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Created: 18 June 2015

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles have unveiled their latest addition to the Transporter range in the form of the California camper variant.

This new addition is based on the current Transporter T6 van and is the fourth model to bear the name 'California'. Volkswagen are stating that it is the only factory-built camper van on the market. The new camper is available in two different models; the Ocean (set to replace the current SE model) and the Beach.

Sleeping arrangements are the same as the previous generation with enough room to sleep four thanks to the 1.2m x 2m double bed that folds away neatly into the rear seating and the inclusion of the pop-up roof where another two can sleep soundly.

The Ocean models come fully equipped with a fully-functional kitchen, 42-litre refrigerator, stainless steel sink unit and twin-burner hob.

As for the vehicle itself the engines have been improved and are now 15 per cent more efficient than their predecessors. There are both petrol and diesel units available with the power ranging from 101bhp 2.0-litre TDI diesel to a 201bhp 2.0-litre TSI petrol unit. Also on offer are twin-clutch DSG gearboxes as well as 4Motion all-wheel drive.

 

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Created: 09 June 2015

Nissan have announced that they will be launching a new seven-seat version of their e-NV200 electric van-based MPV.

The new vehicle is being toted as the world's first 'pure' electric seven-seat vehicle with Nissan introducing it as a reaction to the level of interest that has been shown by larger families and fleet operators in such a vehicle.

Based on the award winning Nissan LEAF the new vehicle can range up to 106 miles on a single charge and can be recharged at up to 80% of full capacity in 30 minutes, plus the e-NV200 is reported to have running costs of just two pence per mile, saving drivers up to £2,500 over three years when compared with diesel vehicles.

The new e-NV200 will be available as either; a panel van, fiver or seven seat combi, and a five or seven seat Evalia.

Arriving in UK showrooms this summer, the new seven seat vehicle called the Evalia, will cost from £19,895 for buyers who use Nissan's Flex Battery leasing option (incorporating the new Government Plug-In Car Grant), or £23,400 for those who buy the vehicle outright (including the Government grant).

 

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Created: 11 June 2015

Ford have made some amendments to their small panel van the Ford Transit Connect with alterations being made across the whole range.

The previous 1.6-litre engine has been replaced with a more efficient 1.5-litre TDCI diesel engine, which Ford is saying offers a six per cent improvement in fuel economy (around 74.3mpg) over the 1.6-litre engine.

Less than two years since the original Ford Transit Connect was released onto the market, this new upgrade ensures that the new range of vehicle will be Euro 6 compliant without the use of Adblue and Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) technology.

Ford are now offering Traffic Sign Recognition as an additional extra a useful feature that scans the oncoming road for speed signs and other road rules then alerts the driver of speed limits and displays them on the main instrument panel. Also offered is Ford's Lane Keeping Aid (a useful addition which steers you back into your lane if the system detects you're drifting without wishing to), both of these features have never been offered in the small van segment before and Ford have made a first by making these features available with the Transit Connect.

 

The new vehicles will have access to Ford's second generation infotainment system, the 'SYNC2'. Featuring a high-resolution, six inch colour touchscreen, the SYNC2 allows advanced voice control over connected mobile phones, audio, navigation and even climate control (inside the van, not globally).

Phil Hollins, Ford's Commercial Vehicle marketing, sales and service director has stated, "The all-new Transit Connect has proved a real hit with European businesses thanks to its smart looks, great fuel economy and capable load space."

He also added, "With even lower fuel costs and amazing new technologies, Transit Connect delivers an even stronger proposition to our commercial customers."

Pricing has yet to be announced.

 

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Created: 05 June 2015

On 1st June 1935 the UK driving test was made compulsory, to be able to (legally) drive a vehicle on UK roads you had to take and pass the new test.

The test was originally introduced in an attempt to try and reduce the number of deaths occurring on UK roads. In 1934 there were around 1.5 million cars on the road with over 7,000 deaths in road related incidents.

In 1936, one year after the test was introduced the number of deaths had fallen by 1,000, proving that the test was an enforceable way of making the UK's roads safer.

The driving test has evolved over the years, with several elements being removed as well as the introduction of some new test criteria:

• The turn in the road and reversing are still included from the original test
• In 1975 the test hopefuls were no longer asked to show hand signals
• 1996 announced the inclusion of a separate theory test that would need to be passed
• A hazard perception element (using videos to test candidate's awareness of hazards) was added to the theory test in 2002 and has been credited with a reduction of road accidents by around 11%
• 2010 saw the introduction of the 'independent driving' section of the test, where candidates had to show that they could drive for 10 minutes without any instructions or advice from the examiner
• The video footage used in the hazard perception test was replaced with CGI elements in January 2015, offering a more diverse range of hazards and driving environments

Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency Chief Executive Alastair Peoples has said, "The driving test has adapted over the years to stay up to date with modern driving, and we continue to keep it under review to ensure it is as relevant and effective as possible." 

Peoples also added, “We have already made the test more representative of real life driving by requiring candidates to show they can drive safely without constant directions from their examiner."

A rite of passage

Much to the dismay of many a mother across the UK, the driving test is one of the defining moments in a teenagers life, an opportunity for them to spread their wings and become more independent and offering a degree of freedom not often experienced until after taking ownership of their first vehicle.

The UK has a proud tradition of showing innovation where the driving test is concerned, helping to continually make UK roads safer and more accessible through diligent observation by test examiners and first rate instruction by driving instructors.

With such a great degree of heritage behind it, the UK driving test has accumulated it's fair share of firsts as well as defining moments, some of which we take a look at below:

• The first person to pass the driving test was Mr R Beere in 1935, of which he paid the princely sum of 7/6d (37.5p) to take
• During the duration of World War 2 the test was suspended and wasn't reinstated until November 1946
• In 1935 the pass rate for the test was 63% compared the 47% in 2014
• Around 50 million tests have been taken in Great Britain since 1935

To be able to drive on UK roads it is compulsory to take and pass the UK driving test. It is also illegal to drive without the correct insurance for your vehicle, this means that if you own and drive a van on UK roads you need to have van insurance or you face the risk of obtaining points on your license or even being banned from driving - which would be a shame after you worked so hard to pass your driving test!