News: October 2007

For the 4th time The European Road Transport Innovation Award was awarded to the most innovative product at The European Road Transport Show.

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The International Truck of the Year 2008 was unveiled at last week's Amsterdam truck show - Jury chairman Andy Salter explains the decision. The MAN TG Series has been voted International Truck of the Year 2008 (IToY) at The European Road Transport Show in Amsterdam. The international jury, made up of CV journalists from 20 European countries, awarded the new TG Series a total of 111 votes to giving MAN's new heavy duty truck range a clear lead. There were a number of strong challengers this year - the MAN beat off the Iveco Stralis and Renault Premium Lander to scoop top honours. This is MAN's seventh ITOY award, which is an unprecedented achievement Mercedes and Volvo each have five victories under their belts. The TG Series replaces the TGA in the MAN line-up. The TGX, with its full-width cab, is designed for long-haul work the narrower TGS will appeal to the short-haul and construction sectors. The flagship 680hp V8 version of the TGX is currently the most powerful road-going truck in the world - the rest of the range relies on the well-regarded D26 and D20 motors rated at 320-540hp. Although the driveline and electrical system are a straight carry over from the old TGA range this is much more than a facelift new 35% of the parts on the new line-up are new. The exterior changes to the TGX/TGS are largely cosmetic but there have been some functional improvements. For example, improved aerodynamics are said to cut fuel consumption by 2% and wind noise by 30%. this year - the MAN beat off the Iveco Stralis and Renault Premium Lander to scoop top honours. This is MAN's seventh ITOY award, which is an unprecedented achievement Mercedes and Volvo each have five victories under their belts. The TG Series replaces the TGA in the MAN line-up. The TGX, with its full-width cab, is designed for long-haul work the narrower TGS will appeal to the short-haul and construction sectors. The flagship 680hp V8 version of the TGX is currently the most powerful road-going truck in the world - the rest of the range relies on the well-regarded D26 and D20 motors rated at 320-540hp. Although the driveline and electrical system are a straight carry over from the old TGA range this is much more than a facelift new 35% of the parts on the new line-up are new. The exterior changes to the TGX/TGS are largely cosmetic but there have been some functional improvements. For example, improved aerodynamics are said to cut fuel consumption by 2% and wind noise by 30%.

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The new Citroën Dispatch range has just scooped the prestigious International Van of the Year 2008 award. In a ceremony in Amsterdam at the European Road Transport Show on 25 October it was announced that Citroën’s Dispatch (known as the Jumpy in other European markets) had beaten off competition from an exceptionally strong field to win the title. Andy Salter, UK International Van of the Year jury member and editor of Commercial Motor, comments, "Whether empty or laden, the on-road driveability of the Citroën Dispatch is second to none. The fact it has also been designed for passenger purposes offers an obvious benefit for the driver. Both driveability and manoeuvrability are greatly improved over the outgoing model. In addition to developing a commercial vehicle with the comfort, handling, chassis stiffness and safety standards of a passenger car, the engineers have also ensured the braking system is superb and the availability of ESP and several airbags puts it at the top of the safety class. This van is also the only vehicle in its class to meet the European safety standard for cars ECE 12-03. A worthy winner of the Van of the Year 2008." The panel of judges, drawn from Europe’s top international transport journalists, were impressed by the Dispatch range’s innovative and practical design, positive moves to reduce its carbon footprint and high levels of safety, comfort and driveability. The Dispatch range offers a wide choice of bodyshell designs, with two wheelbases, two roof heights, a platform cab and multiple door configurations. However, the advantages do not stop there, explained Robert Handyside, Citroën’s commercial vehicle operations manager, "The Dispatch’s sheer versatility, operational efficiency and compact size set it apart from the many competitors in this increasingly popular sector of the van market." With today’s increasing emphasis on reducing environmental impact, the Dispatch’s ‘green’ credentials were also a key consideration. Here it scored very highly, with class-leading fuel consumption and the availability of Citroën’s Diesel Particulate Filter System (DPFS). This is the first time such a system, which reduces particulate emissions to virtually immeasurable levels, has been offered on a van in Europe. Also, like all other Citroën light commercial vehicles, the Dispatch can run on up to 30 per cent biodiesel, without any modification or effect on warranty. The Dispatch also scores highly in ease and economy of operation. As Robert Handyside explained, "It has one of the lowest insurance groups in its class and the whole vehicle has been designed with ease of maintenance and repair in mind. This makes the Dispatch an extremely practical proposition for the fleet operator, for whom minimising vehicle downtime must be one of the prime considerations in vehicle selection." In the UK, the Citroën Dispatch panel van is available in 1,000 and 1,200kg payload capacities, 5, 6 and 7 cu. m load compartment volumes and a choice of 100hp, 120hp and 136hp fuel-efficient, low emissions HDi diesel engines. In addition, there is a wide choice of 5, 6, 8 and 9–seat Combis, window vans and a unique platform cab for specialist applications such as mini motor caravan or high-cube temperature-controlled volume bodywork. To increase operational efficiency all Dispatch models are specified with three-seats in the cab and all panel vans, combis and window vans have also dual side load doors. "The UK van buyer has recognized the new Dispatch as a winner since its launch in February. UK sales of the model are this year running at high levels, up 16% compared to 2006, and the expanded range has ensured that the new Dispatch appeals to an even wider range of customers in an increasingly competitive market," adds Robert Handyside.

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