CV SHOW CATCH-UP: News in Brief

Date: Friday, May 4, 2018

  • SsangYong used the CV show to give a UK debut to its new Musso pick-up truck, which appeared on the stand in Korean spec and is set to go on sale here in July. Larger than the outgoing model, it features part time four-wheel drive, and has a 1.0t payload and 3.5t towing capacity. Power comes from a 2.2-litre diesel engine paired with a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic gearbox.It is based on the Rexton SUV, and according to SsangYong this delivers car-like driving dynamics. UK managing director Nick Laird told What Van?: “It’s essentially a Rexton with a load bed. As a result of that it drives much more like an SUV than a truck, and the interior is very similar to Rexton, so what you see, feel and touch is also much more like an SUV. ”Laird sees pick-ups as a potentially major market for SsangYong, and he has confidence in the new Musso, which he believes is capable of standing up well against more expensive rivals. “We see pick-ups as quite a significant thing going forward - they could be transformative for our company. “We have had pick-ups for four or five years but I don’t think we have given it enough credibility and given enough support to our dealers to properly get into the market. This product allows us to do that in a much deeper and more meaningful way.”

  • Drive-Rite was displaying a full rear air suspension conversion for Volkswagen’s latest Crafter. As well as improving the ride and handling it allows front-wheel drive models to be lowered by 100mm and their rear-wheel drive counterparts by 70-80mm, says the Dublin-based firm. Available in the UK, it can be retrofitted at a cost of up to £4,000 depending on specifications.

  • Making its first appearance at the CV Show was Lincolnshire-based low-floor Luton specialist MaxiMover, which builds bodies offering load cubes of up to 40m3 on Al-Ko chassis. Motive power is provided by either a Fiat Professional Ducato or Peugeot Boxer front end, with the latter favoured in the majority of cases.Models are available that gross at up to 5.0t, with payload capacities of up to 2.4t.

  • Isuzu’s CV Show stand saw the launch of the D-Max Yukon Luxe Extended Cab.According to the firm, the pick-up meets customer demand for a higher-spec model, with features including 18in alloys, an upgraded leather interior, and tailgate assist. Isuzu’s UK MD William Brown told What Van?: “In that particular market, most of the vehicles you can get in the UK are quite a low to mid-range spec, and we’ve had feedback from customers saying it would be really good if someone had a premium spec extended cab.” The Isuzu stand also saw the launch of the extreme D-Max Arctic Trucks Stealth, limited to just 10 examples, with previously chromed exterior features turned black.

  • Leasing company Arval published a guide to running electric vans at the CV Show. Delivering the Future: A Guide to Operating Electric Vans sets out to address a knowledge gap among operators who, according to Arval, have plenty of information available about buying electric vans, but less about how to manage them. Arval’s light commercial vehicle leader Simon Cook told What Van?: “We are filling a gap in the market by giving customers an understanding that not only is it possible to have an electric van, but also what it means to operate them, including compliance, day-to-day operation, safety, servicing, and a general application of what’s suitable for the client in relation to a diesel fleet.”

  • HGV manufacturer MAN launched the rear-wheel drive version of its 3.5t TGE van to complete the line-up following the introduction of front- and four-wheel drive versions of its debut LCV last year. The brand also launched its Vans to Go conversion programme, which will be marketed through its nationwide dealer network alongside its existing Trucks to Go programme. Vans to Go includes Luton-, tipper- and dropside-bodied vehicles, a JC Payne Luton, and an Ingimex tipper and dropside featured on the MAN stand.

  • Shown as a prototype at last year’s Commercial Vehicle Show, Ingimex’s Type Approved Tip-up tipper body for Volkswagen’s Transporter is now in full production. Payload capacity is 1,000kg rising to 1,200kg for the Pick-up dropside, which is available in both single- and double-cab guise. The 3.4m-wheelbase tipper on display had a steel floor and tailgate but alloy sides and a steel and alloy sub-frame. Dropping the sides covers the access steps, but a second set of fold-down steps is provided so that the load area can still be accessed safely.

  • Cartwright Conversions claims to be the only producer of welfare vans with Ford QVM (Qualified Vehicle Modifier) status. The Transit-based model it was displaying has a patented rear design with one back door giving access to the toilet cubicle and the one next to it opening to reveal a load compartment. As an eight-seater, with space for five in the mess area, the van boasts cooking and washing facilities.

  • Chevin Fleet Solutions announced at the CV Show that it has received recognition as an approved Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) supplier. This means that when DVSA operatives are performing roadside checks, if a fleet is using Chevin’s FleetWave management system, information about the fleet can be sent to the DVSA preventing its vehicles from being pulled over unnecessarily. Chevin also promoted a redesigned FleetWave user interface, and its FleetWave Forms app, which allows users to create customised forms.


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