• ON the Daimler-Chrysler stand, from its Mitsubishi division, was a new upgraded Canter truck, featuring 2,500 part and design changes over the old model.

    There is a new cab with re- designed interior trim, enhanced levels of driver comfort, a dash-mounted gearstick and a new gearbox. The 3.5-tonne gvw model is powered by a 3.0-litre four-cylinder engine offering 125bhp. Payload is 1,700kg. Gross vehicle weights go up to 7.5 tonnes.

  • LDV chiefs were out in force at the show this year, proudly presenting the new Maxus, a van that has taken five years and £500 million to develop.

    The new van, a replacement for the aging Pilot and Convoy, officially went on sale in January. Visitors to the stand were able to see the new Kombi model (pictured) for the first time, with a double row of seats and full bulkhead. It will go on sale in the summer.

    The Maxus boasts two wheelbases, gross vehicle weights of between 2.8 tonnes and 3.5 tonnes and three roof heights. Minibus and chassis cab versions are planned for next year but fleets wanting these models will still be able to buy them in the old Convoy format. Load volumes range from seven cubic metres to 11.4 cubic metres and payloads range from 917kg to 1,616kg. The vans – all front-wheel drive – are powered by Italian VM 2.5-litre common rail turbodiesel engines. There are two power outputs – 95bhp and 120bhp – and a 140bhp version will follow later in the year.

    Prices range from £12,995 to £18,495 ex-VAT.

  • PIAGGIO launched the environmentally-friendly Electric Porter. The range is powered by a 10.5kw electric motor and a quad-pack 96-volt rechargeable lead-gel battery pack, to offer customers speeds up to 35mph, range up to 85 miles and a payload capacity of 470kg to 560kg. It is available in five versions – panel van, glass van, pickup, tipper and big-deck.

  • THE new Nissan Navara, due to go on sale in the UK in August, boasts not only a fresh ‘don’t-mess-with-me’ exterior but also has a 2.5-litre common rail diesel engine pumping out 174bhp, making it by far the most powerful vehicle in its sector. The new model will be around £1,000 more expensive than the outgoing one but promises to bring passenger car qualities to the utility market. It will be available in two formats – double cab and king cab – and is 265mm longer than the old Pickup. In the rear, the new Navara boasts class-leading loadspace.

  • THERE were 12 vans on the Vauxhall stand, including the Corsavan and Combo featuring the new high-torque 1.3 CDTi engine which is fast setting a new benchmark for business users. Vivaro had three new versions on show – the dropside (pictured), improved Sportive and nine-seat minibus. There are two versions of the dropside – platform cab and low-floor – and both are powered by a 1.9 CDTi engine offering 100bhp.

  • FORD displayed a host of new niche models and concept vehicles on its stand – and the Ranger tipper concept (pictured) certainly had the crowds flocking round. Sales of the Ranger increased by 40% to 7,539 last year and the tipper is planned as an extension of Ford’s One-Stop range of ready-for-work conversions. Also in the concept stages was the Transit Connect crew van, featuring a second row of foldable seats.