies up to 4.2m (14ft).