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
Hilux takes third place in Dakar 2012
A Toyota Hilux double cab, specially prepared in South Africa and powered by a race-prepared 4.6-litre V8, came third overall in the car category of this year’s Dakar Rally. Former event winner Giniel De Villiers was behind the wheel, ably assisted by co-driver Dirk Von Zitzewitz.Starting in Argentina, then running through Chile and finishing in Peru, this year’s 15-day event covered 8,390km and is generally regarded as the toughest endurance rally on the calendar. By the finish line the 443-vehicle starting grid had been whittled down to just 249.
Giniel described the last few stages in Peru as having been the toughest. “The dunes in stage 12 and 13 were very different from what I’m used to; small but very soft. It was a big challenge for us, but the Hilux had no problem getting through it all.”
Iveco took the overall laurels in the truck category thanks to Dutchman Gerard De Rooy, driving a Powerstar; produced and sold in Australia. It was was equipped with a 900hp FPT Industrial C13 engine and while it had been adapted to the extreme conditions of the rally, it was a standard truck optimised for best-in-class energy efficiency.
Click here for full results from the Dakar 2012.
