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
Volkswagen Crafter 2011 European Launch
Volkswagen’s Crafter has undergone a midlife makeover and gets a new front-end along with new Euro 5 engines… Read More
Ranger towing Bluebird to EV speed record
A 143hp Ford Ranger Thunder double cab is being used to tow the latest battery-powered Bluebird as it prepares to enter the record books again. Don Wales, grandson of Sir Malcolm Campbell and nephew of Donald Campbell, will be attempting to break the one-mile UK electric vehicle land speed record in 2012.Bluebird is the fastest electric vehicle in Europe. The present car — the second powered by electricity to be built under the name — set the current record of 137mph in 2000 at Pendine Sands in Wales. Its 300 nickel-cadmium vented cell batteries power two belt-driven 200kW brushless permanent magnet motors, providing around 1100Nm of peak torque to the rear wheels. Bluebird is 7.9m long, weighs 1,060kg and has a drag coefficient of 0.15Cd.
“The Ford Ranger perfectly meets our requirements and the historic link between Ford and Sir Malcolm made the choice an obvious one,” said Bluebird project manager Martin Rees. “As well as Sir Malcolm's one-time directorship at Ford of Britain, the Bluebird and Ford of Britain celebrating its centenary created a natural synergy between the two brands and reason to mark this special year.”
An all-new Ranger will be going on sale in the UK at the end of 2011 (see News Story). Ford itself is no stranger to electric vehicles, as can be seen here.
