New Launches
Show Report: CV Show 2012
What a cracking event the 2012 Commercial Vehicle Show turned out to be, thanks in no small part to Ford… Read More
Mitsubishi L200 4x4 Long-Term Test 1
We has just taken delivery of a Mitsubishi L200 4x4 Club Cab for long-term appraisal… Read More
Ford Transit ECOnetic Brief Test
We’ve been putting a SWB 100hp 2.2TDi Euro 5 Transit 280 ECOnetic through its paces… Read More
Renault Kangoo ZE 2011 European Launch
Renault is at the forefront of manufacturers offering a mass produced factory-built electric van… Read More
Fuso Canter 2011 European Launch
Fuso has completely revamped its range of light and heavy truck Canter chassis and chassis crew cabs… Read More
Iveco Daily 2011 European Launch
Iveco has introduced new, latest generation diesels to its Daily range, along with detail changes inside and out… Read More
Ford Transit 2011 European Launch
Ford takes the iconic Transit to the next stage with an all-new range of 2.2-litre Euro 5 diesels… Read More
Volkswagen Crafter 2011 UK Launch
VW’s large panel van has undergone a serious makeover with changes to the front-end styling and the cab interior, as well as new Euro 5 diesels… Read More
Ford Transit Connect Electric Brief Test
We spent a day with the battery-powered Connect to get a better idea of what it’s like to live with in its natural, urban environment. Read More
Mercedes-Benz Vito E-CELL Brief Test
Currently undergoing trials with selected fleet customers in the UK, we managed to get behind the wheel of a battery-powered Vito E-CELL… Read More
Corsavan returns over 70mpg on economy run
VansA2Z editor Neil McIntee managed to get 71.3mpg out of a 95hp Vauxhall Corsavan 1.3 CTDi ecoFlex Sportive on the 2011 MPG Marathon. Unfortunately, its official Combined Cycle figure is 78.3mpg so he failed dismally; aside from the best overall fuel economy, category winners were also based on the vehicle with the biggest improvement on its official fuel consumption figure.The Corsavan consumed 23.8 litres of diesel over the demanding 373-mile event run over two days. Each of the six stages was time-limited, based on an average speed of 30mph, so there was no hanging about. A-roads and dual-carriageways were tackled at 40mph while the Corsavan sat at 50mph on the two motorway sections for safety reasons.
“I’m really disappointed,” said McIntee. “I was hoping to at least get close to the official Combined Cycle figure, if not beat it. The MPG Marathon is an excellent and arduous event which does bear a resemblance to real-world driving and 71mpg is not to be sniffed at by an means.”The Corsavan’s class winner was a Fiat Fiorino with the the 75hp version of the same 1.3-litre diesel, weighting in at 100kg less at the kerb and with an official figure of 65.7mpg. It returned 81.4mpg in the hands of motoring journalist and economy run veteran John Kerswill.
We will publish a video report of the event in due course.
