Vans
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It's become a staple tactic of automotive PR operations: Trickle out one factoid at a time, well in advance of an actual vehicle, and get stories each time. So here's the news: The Ford Transit commercial van to be launched next year will have a diesel engine option. That was the sum total of the news: The vehicle will have an "all-new North American diesel engine option." No size, no power, no torque rating, not even number of cylinders. There will be a diesel. Now you know. And a V-6, and higher MPG The announcement followed, by precisely two weeks, one giving the news that the same vehicle...
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Ford Transit Van With EcoBoost V-6 To Replace Aged E-Series
Ford has been dropping hints since December about the Ford Transit van that will replace its ancient E-Series van, still referred to by many as the Econoline. Now the company has released a bit more information. The Ford Transit full-size van that will be introduced next year will use a 3.5-liter...
John Voelcker -
MINI Clubvan Concept Live Photos: 2012 Geneva Motor Show
Small vans are big business in Europe. In cities with tight streets and for businesses with only lightweight cargo to carry, the small van is the convenient and importantly, tax-friendly answer. It's no surprise that MINI is interested in entering the market then. It's expected to do so with a...
Antony Ingram -
All-Electric Mercedes Isn't What You Think: It's A Small Van
German luxury automaker Mercedes-Benz is no stranger to electric vehicles. We've driven two of them here at GreenCarReports, in the form of the Europe-only Mercedes-Benz A-Class E-Cell, and the ForTwo Electric Drive, under Mercedes' sub-brand Smart. A third vehicle will join that stable, according...
Antony Ingram -
Nissan e-NV200 Electric Van Concept: 2012 Detroit Auto Show
Okay, so an electric van isn't as exciting as a hybrid supercar like the Acura NSX concept, or even a fuel-efficient, sporty compact like the 2013 Dodge Dart - but it's still an important vehicle. That's because the regular Nissan NV200 is soon to be servicing New York City as the official...
Antony Ingram -
Nissan, FedEx To Trial Nissan NV200 Electric Vans In London
This time last year, the Nissan NV200 delivery van wouldn't have meant much to many of us, sold only in Japan and Europe as a rival to models like Ford's Transit. Since Nissan won a $1 billion contract to supply New York City with NV200s as taxis though, the vehicle will be much more familiar...
Antony Ingram -
The impact of new gas-mileage rules on passenger cars gets all the attention, but proposed increases apply to commercial vehicles too. That means that automakers will be redesigning their commercial vans for better fuel efficiency too. In 2013, Ford will start building its full-size Transit van in Kansas City, replacing the current Ford E-Series, the best-selling full-sized van for 32 years now--which is probably still better known by the Econoline model name that Ford hasn't used since 2001. Today's E-Series dates all the way back to 1992, with its last major update (which lengthened the...
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Nissan Doesn’t Just Make Electric Cars: It Makes Electric Trucks, Vans Too
Nissan might be about to celebrate the end of one year selling its all-electric Leaf, but it isn’t just making passenger vehicles green: It’s electrifying its whole fleet. That was the message Nissan sent out last week when it unveiled a range of all-electric commercial plug-in vehicles...
Nikki Gordon-Bloomfield -
For Better Gas Mileage, Ram Shrinks The Van To European Size
To compete with Ford's Transit Connect, Fiat will import the Doblo commercial van under the Ram brand for 2013.
Kurt Ernst -
Nissan Prepares NV200 Electric Minivan For Global Trials
Nissan took the next step in its aim to become the world leader in electric vehicle technology yesterday with the announcement that it was starting a global test program for an all-electric minivan. Based on the versatile NV200 minivan platform currently popular in Europe and Japan with delivery...
Nikki Gordon-Bloomfield -
First Electric Renault Kangoo Van Z.E. Sold In U.K.
Expected to be the first of many, French carmaker Renault has become the latest company to take an order for one of their upcoming electric vehicles, the Kangoo Van Z.E. The only commercial vehicle in Renault's upcoming range of electric vehicles that includes the Fluence sedan, the Zoe subcompact...
Antony Ingram -
Why Didn't We THINK Of It Before? EV Spawns Delivery Van
Car-derived vans are big business in Europe. Pick a subcompact at random and chances are there will be a light delivery van variant. Usually fitted with economical diesel engines, the small size and high economy suits small businesses down to the ground. Electric delivery vehicles have been...
Antony Ingram -
Mitsubishi Motors were one of the first vehicle manufacturers to take the plunge and produce an electric car in significant numbers, and it seems they might become the first to do the same for light commercial vehicles, too. The company, who produce the 2012 Mitsubishi i-MiEV microcar due to hit U.S. shores in 2012 (you can find out more in our Ultimate Reference Guide), previewed a small panel van version of the i-MiEV known as the i-MiEV Cargo concept at the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show. The firm subsequently confirmed it for production, and trials have recently began in Japan with the vehicles...
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March Debut Expected For New 2012 Toyota Prius Alpha Minivan
Speculation about what models will join an expanded Toyota Prius lineup has run rampant since Toyota confirmed at January's Detroit Auto Show that it would add more body styles to the current five-door hatchback. One candidate: the Auris Hybrid, effectively a hybrid version of the Corolla hatchback...
John Voelcker -
2011 Chevrolet Volt MPV5 Concept To Be Unveiled in Beijing
Tomorrow at the Beijing Motor Show, General Motors will unveil its a concept car that likely shows what will be its second unique model of the Chevrolet Volt extended-range electric vehicle. It's called the Chevrolet Volt MPV5 concept; "MPV" stands for Multi-Purpose Vehicle, which is what Asian and...
John Voelcker -
Green Car Megadeal: Renault-Nissan-Daimler Could Save Smart
This morning's deal bringing Daimler AG into the Renault-Nissan alliance has lots of interesting details--but first and foremost, it could be what Smart needs to survive in the long term. Today in Brussels, the CEOs of the companies involved--Renault-Nissan's Carlos Ghosn and Daimler AG's Dieter...
Martin Padgett -
Preview: Mazda to Show 2011 Mazda5 Minivan at Geneva Motor Show
We've always been fond of the 2010 Mazda Mazda5 small minivan, which gets rave reviews for its sporty character and good roadholding. Because it's smaller than more conventional full-size minivans like the Dodge Caravan, Honda Odyssey, and Toyota Sienna, it has always sold in smaller numbers. But...
John Voelcker -
Coupe To Join Expanded Prius Lineup, Perhaps Even Minivan
It's long been the dream of Toyota's U.S. arm that the company would add additional body styles to the Prius line. And Toyota finally gave the nod to that idea earlier this year. Now, details are starting to emerge on the new models that will join the all-new, third-generation 2010 Toyota Prius...
John Voelcker -
French carmaker Renault, whose partner Nissan recently unveiled its 2012 Nissan Leaf compact electric hatchback, showed no fewer than four separate electric-car concepts at the 2009 Frankfurt Auto Show. All labeled ZE for "zero emissions", they are: Twizy ZE: A tandem two-seater with performance equivalent to a 125cc motorcycle. Zoe ZE: A small coupe with aggressive styling, meant for daily driving. Fluence ZE: An electric version of Renault's new midsize 5-seat family sedan. Kangoo ZE: An electric version of the company's subcompact urban delivery van. Each of them uses a variation of...
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2010 Ford Transit Connect Small Delivery Van Selling Well
Today seems to be Ford day; this morning's e-mail included a news release on the early sales success of the 2010 Ford Transit Connect small delivery van, just while we're in the middle of writing up our four days of travel in a 2009 Ford Escape Hybrid. We first drove the 2010 Transit Connect in...
John Voelcker -
Chrysler PT Cruiser Survives Through 2011
We're all irrationally fond of some cars, and one of ours is the 2009 Chrysler PT Cruiser. Technically, it's a small minivan, but the retro-styled gangster look has always disguised that fact completely. And, it's a remarkably practical car. Now comes the news that Chrysler reversed its previous...
John Voelcker -
Mazda's Hydrogen Rotary Hybrid Van, A Different Approach to Green
Unlike all the other Asian automakers, Mazda's green strategy focuses on hydrogen fuel for its rotary engine--and now they've made it a hybrid
John Voelcker -
2010 Ford Transit Connect Small Van Comes In At 22 MPG City, 25 MPG Highway
Ford's new small commercial van returns far, far better gas mileage than a full-size van, and it has few competitors on the US market
John Voelcker -
Renault Unveils Uber-Cute Kangoo BeBop ZE, First of Four Electric Cars
The French automaker livened up its annual meeting by revealing an adorable electric minivan that it will build by 2011
John Voelcker