The 2011 Toyota Sienna

The third generation Sienna is an evolutionary vehicle that picks up on the strengths of the previous product and refines the overall look of the van. You can immediately tell that the van is a newer model, yet there are no outlandish styling features that would send relatively conservative minivan buyers running for the hills.

The front of the van has a Venza inspired grille and does slightly resemble the F3R Concept with a more pronounced chin. There is a nice shoulder line running down the side of the van that gives the Sienna some visual interest. When viewing the van from the rear, you will notice LED taillights, amber turn signal and hidden rear wiper tucked under the rear spoiler.

Climbing into the van, the instrument panel has been revised. The graining on the materials is quite nice, but if you touch them you will find that former soft touch surfaces, such as the top of the dash, now feature harder plastics. On the higher end models, the faux wood now has a much more realistic look to them, a la the Venza. In the top center of the dash there is an information display. For vans equipped with a DVD player, discs are loaded in the front of the dash in a slot loader (like the Honda Odyssey) as opposed to the current setup where you have to sit in the middle row in order to load the DVD.

Range Rover Pimped-up

This upscale Range Rover has been customised by the car's luxury refitters Overfinch, together with shotgun-makers Holland & Holland.

The 4x4 is crammed full of high-end kit, including a drinks cabinet featuring bottles of posh booze. Owners can even have the steering wheel spokes engraved to match their guns.

This luxury costs £139,650. Only 100 will be made and most will no doubt be bought by footballers who've never set foot on a country estate.

Ford scoops

Ford has been declared the overall winner of the annual What Van? awards for 2010 after walking away with seven of the prizes on offer.

The US manufacturer won five different awards for commercial vehicles from its Transit range, including best security for the standard Transit and Transit Connect.

Meanwhile, the Ford Fiesta Van was named the best small van of the year, with What Car? praising the commercial vehicle for its responsive driving, user-friendly gearchange system and enjoyable handling.

Steve Kimber, commercial vehicles director for Ford of Britain, described the level of appreciation it received at the awards as a "magnificent endorsement".

He said: "This success is a testament to the investment we continue to make in developing the workhorse vehicles that British businesses need."

Last month, the Transit Connect also won the light van of the year prize at the Association of Car Fleet Operators' Fleet Car and Vans Awards.

Vauxhall Movano Van.

Vauxhall has released more details of its new Movano van, which goes on sale in May with a claimed 29 different body styles, which include includes panel van, doublecab and Combi versions, chassis cabs with standard or crew cab, platform cab, three wheelbases, four vehicle lengths and three roof heights.

Under the bonnet a new generation of 2.3 CDTi four-cylinder common-rail diesel engines is said to combine strong performance with low operating costs. Three power outputs are available: 100PS/285 Nm, 125 PS/310 Nm and 150PS/350 Nm.
All engines come with a six-speed gearbox as standard and are Euro 4 or Euro 5 (with DPF) compliant. The 125PS and 150PS versions can be coupled with the semi-auto Techshift transmission.

Ford vans

A poll conducted among leasing companies has revealed Ford to be the most reliable van manufacturer in Britain.

The Fleet News magazine survey, which questioned users of more than one million vehicles, revealed that Ford vans are the least likely to suffer breakdowns.

In addition to this, Ford's Transit van was named the single most reliable van make, the third year in a row it has taken this title.

Steve Kimber, Ford of Britain's commercial vehicle director, expressed delight at the manufacturer's victory and said it was indicative of the quality of its range.

He said: "Ford models have led the commercial vehicle market for 44 years.

"Their reliability record is of paramount importance."

This comes a month after the US carmaker was named as Van Manufacturer of the Year at the Fleet Van Awards - a title it also won in 2008 - in recognition of the affordability and efficiency of its vehicles

Find hundreds of Ford vans for sale at vansandtrucks.co.uk

Mercedes Electric Van

Mercedes-Benz showed a meeting of European ministers of economic affairs a prototype electric Vito earlier this week. The informal EU Competitiveness Council meeting in San Sebastian was told the experimental vehicle with its Lithium-ion battery and load capacity of 900 kg would enter limited production this year.

During 2010, more than 100 Mercedes-Benz Vito vans will be delivered to 20 customers, primarily fleet operators and public institutions wishing to transport items in environmentally sensitive zones with zero emissions, including no CO2 emissions, and low noise. Deployment scenarios therefore typically involve short distances and making many stops in urban areas. Production of a further 2000 vehicles is planned in the next phase.

The drive configuration is designed solely to run on battery power and thus dispenses with the powertrain intended for combustion engines.

A battery featuring powerful lithium-ion technology supplies energy to the Vito. With an operating voltage of 400 V, 16 A current and an available capacity of 32 kWh, the Vito’s range averages 130 km but can be considerably higher given an appropriate driving style. The electric motor delivers a peak output of 90 kW. Performance is oriented around customer requirements: an electronically limited top speed of 80 km/h is designed to meet our customers’ transportation needs in and around urban areas.

When it comes to safety features, every aspect is covered. All Vito vehicles come with ESP as standard which incorporates ABS and ASR. The number and type of airbags also corresponds with the current Vito specification. Vehicles are subjected to the usual crash tests with regard to passive safety. There is no loss in terms of payload or load volume compared to a conventionally powered Vito as a load capacity in excess of 900 kg is possible.

Assembly of the electric-powered Vito is being integrated directly into standard production. The Mercedes-Benz plant at Vitoria in the Basque region of Spain is already preparing for the challenges associated with manufacturing an additional variant. Logistics, staff training and production technology are receiving financial support from the regional government.

In Germany too the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU) is providing subsidies to support the efforts of Mercedes-Benz Vans in the areas of research and development, testing and customer deployment.

GMC trucks on way

"Immediate needs in Haiti include basic supplies and reliable transportation," GM Foundation Chairman John T. Montford said in a statement. "We believe the donation of 30 GMC trucks can have an immediate and beneficial impact on relief efforts in Haiti."

The General Motors Foundation announced Wednesday that it is donating 30 GMC Sierra pickups and other supplies to the Haitian earthquake relief effort to help address the need for trucks to transport supplies in the country.

Two of the trucks arrived Wednesday at a special event being held by the NFL in Miami as part of efforts to raise money for Haiti.

The pickups will arrive in Haiti later this month, GM said in a statement.

The William J. Clinton Foundation is providing transit of vehicles to Haiti. The trucks will be loaded with supplies, such as tarps and tents, donated by Florida GMC dealers.

The foundation has already donated $100,000 in cash to the American Red Cross for Haitian relief efforts and raised $250,000 last month by auctioning off a limited-edition Corvette at the annual Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction.

"Everyone in America has been affected in some way by this tragedy," Susan Docherty, GM vice president of sales and member of the GM Foundation, said in a statement.

Nissan NV200 scoops

Nissan's all-new NV200 van range has scooped the International Van of the Year 2010 award.

The new van, launched earlier this year, fought off a strong challenge from Iveco's new Ecodaily and the revised Volkswagen Transporter to take the top van crown. It amassed a total of 107 votes from a maximum possible 161.

The jury, made up of leading commercial vehicle journalists from Europe, was particularly impressed by the fact Nissan has created a compact light commercial vehicle that sets new standards in a number of important areas - for instance, internal load space, driver comfort and, especially, its low interior noise levels at high speed. Build quality, attention to detail, and all-round driver visibility were other reasons cited by the jury for the NV200's elevation.

When it comes to earning potential and productivity, the NV200's cargo space, at 4.2m³, is between 20%-25% larger than many of its direct competitors, and, in some cases, larger rivals. In addition, initial fuel economy results look promising.

"The NV200 is a very well-designed, compact, 'quality' van with good economy," says UK jury member Andy Salter. "It more than fulfils the most important criterion of the 2010 International Van of the Year award - a significant contribution to the safe and efficient transport of goods by road."

Truck Repairs Advice

When you’re putting a truck through its paces from one day to another, it’s not surprising that after a short time it can begin to look a little worse for wear. If buying a new truck is not an option, you will need to focus on carrying out regular repairs to ensure the vehicle stays safe and looks good when you’re out on the road. Read some of our advice guide below to learn more about truck repairs.

Truck Repairs: Tricks of the Trade

• When you’re using a truck daily, it’s sometimes easy to become complacent about the state of the vehicle. If business is brisk, making regular checks on a van or truck can seem a waste of valuable time and resources.
  

Toyota recall of rusty Tundra pickups

Toyota is going to expand its recall of the 2000 to 2003 Tundra pickup to include the entire country -- not just 20 cold-weather states.

Owners of Tundras originally sold or currently registered in the remaining 30 states will be notified by Toyota in the coming weeks. In the original recall, corrosion could lead to spare tires falling from the vehicle's underside, as well as excessive corrosion affecting brake lines and fuel tank straps.

The original recall covered 110,000 Tundras. Not sure how many more the expanded recall will pick up.

Ford Super Duty

As promised, General Motors is raising the stakes in its big-truck he-man macho showdown with Ford's Super Duty.

GMC, GM's serious-truck division, just announced the new 2011 Sierra Denali HD will offer a 6.6-liter Duramax turbo-diesel engine with a stunning 397 horsepower and 765 foot-pounds of torque. That's seven more horsepower and about 30 more foot-pounds of torque than the Super Duty, according to PickupTrucks.com. While that's not a lot of difference in the real world, the bragging rights will clearly go to GMC and its ad campaign.

The new Denali can tow up to 20,000 pounds -- 10 tons. The bed payload is rated at more than three tons.

"The new Sierra Denali HD is the latest expression of GMC's Denali philosophy of blending capability with premium features and styling," said Lisa Hutchinson, GMC product marketing director.

The new giant diesel engine will get 11% greater highway fuel economy, up to 63% lower emissions and is capable of burning bio-diesel fuel, GMC says. With a larger fuel tank, it can go 680 miles between fill-ups.

Daihatsu Deca Deca Concept

It rattles the senses to see a van like that flung open with no smoke billowing out. Alas, the reason for that is she’s just a concept–the Daihatsu Deca Deca. Fun to say and fun to gawk at, the Deca Deca is more than just the next great toke-mobile, it’s designed with a primary goal of utility. Like the big, beat-up van with a broken window that the local contractor drives to the jobsite each day, people are a second thought for this van. The van features a flat floor, adjustable seating and pillarless doors for simplifying shoving the tools of work inside. It’s powered by a 3-cylinder turbo with CVT transmission

Light Commercial Vehicles values

November recorded the highest average LCV values for two years as buyers competed strongly in the auction halls and online. Average van prices increased to £3,902 from the £3,858 recorded in October, and even outpaced the January 2008 high point of £3,868.

The rise of £44 - equivalent to a 1.2% increase - may be modest but will be welcomed by vendors as there were indications that values may have already peaked earlier this year. However, another strong month in the auction halls at BCA saw values climb yet again.

Model mix was broadly the same, although reduced numbers of higher value nearly-new vans were sold in November, which makes the increased average value seem relatively even stronger. Volumes were slightly down on last month.

BCA's Duncan Ward commented "Year-on-year values are now ahead by an astounding £1,089 - the biggest year-on-year margin on record and reflecting both the strong performance in November 2009 and just how weak the LCV sector was in November 2008."

Despite the average price increase, performance against CAP continued to fall and settled at 98.36%, with a further 3 points lost against last months average. CAP performance has fallen by over six points in the last two months alone.

Fleet & lease van values were the main beneficiary of the increase as prices increased by £146 to £4,344 (up 3.5%) - the highest average value on record. Average age and mileage remain little changed over the past 24 months at around 41 months and 62,000 miles, although both price and CAP performance have been on a rollercoaster ride.

Ward commented "End users have remained very active in the marketplace and delivery firms expanding capacity in advance of Christmas have no doubt buoyed the average price. Year-on-year, fleet & lease van values in November 2009 are £1,256 - a staggering 40.6% - ahead of the same period last year."

Masterplan for New Vans Renault

RENAULT has been the undisputed leader of western Europe's commercial vehicle market for the past 12 years, and a market share of 14.81 per cent in 2009 put the company in a good position to resist the downturn in the van markaet

To try and maintain its dominance, the French company is launching three new models – the New Master, Trafic Phase 3 and a new Kangoo Van Maxi.

The flagship of Renault's commercial vehicle range is the latest Master which had undergone a complete makeover and goes on sale in the UK on May 7.

Outwardly the Master has a sleeker, modern style and it has an entirely redesigned interior with added comfort features for drivers and new storage capacity.

The new Master's front-end styling features a broad grille and large, headlamps. The large wheel arches and blunt bonnet give it a purposeful look.

Commercial electric vehicle

It may be the latest electric sports cars and sedans that dominate the headlines, but over the next five years it is the humble delivery van that is likely to determine the success of the burgeoning electric vehicle market.
That is the conclusion of new research from analyst firm Frost & Sullivan to be released later this week, which predicts that electric buses, vans and trucks will account for 70 per cent of the electric vehicle market in the EU and North America by 2015.

"On an optimistic note, Frost & Sullivan analysis shows that close to four per cent of the total commercial vehicle sold by 2015 will be electric," said Vishnu Muralidharan, senior research analyst at Frost & Sullivan's Automotive Practice. "Vans and light trucks offer the maximum electrification potential in both US and Europe."

The company said depot-based delivery vehicles were likely to prove a particularly fertile market for electric vehicle manufacturers as they tend to operate on a limited range and undertake predictable journeys.
It also predicted that while most electric commercial vehicles available today are light weight vans, expected improvements in battery technologies mean that medium and even large sized trucks are likely to be available on the market in the next few years.

The sector has also been further bolstered by generous government incentives, such as the British government's recent pledge to provide tax breaks for electric vans.

Fiat Doblo Van

It looks like the present might be the dawn of a new street takeover by funky vans. While it’s a little more curvy and less hemptastic than the Deca Deca concept of Tokyo fame, the Fiat Doblo is equally big and bold. The van comes in a number of configurations including 5- and 7-person MPV varieties complete with dual rear sliding doors. The van also comes in classic Cargo with a single rear sliding door.

The Doblo MPV will boast the longest wheelbase in its class, according to Fiat, and will sport four different petrol and diesel engine options when it comes to Europe early next year.

Ordinarily a clunky, new, Euro-release van isn’t that interesting to us, but according to Chrysler’s five-year plan, a Fiat-based small commercial van will be coming stateside by 2012. And this might just be it. I, for one, look forward to seeing Dodge-branded Doblos taking it to I-95 on the daily commute.

Nissan new commercial vans

Another longtime profit bastion for domestic automakers is about to see a serious run from a foreign automaker. Nissan just unveiled its first production commercial vehicle for the U.S., which will go on sale later this year.

The van comes with a tall roof or a short one. Either way, it could spell trouble for Ford E Series.

CAPTION

By Nissan

It will be called the Nissan NV -- for "Nissan Van." And the thing is about as sexy as its name -- a plain-Jane, framed truck that only plumbers will love. It comes in high-top and low-top versions.

For a generation, Ford has dominated the commercial van market with its E Series, formerly called the Econoline. General Motors has its Chevrolet Express van. Now Nissan is serious about getting in on the action.

"As the first non-domestic nameplate to design, manufacture and sell (commercial vans) in the United States, we bring a more than seven-decade tradition of durability, quality and reliability to our products," said Joe Castelli, vice president for commercial vehicles for Nissan North America

He goes on to say:

"We've taken a fresh look at every aspect of the ... business – including styling, powertrain, interiors, cost of operation and ownership, dealership sales and service operations and, most importantly, real world customer needs."

The new vans will comes with 4-liter V-6 and 5.6-liter V-8 engines and in two body styles, standard roof like the E Series or high roof, like Daimler's Sprinter van. The high roof offers the ability to walk in without banging your head.

"It's been too many years since any manufacturer in this segment has taken a 'clean sheet' look at the needs of owners and operators in the (van) segment," said Castelli.

new Dodge Ram truck campaign

Chrysler Group LLC’s is launching the first comprehensive marketing and advertising campaign for the new Ram Truck brand.

In the past, Chrysler’s trucks have always been sold under the Dodge brand.

The Dodge name is not going away, Fred Diaz, President and Chief Executive Officer of Ram Brand.

“It’s still going to be there on the trucks,” he said. If our loyal customers want to refer to their truck as a Dodge that’s fine.”

Diaz, however, said from now Chrysler’s truck advertising and marketing will emphasize the Ram name only. One of every eight vehicles sold in the U.S. is a truck, he said.

"The Ram Truck brand customer has been clearly identified and this campaign marks the beginning of how we will begin to build a deeper relationship with that consumer," Diaz said.

"We know truck customers; we understand their passion and what drives and motivates them. We plan to connect with them on an emotional and rational level," he said.

Olivier Francois, the president of Chrysler brand, who is in overall charge of marketing and advertising for the Chrysler Group, said a key reason for selling trucks under the Ram name was to create more space for the Dodge brand and its line of cars, minivans and crossover vehicles.

The success of the Ram is in the truck market, he said.

Francois also he believes the new television campaign focuses on the American spirit and delivers a realistic view of how Ram Heavy Duty pickups are used.

“We know who drives the truck and we have built our advertising to talk with them one on one,” said Francois, who was brought in from Fiat last year to assemble a new marketing strategy for the Chrysler Group.

Marissa Hunter, Ram marketing director, also said the new campaign also will emphasize events that draw a large number of truck buyers.

The new marketing and advertising campaign for the 2010 Ram Heavy Duty was filmed in variety of locations. It highlights “the nobility of work,” Francois said.

Hunter also said the Ram brand's all-new web site, RamTrucks.com, engages consumers in the full brand experience — whether it's building and pricing a vehicle or finding merchandising and accessories to meet their lifestyle.

Diaz also offered an assessment of Chrysler’s sales so far this month saying they were solidly ahead of the pace during February. But overall sales could still wind up 10 percent below the total number of units sold in March, 2008, when Chrysler pushed up incentives to an unsustainable level to clear out inventory.

VolkWagen Transporter 60 years on.

IT’S hard to believe that the humble VW Kombi/Microbus is 60 years old and was born out of a concept developed by workers at the VW factory building the Beetle.
Now called the Transporter/Caravelle/Multivan, VW’s one-box utility vehicle can handle a multitude of uses (except sporty driving).

The range spans everything from working dual-cab Transporter utes and one-box vans in a variety of configurations through to Caravelle people movers and high specification Multivan passenger vans.
The Australian range includes all-wheel-drive 4motion models and a long wheelbase nine-seater minibus.
All models can tow up to two tonnes (750kg unbraked) and all provide a high level of safety including multiple airbags and stability control.

This is essentially the mid-model revamp of the T5 series Transporter ushering in new engines and transmissions including a seven-speed direct shift gearbox automated manual standard on Multivan and optional on other models.
All are powered by a new generation, efficiency improved, four-cylinder 2.0-litre turbo diesel engine with 75kW, 103kW or 132kW outputs. Common rail direct injection has been used across the board.
The lower output engines have a single variable geometry turbo while the high output model has a twin turbo system boosting power with torque that maxes out at 400Nm.

All three versions of the engine deliver maximum torque (pulling power) at lower engine revs than the earlier T5s for gains in off-the-line performance and load lugging.

Hill start is standard across the range as are brake and transmission upgrades. All 132kW variants have dual piston calipers at the front.

The manual is a six-speed with closely spaced ratios and slick change action. A gear change indicator is provided to optimise efficiency.

VW has adopted more passenger car technology inside and in the way the new T5 drives.
Despite being a relatively high riding vehicle capable of swallowing two pallets in van configuration, the T5 feels agile and responsive with a super tight turning circle and simple ergonomically designed controls. There are plenty of practical features too.

It is available with a raft of options including side cornering lights, lane change assist and blind spot warning.
A rear view camera is optional but some models score rain sensing wipers, auto headlights and coming home lights.

When designing the new T5 VW took into account the fact that many owners spend upwards of 10 hours a day in the vehicle.

They made sure new T5 provides a comfortable and safe working environment.
Fuel economy is better than ever with the 2.0-litre 75kW van capable of returning as low as 7.5 litres/100km. All come in under the 10 mark. This is the first time the latest generation seven-speed direct shift gearbox has been used across a VW group product and can cope comfortably with high power and torque engines and loads.

The body is new from the B pillar forward and features a “corporate” nose similar to the new Golf. Behind the B pillar, the new T5 is pretty much the same as before.
The van load areas are from 5.8-9.3 cubic metres and barn doors or a tailgate are available at the rear.
Noise minimisation efforts yield a cabin with passenger car levels of refinement except in the case of an empty van.

Payload is up to 1.3 tonnes.

We were able to test drive all three engines and though the 132kW model is powerful and offers sporty performance, the 103kW and even the 75kW are fine for normal use.
We’d probably opt for the 103kW.

It sits on the road well, is comfortable and easy to drive. The tight turning circle and slick gear change are particularly pleasing.

It looks good, is practical and feels unbreakable.

Iveco

Iveco has agreed a two-year deal with Dorna Sports, which runs the MotoGP motorbike racing championship, to be its official commercial vehicle supplier.

Under the deal, the truck manufacturer will supply 15 Stralis tractor units, as well as four EcoDaily vans to support the international race series.

Iveco is already the official sponsor of one of the MotoGP teams, Fiat Yamaha.

The Iveco vehicles will be responsible for transporting materials, equipment and personnel throughout the racing calendar, which runs from April, and journeys through 14 countries.

In recognition of the company's efforts, the Australian round of the championship is to be called the Iveco Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix 2010.

Iveco's involvement with MotoGP is part of its broader sports-based sponsorship initiative, which has linked Iveco to some of the most famous sporting teams in the world, including New Zealand's All Blacks and the Scuderia Ferrari Formula 1 team.

Tata Ace Commercial Vehicles

The Tata Ace has become India’s first 1 lakh brand in goods commercial vehicles.

The Tata Ace was launched in May 2005 as India’s first mini-truck with a sub-one tonne payload. Starting with sales of about 30,000 units in 2005-06, its footprint more than doubled in 2006-07 to over 70,000 and further grew to over 89,000 units in 2007-08. Even in 2008-09, a year impacted by the downturn in the commercial vehicles industry, the Tata Ace clocked sales of over 81,000 units.

With brand extensions, the Tata Ace portfolio now comprises the Ace, the Ace HT, the Ace Ex (with stop-start technology) and the Super Ace (I tonne).

In June 2007, Tata Motors had launched the Tata Magic, developed on the Ace platform, as a comfortable and safe four-wheeler for public transportation. The Tata Magic too is recording strong adoption in semi-urban and rural areas, and in 2009-10 its sales have touched close to 49,000 units, a growth of 71% over the previous year.

Taken together, sales of the Tata Ace and Tata Magic have crossed 150,000 units in 2009-10.

Daimler Van

The Sprinter is now offered in 2500 and 3500 models. The full-sized, heavy duty vehicles are assembled at Daimler Vans USA’s plant in Ladson, S.C. Daimler further plans to expand its Sprinter lineup with the introduction of the 16-passenger van. A Mercedes-Benz spokesperson confirmed that four different interior configurations will be offered on this new vehicle. Among them, one will have a wheelchair lift that can accommodate eight passengers.

The van is offered in four 15- and 16-passenger seating capacity, plus the driver. The traditional sliding door has been replaced by an electrically operated split passenger door. The vehicle is powered by a 3.0-liter turbocharged diesel V-6 engine which produces 188 horsepower and 325 pounds feet of torque.

The Sprinter van has been sold by selected Freightliner dealers since 2001. Some selected Mercedes-Benz dealers have been selling cargo, chassis cab and passenger van Sprinter models since January 1. The vehicle can be ordered directly from a Mercedes-Benz dealership or Freightliner dealership. The vehicle is expected this summer. No pricing has been announced yet.

Anatomy of a truck

Almost all trucks share a common construction: they are made of a chassis, a cab, an area for placing cargo or equipment, axles, suspension and roadwheels, an engine and a drivetrain. Pneumatic, hydraulic, water, and electrical systems may also be identified. Many also tow one or more trailers or semi-trailers.

Cab

The cab is an enclosed space where the driver is seated. A sleeper is a compartment attached to the cab where the driver can rest while not driving, sometimes seen in semi-trailer trucks.

There are several possible cab configurations:

• Cab over engine (COE) or flat nose; where the driver is seated above the front axle and the engine. This design is almost ubiquitous in Europe, where overall truck lengths are strictly regulated, but also widely used in the rest of the world as well. They were common in the United States, but lost prominence when permitted length was extended in the early 1980s. To access the engine, the whole cab tilts forward, earning this design the name of tilt-cab. This type of cab is especially suited to the delivery conditions in Europe where many roads follow the layout of much more ancient path, and trackways which require the additional turning capability of the cab over engine type. The COE design was invented by Viktor Schreckengost.^[11]
• Conventional cabs are the most common in North America, and are known in the UK as American cabs. The driver is seated behind the engine, as in most passenger cars or pickup trucks. Conventionals are further divided into large car and aerodynamic designs. A "large car" or "long nose" is a conventional truck with a long (6 to 8 foot (1.8 to 2.4 m) or more) hood. With their very square shapes, these trucks experience a lot of wind resistance and typically consume more fuel. They also provide somewhat poorer visibility than their aerodynamic or COE counterparts. By contrast, Aerodynamic cabs are very streamlined, with a sloped hood and other features to lower drag.
• Cab beside engine designs also exist, but are rather rare and are mainly used inside shipping yards, or other specialist uses such as aircraft baggage loading.

Engine

The oldest truck was built in 1896 by Gottlieb Daimler.[12] Most small trucks such as sport utility vehicles (SUVs) or pickups, and even light medium-duty trucks in North America and Russia will use petrol engines (gasoline engines), but many diesel engined models are now being produced. Most heavier trucks use four stroke diesel engine with a turbocharger and aftercooler. Huge off-highway trucks use locomotive-type engines such as a V12

Detroit Diesel two stroke engine. Diesel engines are becoming the engine of choice for trucks ranging from class 3 to 8 GVWs.

North American manufactured highway trucks almost always use an engine built by a third party, such as CAT, Cummins, or Detroit Diesel. The only exceptions to this are Volvo and its subsidiary Mack Trucks, which are available with their own engines. Freightliner Trucks, Sterling Trucks and Western Star, subsidiaries of Daimler AG, are available with Mercedes-Benz and Detroit Diesel engines. Trucks and buses built by Navistar International usually also contain International engines. The Swedish manufacturer Scania claims they stay away from the U.S. market because of this third party tradition.[citation needed]
In the European Union, all new lorry engines must comply with Euro 5 emission regulation

Drivetrain

Small trucks use the same type of transmissions as almost all cars, having either an automatic transmission or a manual transmission with synchromesh (synchronizers). Bigger trucks often use manual transmissions without synchron isers, saving bulk and weight, although synchromesh transmissions are used in larger trucks as well. Transmissions without synchronizers, known as "crash boxes", require double-clutching for each shift, (which can lead to repetitive motion injuries), or a technique known colloquially as "floating", a method of changing gears which doesn't use the clutch, except for starts and stops, due to the physical effort of double clutching, especially with non power assisted clutches, faster shifts, and less clutch wear.

Double-clutching allows the driver to control the engine and transmission revolutions to synchronize, so that a smooth shift can be made, e.g., when upshifting, the accelerator pedal is released and the clutch pedal is depressed while the gear lever is moved into neutral, the clutch pedal is then released and quickly pushed down again while the gear lever is moved to the next higher gear. Finally, the clutch pedal is released and the accelerator pedal pushed down to obtain required engine speed. Although this is a relatively fast movement, perhaps a second or so while transmission is in neutral, it allows the engine speed to drop and synchronize engine and transmission revolutions relative to the road speed. Downshifting is performed in a similar fashion, except the engine speed is now required to increase (while transmission is in neutral) just the right amount in order to achieve the synchronization for a smooth, non-collision gear change. Skip changing is also widely used; in principle operation is the same as double-clutching, but it requires neutral be held slightly longer than a single gear change.

Common North American setups include 9, 10, 13, 15, and 18 speeds. Automatic and semi-automatic transmissions for heavy trucks are becoming more and more common, due to advances both in transmission and engine power. In Europe 8, 10, 12 and 16 gears are common on larger trucks with manual transmission, while automatic or semi-automatic transmissions would have anything from 5 to 12 gears. Almost all heavy truck transmissions are of the "range and split" (double H shift pattern) type, where range change and so-called half gears or splits are air operated and always preselected before the main gear selection.

Frame

A truck frame consists of two parallel boxed (tubular) or C-shaped rails, or beams, held together by crossmembers. These frames are referred to as ladder frames due to their resemblance to a ladder if tipped on end. The rails consist of a tall vertical section (two if boxed) and two shorter horizontal flanges. The height of the vertical section provides opposition to vertical flex when weight is applied to the top of the frame (beam resistance). Though typically flat the whole length on heavy duty trucks, the rails may sometimes be tapered or arched for clearance around the engine or over the axles. The holes in rails are used either for mounting vehicle components and running wires and hoses, or measuring and adjusting the orientation of the rails at the factory or repair shop.

Though they may be welded, crossmembers are most often attached to frame rails by bolts or rivets. Crossmembers may be boxed or stamped into a c-shape, but are most commonly boxed on modern vehicles, particularly heavy trucks.

The frame is almost always made of steel, but can be made (whole or in part) of aluminium for a lighter weight. A tow bar may be found attached at one or both ends, but heavy trucks almost always make use of a fifth wheel hitch.

Citroën

To reduce the environmental impact of its LCV range, Citroën is using advanced, affordable technology to achieve emission reductions and fuel efficiency gains. This approach, to reduce the carbon footprint of its LCVs, is seen in Citroëns:-

* standardisation of ultra-fuel-efficient, low-emission HDi diesels, which are recognised as being the best available in Europe
* extended LCV service intervals, up to 25,000 miles
* authorisation of up to 30 per cent biodiesel, without technical modification or effect on warranty
* wide range of dual-fuel (petrol/LPG) Nemo, Berlingo and Dispatch models, which offer fuel cost savings and significant reductions in CO2, NOx and particulates

The benefits of these fuel efficiency and emission improvements have been highlighted with the recent publication of the Vehicle Certification Agency LCV CO2 and fuel consumption database. This database shows that Citroën's innovative Nemo van leads the field when it comes to a compact city van that can carry over 600kg - with a CO2 figure of just 116g/km. Moving up the weight range, the Berlingo, with CO2 emissions starting from just 153g/km, is significantly better than the sales market leader and most other vans in its class. The larger Citroën Dispatch is the best compact panel van with CO2 emissions starting from just 191g/km. The Relay range also sets the pace with CO2 emissions from only 208g/km - significantly better than the sales market leader in the large van sector.

Other advanced green engineering development projects are in hand. With Citroën UK's help, Ashwoods Automotive Ltd have just embarked upon a three year development programme for a range of versatile Hybrid systems, suitable for Berlingo, Dispatch and Relay models.

Ashwoods has an enviable track record in the 'Low Emissions' vehicle sector - the Company is a sole supplier of Hybrid vehicles to the Low Carbon Vehicles Procurement Programme (LCVPP), funded by the Department for Transport.

The Company is already supplying vehicles through the LCVPP to national fleets such as the Royal Mail, Environment Agency, HMRC, TfL and a growing number of local authorities. As such, Citroën has high expectations for this new project, which aims to deliver significant fuel efficiency gains and emission reductions.

Citroën is also working in partnership with Venturi - a renowned European electric vehicle specialist - to develop and launch a Berlingo First Electric van early in 2010. This significantly changed and improved version of the original Berlingo Electrique, which was sold in the UK up to 2005, will feature Sodium Nickel Chloride batteries and will have an estimated top speed of 62mph and a range of 75 miles. A limited production run has already been built and the initial vehicles are on trial in France with La Poste - the French Postal Service. Citroën UK will consider the possible introduction of this model following these trials.


Robert Handyside, commercial vehicle operations manager, comments: "Citroën is already one of the leading companies in supplying fuel-efficient, low-emission LCVs and we are also maintaining the pace of development of our own conventional, highly efficient engines. So the Company is not resting on its laurels. Next year, we will be introducing our advanced Euro 5 HDi diesel engines, which will provide customers with even greater fuel economy, performance and further emissions reductions."

The Monster Fly

the ford monster fly

the ford monster fly

The Limo Truck Wallpaper

Ford Limo

Ford Limo

Dodge Limo

Dodge Limo

The Monster

Truck freestyle

Truk Destroyer

Truck freestyle

Truk Destroyer

General Motors recall on 2010 van models

General Motors issued a recall and stop-sale on heavy-duty van models such as the 2010 Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana vans due to a problem with the alternator that could potentially lead to a fire. With a panicky vibe, GM advises owners to stop driving the vehicles immediately, adding that vehicles should be parked away from buildings and vehicles, and owners should disconnect both battery cables. Vehicles should not be used until GM has come up with a fix for the problem.


Many of the recalled vans are owned by company fleets. The U.S. recall includes all 2500, 3500, and 4500 series models built in February and March of this year only. Light duty vans are excluded from the recall because they use a different alternator. Some of the affected vehicles are utilised for retail operations and as rentals. With the stop-sale order, the vans cannot be sold or leased.

It is unknown if any units are affected in the UAE or other GCC countries.

Production of Ford

The firm axed half of its 1,100 workforce at the UK's only assembly plant in Southampton last year.
Ford had said production of the panel vans, which is being moved to Turkey, would cease at the factory in 2011 to be replaced by Transit chassis cabs.

The manufacturer, which makes about 35,000 vans a year at the site, said the move should not affect jobs.
The site will produce similar numbers of chassis cabs, which allows users to adapt the body of the vehicle for specific use.

The final vans will roll off the production line once the next generation of Transit vans are ready to be manufactured in Turkey.

'Last outpost'
A Ford spokesman said: "The plan remains the same at Southampton but we are unsure when the next generation of Transit will come in which pushes production of the current panel vans beyond 2011 at the site.


"Ford has outlined a multi-million pound investment plan for Southampton as lead plant for the chassis cab variants of the next model.

"The UK remains an important market for Transit."

Steve Banner, from What Van? magazine, said it would be a sad day when the final panel van rolls off the production line in the UK.


He said: "The Transit plant in Southampton is the last outpost of vehicle assembly in the UK for Ford.
"The Transit will continue in chassis cab form, but of course it won't be a van."

More than 500 workers at the factory in Swaythling took voluntary redundancy or retirement last May.
The plant has also been reduced to a single shift.

The manufacturer blamed "unprecedented" economic conditions.

New Van Storage for Ford

WEATHER GUARD is introducing new van storage solutions for the Ford Transit Connect van. The new storage solutions are designed and crafted to fit the Transit Connect, a very successful commercial vehicle in Europe that is now available in the U.S. market.


The van storage solutions can be adapted to almost any business that needs van storage.

WEATHER GUARD equipment offers the most options for specific trades and professions such as general contracting, plumbing, HVAC, electrical, telecom, parcel delivery, the locksmith trade and many more.

Special features of the storage solutions include a custom bulkhead, space-maximizing design, and a wide-range of shelving and accessory options. The custom bulkhead provides excellent protection against shifting loads, minimizes rattling and optimizes space.

For greater visibility, a wire mesh bulkhead is available along with wire mesh window screens. Shelving units fit tightly to the Transit Connect's walls, freeing up floor space while 12 inch and 14 inch shelf widths provide storage flexibility.