For Express say Extra 2-day tours rule
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TIME has finally been called on the ageing 4F6 van following the launch this week of the Extra Renault's new car-derived van.
It not only offers greater payloads and more load space than the old Fourgon model but also, for the first time in the UK, the option of a diesel model.
The Extra, which represents an investment of Fr700 million (£63 million) by Renault. has been sold on the Continent for some time, but makes its UK debut as the Express at the Fleet News Motor Show (see p14).
Three engine options a 35kW (47hp) L1-litre, and 45kW (60hp) 1.4-litre petrol and a 41kW (55hp) 1.6-litre diesel are available.
All are four-cylinder transversely-mounted units.
The 1.1-litre petrol engine is matched to a four-speed gearbox, while the remaining power units have five-speed boxes as standard.
A five-speed unit is available as an option on 1,100cc models. The 1,100cc Extra is priced at £3,680 plus VAT, the 1,400cc van at .£3,985 plus VAT, while the diesel van costs £4,355 plus VAT.
Maximum payload on the Extra ranges from 525 to 575kg depending on the engine fitted, although all models have 2,57m3 (92 ft3) load volume, which is more than the Bedford Astratnax (2.32m3) and the Austin Maestro van (2.43).
The boxy van body has double-skinned panels bel the waist rail to reduce•14
damage. It has a useful Ii platform length of 1,714r and an interior height 1,234mm. Width between wheel arches is 1,049mm.
Twin hinged rear dor with slam locks, arc fitted all models and an extra r lifting-roof flap is available an option on 1.4 and 1.64 vans, allowing extra lo loads to be carried.
Both the rear doors hi: heated windows, although rear wash/wipe unit for Extra is still under devel( rnent. A bonded front wit screen is fitted to all models Renault has revised t front end to make it rrn suitable for commercial u The headlights are recess into a full-width plastic gril and polyester front and ri bumpers and side strips fitted to reduce damage In low-speed knocks and bumi Like the Renault 5 car, t Extra van has MacPhers strut front suspension a trailing-arm torsion-bar si pension at the rear. Renal claims this arrangement gi.‘ the best ride and handlii under varying loading rates.
Standard interior equipmc includes a push-button radi cab floor mats, folding pa sengcr seat (to help accor modate long loads) and tubular steel bulkhead. VERS will be permitted vork for 12 consecutive on round-Britain tours, Department of Transport :onfirmed.
a consultation document iling the derogations it loses to make from the
EEC drivers' hours rules :h take effect on Septem
29, the DTp says .ators will be able to ex the six-day continuous ing limit to 12 days for anal services other than dar scheduled routes.
hat puts them on the e footing as Continental S.
he DTp is also planning .ermit operators of regular ices in scope of EEC ars to reduce their imum break from 45 to ninutcs within the London oughs of Kensington and 4sea, Camden, Islington Westminster if they can ve it is impossible to take other 15 minutes elseere and the maximum driving period is no more than four hours.
It is prepared to extend this exemption to other heavily congested areas or to leave the Transport Secretary or Traffic Commissioners to decide route-by-route exemptions.
Minibuses with up to 16 (formerly 14) seats„ operators on offshore islands not exceeding 2,300km2 (except'Arran, Bute and the Isle of Wight), vehicles used for driving instruction with a view to obtaining a licence, and vintage buses and coaches are to be exempt from EEC drivers' hours and tachograph rules.
As reported in CAI last week, the DTp is not insisting on tachographs being fated in motorway coaches on regular services as it believes compulsory speed limiters will be adequate.
And in a move which could leave operators with a mammoth rescheduling task, it in tends to make the fixed week run from midnight Sunday, instead of Saturday.
Operators' organisations and other statutory counsultees are being given until April 4 to give the DTp their views.
The Bus and Coach Council was meeting this week to consider the proposals, but its initial view is to accept the principle of the consecutive driving concession, but to seek amendments to sonic of the other charges.
It is likely to call for the minibus threshold to be kept at 14 scats; for all offshore islands to be exempt from the rules on grounds that their economies are depressed; for the driving instruction derogation to include vehicles used for route and type familia risa lion and refresher training; and for operators of vintage vehicles used for hire or reward to be required to fit tachographs and observe hours rules.