IN BRIEF
Page 13

If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
• After five years of research and development, and extensive on-site proving trials. Ogden Electronics of Otley, Yorkshire is claiming a world first for its radar-based commercial vehicle reversing system.
The system consists of a rear-mounted short range radar scanner linked through a central control unit to the vehicle's gearbox and braking system. When an object is detected within a preset distance of the reversing vehicle, the system automatically stops the truck, so preventing a possible accident.
The VMS can also prevent the vehicle reversing while the body is tipped and allow only limited forward movement until it is lowered.
• Toyota is now fitting a five-speed gearbox as standard to its Lite Ace compact van and petrol-engined Hi Ace panel van. Until now only the diesel-engined Hi Ace has been available with five gears — all other Toyota vans sold in the UK were previously only equipped with a fourspeed gearbox.
The five-speed Lite Ace costs £5.778 plus VAT, while the petrol-engined Hi Ace costs £6,799 plus VAT.
Toyota is also planning to introduce a facelifted version of the Hi Ace in the summer.