Nearly every LCV manufacturer has a factory-approved conversion programme now, thanks to European Whole Vehicle Type Approval and National Small Series Type Approval Regulations – plus the opportunity to extract more money from their customers, of course.
Several LCV manufacturers are showing off their latest conversion offerings at the 2018 Commercial Vehicle Show, which starts today at the NEC in Birmingham. Here’s a quick round-up of what to expect, and we’ll add more as we get the details.
Fiat joins the conversions club
Fiat Professional is using CV Show 2018 to launch its factory-approved conversion programme, named ‘Ready for Professionals’, which revolves around its ever-popular Ducato range. A range of conversions is available in three different wheelbase options, chassis cab or double cab configurations, and with hundreds of customisations.
Dropside trucks, one-way and three-way tippers, Luton and low-floor Luton, and Utility Cab conversions will be offered, all powered by Fiat’s Multijet II 2.3-litre diesel engine.
Ford shows off its partnerships
CV Show 2018 will be the first opportunity for many customers to see examples of Ford’s manufacturer-approved ‘Qualified Vehicle Modifier’ conversions programme.
Launched with seven partners on board last year, and with more partners set to join in months to come, the Ford programme offers conversion options for Transit, Transit Custom and Transit Connect models.
Step right in to Peugeot’s low-floor Luton
The Peugeot conversions range is called ‘Built for Business’, and will be represented by a Boxer low-floor Luton model. This model offers the highest volume body available in the Boxer LCV range with up to 22m3 of load space. The low-floor Luton body offers a load floor over 4m long and interior height of 2.5m, and can carry a payload of 1,050kg.
All of Peugeot’s conversion offerings, which include tipper, dropside, Luton, box and curtainside body options, as well as the low-floor Luton, are based on the Boxer 335 chassis, powered by the 2.0-litre BlueHDi 160hp diesel engine with six-speed manual transmission.
Citroën tipping the balance in its favour
The Citroën stand will feature two of the latest additions to its ‘Ready to Run’ programme; a tipper and a crew van. Both are crew cab variants, although single cab versions are also available.
The tipper offers payloads of up to 1,222kg and a load volume of 5.8m3. The crew van is designed to carry a driver and up to five passengers, while offering a payload (including driver) of 1,325kg. A 24-hour parts supply service is available from Citroën’s Midlands service hub.
Volkswagen’s conversion clinic
Volkswagen will be showing off a new Crafter converted into a Mobile Service Clinic, used for providing mobile servicing to customers at whatever location suits them best.
A Caddy panel van, Transporter van and Crafter dropside will also be on display to showcase some of the most popular conversions that business customers tend to specify from Volkswagen’s ‘Engineered to go’ programme.
