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Van

OTR Insider – How to Boost Productivity On Your Delivery Team

Running a business that utilizes fleet drivers is extremely demanding. With your employees out of reach while on the road, you may feel you have no way to manage them. Because they’re out of reach, you may also notice their productivity levels are dropping. Professional fleet drivers have a lot of responsibility. From conducting maintenance checks on their vehicles to obeying all traffic laws and keeping passengers safe, your drivers wear a lot of hats. To ensure your employees are on top of their game, implement these best practices into your company to boost productivity. Use Telematic Technology If you …

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Industry Insider: How to Choose a Family Car

If you are just about to have your first child, or perhaps your clan is steadily growing, then it may be time to hang up the keys to your convertible and start exploring other options that will help you to transport your loved ones. Choosing a family car doesn’t mean that you have to compromise when it comes to style, comfort, and additional features. In fact, many car manufacturers ensure that their larger models have these as standard – so you can benefit from the latest top tech. When it comes to choosing a family car, you need to make …

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Concept Flashback – 1994 Renault Espace F1 [38 Photos]

The coolest minivan of all time? A rolling, four-seat example of an F1 team doing their work joyfully? And an eclipse wall of yellow metallic …. coming in fast! The visuals of a van but the sound and speed of an F1 car do not register right in the brain.  It is cognitive dissonance at its best. Play ten seconds of the below and tell me you disagree!       Here are 38 remastered photos of the Espace F1 from its launch in 1994. 1994 Renault Espace F1

2017 Honda Fit – Road Test Review – By Ben Lewis

We’re often asked for buying recommendations, and certain models are our go-to cars. We know they’re good, fun, reliable, and the odds of getting a bad one are slim. (We hate angry emails.) And for many years, the city car of choice has been the Honda Fit. These days, so many buyers are clamoring for mini-crossovers, we forget that for a lot of folks, a small hatch is equally capable to do the job. So, is today’s Fit still a good fit for buyers? Well, it’s certainly a good looking little guy. Okay, we should probably caveat that. The bright …

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2017 Chrysler Pacifica – HD Drive Review – VAN OF THE YEAR Award-Winner

Forget what you know about minivans. Forget being sure that the Odyssey or Sienna were top of their class for quality, luxury and comfort. They are not. Both Odyssey and Sienna are firmly outclassed by the new Chrysler Pacifica. To an extent that is shocking! This fact is clear in the first block of a Pacifica test drive: the van drives like a luxury car, is quieter than some luxury cars, and has tech to shade any other family machine on the market. We have 50 photos, an HD drive review and section headings of Exterior, Interior, performance and Pricing …

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2016 Fiat 500L Trekking – Road Test Review – By Ben Lewis

Are you taking things too seriously? Been following politics? Fighting holiday crowds? Dreading a New Year’s resolution? We have a cure for you. The Fiat 500L. While it is a real SUV, capable of meeting your daily needs, there’s just enough slightly wacky, off-the-beaten-path, Euro-quirkiness to help take you out of the doldrums and put a smile on your face. It started out with the cute as a bug’s ear 500. Enthusiasts rejoiced when the brand added the Mighty Mouse 500 Abarth. And we have many frugal friends enjoying the super-green 500e electric vehicle (especially at the $99/month lease!). For those …

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2017 Chrysler PACIFICA Touring – Road Test Review – By Tim Esterdahl

Minivans are minivans right? They are soccer mom vehicles, often shunned by the general public who lust after more stylish and powerful SUVs. What if an automaker turned “what makes a minivan, a minivan” on its head? You would get the stylish 2017 Chrysler Pacifica – a real challenge to your notion of what a minivan is. Or rather, what a minivan can be! My notions and deeply held beliefs on minivans were challenged during my week of driving my press loan of a 2017 Chrysler Pacifica. This minivan definitely felt more like an SUV with the added bonus of kid …

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RM Arizona 2016 – 1939 JAGUAR SS100 Roadster by Van den Plas

Long before it was shorthanded to the VDP option package, Van den Plas was making their name with stunning vehicles like this SS100. Favorite details in this gorgeous, closed-body art deco coachwork?  How about the insanely ballooned fenders, edged in a thick sheath of chrome all around the lower bodyside. Or that fabulous grille and blinding lights. But the all-time coolest detail?  The almost-nonexistent windshield — presented with no top edge and at an ultra raked angle — for 1939 or today! 1939 JAGUAR SS100 Roadster by Van den Plas RM Sotheby’s Arizona 28-29 January 2016 1939 SS 100 Jaguar …

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2017 Chrysler PACIFICA Is All-New Minivan – PHEV Hybrid, Luxury and Tech to Leapfrog Sienna/Odyssey

Welcome to the next Town & Country: the all-new Pacifica! This name-swap is quite justified when you take a peek at the seriously all-new platform, drivetrain, interior and exterior of the next-gen Chrysler minivan. The impressive details abound from every seat: the seven-seater has a stunningly advanced offering for families from July of this year when the new vans hit showrooms. What is the big deal, beyond a very swish new exterior design? Where to begin!  The biggest news is the first-ever plug-in hybrid offering in the van segment. Dubbed simply the Pacifica Hybrid, the EV tech is quite sophisticated. Not …

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2019 McLaren-Honda F1 Racer Rendered With Gorgeous Closed-Cockpit Canopy

  Andries Van Overbeeke’s third set of future F1 car designs is his most intriguing yet — thanks to a subtle tweak up top and a revolution down below. Up top in the Overbeeke F1 McLaren-Honda we have a closed cockpit for the first time. No F1 car has run enclosed in the history or the event. Shaped like a fighter jet canopy, this forward-hinged cockpit promises smoother aero at high speeds and enhanced safety in any accident. F1 cars have typically been open for practical reasons. Venting exhaust fumes at first, then allowing drivers to be ejected or extracted …

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2015 IVECO Vision PHEV Concept Shows Futuristic Design + Cabin Tech Innovations

Your packages have never traveled in such comfort and style! The 2015 IVECO Vision Concept finally brings a cool sci-fi, Hollywood-ready look to a full-size van. Its surfacing and proportions take a bold look into the future of IVECO van designs — pairing brutal and aggressive lighting and nose to friendly, flowing forms to van roof-lines that are usually far boxier. But before we look at the cool design and tech of the IVECO Vision, there is one thing to note first thing: the IVECO Vision is absolutely gigantic. From some angles, the concept appears to be only slightly larger …

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2016 Mercedes-Benz METRIS Vans – Arrival in USA This September Priced From $29k

Article three of the mid-size Mercedes van deep-dive! We’ve looked at this model range with awe — Mercedes has three dozen cars on this general platform, a dozen engines and three drive configurations. Bonkers! The USA is getting a customized and simplified choice of commercial vans from this large pool. We are not getting the lux V-Class, as the Metris is considered a commercial vehicle and will be sold alongside the Sprinter. The USA models will all be rear-drive with a standard turbo four mated to a seven-speed automatic. The engine makes 208 ponies and 258 pound-feet of torque for …

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2015 Mercedes-Benz Concept PHEV Van – Hybrid Tech May Join USA-Bound Metris in 2019

It is Mercedes Van day here at Car-Revs-Daily! We’ve spent a few hours this morning learning about the MB van ranges — and came away fairly perplexed but very impressed overall. Confusing? Slightly. The Metris mid-size commercial and tourer (with seats) vans that are coming to America in September are part of a 40-strong lineup of vehicles from this platform. There is the Euro work-van Vito, the family hauler Viano, luxury V-Class and the campers called Marco Polo. Not just lots of names — we counted at least 10 engines available, and options for front-drive, rear-drive or AWD. That is …

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HD First Drive Review – 2015 Ford Transit PowerStroke Diesel

  In the broad and deep Ford Transit line for 2015, there are more than 50 variations in cab setup, overall length, wheelbase, roof height, engine and rear axle setup. The dually rear-end in LWB, high-roof cargo configuration is surely one of the hardest-working in the bunch. This extends to its payload and tow ratings as well as its overall cost-of-ownership. For cargo and passenger Transits that will cover huge miles with a full pack of cargo in back or on tow, the PowerStroke diesel is a welcome option to consider. This cutting-edge 3.2-liter inline-5 diesel is one of the …

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2015 Ford Transit Upfits Bring 30+ Factory-Adjacent Suppliers For Streamlined Procurement

One of the most impactful changes in the 2015 Transit vs Econoline is that a huge variety of custom cargo upfits can now be ordered right at a local Ford dealer or through any fleet manager. This means the trucks arrive ready-to-work with exactly the right set of interior cargo solutions, exterior racks or even full chassis conversions. We saw a great selection of the Transit Upfits available on Ford’s recent roadshow — and were very, very impressed. Ford’s suppliers all now have factories within 20-miles or so of the giant Transit hub in Kansas City. This means the trucks …

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2016 Mercedes-Benz Metris Mid-Size Commercial Vans Coming to USA In Fall 2015

 Mercedes arrived in Vegas with a surprising four-pack of minivans this year — confusing spectators and commentators alike! Though the vans they brought are all customized in various flavors, they clearly share much with the new V-Class sold in Europe and elsewhere. Our USA-bound versions will be called the Metris and are not the luxury V-Class – Mercedes clarifies — despite the new Metris being offered in passenger and cargo versions. What does this mean? When is a V-Class not a V-Class? It comes down to distribution channels and luxury content. The Metris will be sold alongside Spinter vans in …

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4K Road Test Review – 2015 Ford Transit 3.5L EcoBoost LWB, Low-Roof Cargo Van

Breaking News: NASCAR developing 2018 commercial van racing series. The NASVAN Home Depot Cup will feature the Ford Transit, Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, Chevy Express, Nissan NV and the Ram ProMaster. Each van will hit top speeds of more than 199-mph while they trade paint around circuits like the legendary Charlotte and Atlanta Motor Speedways….””” The news above is pretend. There are no current plans for a NASVAN series. But if there were, we could sign up for the new Ford Transit as our ride first time, every time. This rear-drive big van is shockingly good on the road and at the …

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Concept Flashback – 2003 Citroen C-Airlounge Is Most Artful and Memorable Van Concept… Ever?

What does it take to make a minivan form sexy? To make it fresh and trippy and almost psychedelic? That would take the mad hatters at Citroen in France. The look of this C-Airlounge concept actually strongly informed the designs of the current generation of people-movers like the C4 Picasso — but loses much of the surreal sense of hypercurved panel shapes and seamless construction. Part of the fantasy of this C-Airlounge is that imagining a car like this on the road is nearly impossible. Virtually no panel gaps or shutlines get in the way of the features, while the …

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2014 Volkswagen TRISTAR Is All-New Off-Road Cargo Van with Pickup Truck Bed

The world’s top commercial truck show is going on this week in Hanover, Germany — and VW has just debuted an exciting light truck concept. Part van, part pickup truck, and part off-roader — the idea is for the best of all worlds. Called the TRISTAR and packing a styling design and modern cabin, the machine promises to be an all-star work truck for the fleets of tomorrow. Just a concept for now, the design is likely to preview a heavy-duty version of the next Transporter van. 2014 Volkswagen TRISTAR WORLD PREMIERE OF VOLKSWAGEN TRISTAR AT THE IAA 23/09/14 Concept …

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2015 Ford S-Max SportVan Adds LED Lighting and Next-Gen SYNC in Comprehensive Redesign

Ford of Europe just revealed the new S-Max sports activity vehicle with all-new everything: engines, cabin design and exterior styling are all fresh for 2015. The S-Max is now clearly part of the C-Max and Grand C-Max family, but with premium features that are missing from the smaller and cheaper siblings. The new Ford nose blends nicely into this sportvan shape, and the LED styling front and rear is great to see. LED headlights and accents are included in the S-Max — as only the second Ford model to every pack this technology, right after the 2015 F-150 Platinum. The …

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2014 Toyota U2 Is CALTY Design Concept With Future-Tech Cabin, Nose and Van Functionality

The Toyota CALTY U2 design concept for this year’s NY Maker’s Faire (gag) is at first a pretty lumpy and frumpy looking CUV/Van hybrid. The segment occupied by the current Nissan NV200, Chevy CityExpress and Ford Transit Connect is surprisingly untapped for Toyota. This omission is odd from a brand which has everything from the AWD Sienna to the Prius C hatchback in the stable. Who better to make a bread-and-butter utility van for cities than Toyota? Sure, the Prius V and the Scion xB and xD absorb some of these Earth-y crunch-y buyer demands, but not in an overt …

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