Vans, Cars and Leasing

French van makers Citroën and Peugeot will be offering a unique fleet management system when the new Berlingo and Partner vans go on sale in the second half of this year.
 

For the first time ever in a commercial vehicle, buyers will be able to specify a device which fits under the dashboard and connects wirelessly to the vehicle’s multiplexed network to transmit to a server mileage, inspection dates, average fuel consumption and other useful data. 

Meanwhile, warnings about engine temperature, oil levels, brakepad wear and other critical functions are reported to the fleet manager in realtime.

The new van was unofficially unveiled in Spain last week at the factory where it will be built.

So far 3.2 million Berlingos and Partners have been built since the originals were launched in 1996.

The new van is 4.38 metres long and in standard format offers a load volume of 3.3 cubic metres (against the old model’s 3.0 cu m) and payloads of between 625kg and 850kg.

Later in the year an extended model will be launched with the same wheelbase that will increase load volume further to 3.7 cubic metres.
 

The load area is wide enough to contain a standard Europallet while six load-lashing eyes will help keep cargo in place.

In the cab, the new van features three seats for the first time, although on our first inspection of the vehicle in Vigo there didn’t appear to be much legroom for the middle passenger. 

Meanwhile, this middle seat folds down to reveal a handy desk, while the outer passenger seat also folds to reveal extra cargo space, which allows for loads of up to three metres long to be stored.

Under the bonnet there will be a choice of petrol and diesel engines.

The 1.6 HDi diesel offers 75bhp or 95bhp, while returning 48.7mpg on the combined cycle and emitting 153g/km of CO2. The 1.6-litre petrol offers 90bhp, 34.4mpg and 195g/km of CO2.

There will also be MPV car versions of the two vehicles and a chassis-cab, while the old versions of Berlingo and Partner will continue on sale, re-named First and Origin.
Prices and specification will be revealed nearer launch date.

Honda has now introduced the Civic Type-R. It is a huge step up from is noisy, rough-rider predecessor. The new hatch is much better suited to daily living and usage. Make no mistake, just because the Type-R is more suitable to daily is, doesn’t mean that it’s lost anything on performance.

The 2.0-litre, i-VTEC engine can still provide 198bhp. She goes 0-60 in 6.6 seconds and tops out at 146mph. Maximum torque has been improved to peak at 5,600 rpm and acceleration has improved to a much quicker feel.

This new Civic only has the 3 door design. Buyers can choose the standard or GT specs. The GT pack includes: side curtain airbags, dual zone climate control, front fog lights, cruise control, automatic headlights, lockable glove box, and power folding door mirrors. As always, Honda is known for quality, reliable cars. The improvements to the Civic Type-R were made based on customer surveys, and not on any serious complaints about the previous model.

The VTEC engine has proven to be strong and reliable according to Honda. The power steering system in the Civic Type-R is solid and has a grounded feel. The driver can enjoy a continual sense of control and touch between the front wheels and the road. The steering system is unique to this model and does not occur in other Civics. Power delivery is smooth and light, not too front end heavy as compared to similar systems in competitors.

The Type-R has a much lighter feel and it really has some zip compared to some of its competitors. The Type-R rides lower than most Civics; 15mm in fact, its rear track is 20mm wider than what can be found in the 5-door Civics. The Type-R has torsion-beam rear suspension, providing for better cornering stability more boot space. It has extra fortifications on the front suspension, steer box mountings, and underside.

The new Type-R with its variable-valve engine provides for a much smoother, exciting drive. The VTEC responds at much lower speeds than the earlier model Type-R. Formerly dull drives are a thing of the past with this new Civic. Power delivery to the wheels has been improved with the shorter throw gear lever in the 6 speed manual transmission, there’s a new electronic wire driven throttle and a lower sixth gear final drive ratio.

The Civic has received a four star rating from Euro NCAP for overall occupant safety. It received four stars for child protection and three stars for pedestrian protection. Side and front airbags come standard, but with the GT specification curtain airbags are included. The car includes four 3-point seatbelts, two in front, and two in back, and on the front seatbelts there are pre-tensioners and Isofix child seat mounting points.

The Civic Type-R comes with the standard ABS and brakeforce distribution. The VSA stability control has been tuned just for this model, allowing more control to the driver before the electronic controls kick-in. It can be turned off with a switch located on the dashboard.
The Civic Type-R is more comfortable and much quieter than earlier models making the long distance trip much more enjoyable. The Type-R features remote central locking, an immobilizer, a Thatcham, Category one alarm and the lockable glove box found only in the GT model.

Written on behalf of Total Fleet Services Van & Car Leasing
Honda Contract Hire - Honda Civic Leasing

Tips for the Drivers Who Love Their Cars and Care For the Planet Too

We no longer find the world as cool as we used to find it in our childhood!

The earth is older and warmer—several places in the world do not experience snow fall in winter as before, the summers in many places have become too hot to bear. Rains don’t drench the lands the same way they used to do decades ago.

The earth is fighting a fierce battle of survival against the modern monster called “Global Warming”

The Green House Effect and its off spring global warming together are the byproducts of indiscriminate expansion of human civilization; more speed, higher performance, bigger production—-a need for more has made man much too dependent on machines.

Among all the machines, the motor car has been touted as the biggest contributor to the creation of pollution.

But we can’t do away completely with the cars. Returning to the ages of bicycles may make for the killer plot of a romantic novel, but it is definitely not practical.

So what do we do?

We have to think up ways to drive our cars in a way that make the least damage to our environment.

Act in a socially responsible manner

You don’t have to start your car engine every time you need to rush to the supermarket just a block away! It wastes a lot of fuel and adds more green house gases to the environment. Instead ride on your bicycle or just walk. The Japanese can teach the world a lesson in this respect—you will encounter more cyclists on a Tokyo road than any other parts of the world.

Another thing to learn from the Japanese in this respect is their well developed public transportation system based on the under ground railway network. Cutting down on private car usage and using public transport wherever you can is a great way to prevent further damage to your environment.

Be a responsible driver

Being a little bit careful while you drive can save a lot of precious fuel and prevent a new set of pollutants entering the air

Good planning makes you a truly green driver—choose your route to avoid congested roads. Consider covering as many as tasks possible in a single trip. Also try to share the car with your family members as well as your friends wherever possible.
Don’t rev up your car like crazy—you are not competing in a car race! Slow down to reduce fuel consumption. But drive on higher gears, as soon as traffic conditions allow.
Be caring about such parts of your car as accelerator, brake or clutch. Don’t be harsh on them—they will offer you better fuel efficiency.
Also try to drive light and switch off the engine whenever you are waiting for more than five minutes.
Also make sure that your tyres are inflated to the correct pressure for the vehicle.
Cut down on luxury

Treat air conditioning as a luxury and not a necessity. Use it sparingly whenever it is absolutely essential to use it. Also make sure that onboard electrical devices don’t eat up the fuel unnecessary.

Consider the cars based on environment friendly technology

Driving a hybrid car or electric car is the best way to go green. In London, electric cars are exempt from road tax & congestion charging. Over all insurance premiums may also be lower for the hybrid cars.

You can also use bio fuel or LPG in place of petrol and diesel to lower the impact of green house gas emissions.

You love your car—but you feel sorry about your environment too. There is no need to suffer from a guilt complex just because you love driving. Keep the above mentioned tips in mind while driving and be a green driver.

At the heart of defensive driving is a driver’s ability to anticipate situations, including the mistakes of other drivers, especially during less-than-ideal driving conditions.

You may be an excellent driver and a master of road rules, but there’s nothing like a basic knowledge of defensive driving to minimize risks on the road.

Here are six of the most important defensive driving techniques:

1. Let other drivers know of your intentions early
Sudden stops, turns and lane changes often lead to accidents because they catch other drivers by surprise. Hence, one of the basic rules of defensive driving is to clearly communicate to other drivers exactly what you are about to do. For this reason, it is crucial that your brake lights, head lights, signal indicators and other driving lights are working. If they are not, have them checked right away. Otherwise, defensive driving is not an option.

2. Being predictable helps
Having all your indicators in good working order is great, but they won’t help much if you can’t be predictable. Defensive driving is synonymous with being predictable - you do what you’re expected to do. If you’re signaling a left turn, then make a left turn. Don’t signal that you’re going left then suddenly turn right. And, by no means, don’t keep signaling a left or right turn then just going straight ahead for miles and miles. In defensive driving, one never makes a move that confuses other drivers on the road. Surprises are great, but never when you’re driving.

3. Know where you want to go
The first rule of defensive driving is: know where you want to go. There’s nothing quite as dangerous as making a sudden turn or stop, which is something that drivers do when they are not sure about where they are headed. Ditto for driving slowly then suddenly zooming fast. If you’re confused about where you you want to go, you’re probably confusing other people on the road as well. If you’re lost, park your car and regain your bearings. Check a map or street directory or maybe even ask someone for directions. The worst thing you can do is drive around aimlessly. That’s like looking for trouble with a capital T.

4. Make signaling a habit
One of the best defensive driving techniques is to signal every time you turn or change lanes. That way, you never catch other drivers by surprise. Make signaling a habit. Even if the road appears to be deserted and there seem to be no other vehicles around, signaling your intent is always an excellent defensive driving practice.

5. Warn others as you stop or slow down
When making a full stop or slowing down for whatever reason, it’s a good defensive driving technique to let other drivers know of your intention. You can do this by tapping the brake pedal a couple of times so that your brake lights flash and clue in others behind you that you are slowing down or stopping. This is especially important if the driver behind you is driving fast and approaching quickly.

6. Try to anticipate the worst in others
It may sound cynical and ’s not a good rule to follow in life but, in defensive driving, it pays to anticipate the mistakes of other drivers on the road. For instance, many drivers routinely signal a turn but don’t turn at all. Meanwhile, others don’t signal at all and then suddenly turn. Many people disregard stop signals or try to run red traffic lights so keep a watchful eye out for these instances.

Serg Caro. So, don’t forget that a basic knowledge of Defensive Driving helps drivers substantially minimize risks on the road. Please feel free to ask questions concerning vehicle insurance at Car Insurance forum.