2012 Vauxhall Opel Combo

The new 2012 Combo van might look rather familiar, as it’s essentially a rebadged Fiat Doblò.



Not that that’s a bad choice of vehicle to use as a basis, though. The Turkish-built Doblò won the 2011 International Van of the Year award, and two wheelbases and two roof heights mean it’ll offer more versatility than the previous generation Combo.

Vauxhall is only going to be offering UK buyers the panel van, which has up to either 3,800 or 4,600 litres of cargo space, depending on body size.



Opel customers across the rest of Europe will also be able to choose a passenger carrying version, with a glazed body and five or seven seats. Available in Essentia, Enjoy or Cosmo specification, its spec sheet will include a few extra luxuries such as rear electric windows, remote central locking and front side airbags.

Unsurprisingly, the engine line-up is pretty much the same as that found in the Fiat Doblò. The Vauxhall Combo will be exclusively diesel-powered, with a pick of 1.3 litre (88 bhp / 66 kW / 90 PS), 1.6 litre (88 bhp / 66 kW / 90 PS), 1.6 litre (103 bhp / 77 kW / 105 PS) or 2.0 litre (133 bhp / 99 kW / 135 PS) capacities.



Additionally, Opel is to offer a 93 bhp (70 kW / 95 PS) 1.4 litre petrol, plus a 118 bhp (88 kW / 120 PS) motor that runs on compressed natural gas.



Sales of the new Combo are due to start in February 2012. Prices have yet to be announced.



Images © GM Corp.



Related post:

Doblò is Van of the Year

2012 Toyota Hilux facelift

The Toyota Hilux may currently account for almost a quarter of European pick-up sales, but new arrivals such as the Ford Ranger and Mazda BT-50 are set to provide strong competition.



So it might not be a coincidence that a facelifted Hilux has just been announced for 2012.

The changes start on the outside, where all the panels forward of the A pillar have been redesigned. There are also new wheels, door mirrors and rear wings.



Acknowledging that an increasing number of pick-up buyers want one as a ‘lifestyle’ vehicle, rather than just a workhorse, the inside has been suitably spruced up too. Featuring better quality materials, it gets a new upper dashboard that now houses the ‘Toyota Touch’ 6.1” touch screen multimedia system.



As before, there’ll be a choice of Single, Extra or Double cab styles and two- or all-wheel drive. The 2012 Hilux will be available in four trim levels, the DLX, DLX+, SR and SR+.



Under the bonnet, the 3.0 D-4D engine is carried over, although a diesel particulate filter now means it’s Euro V compliant.



The 2.5 D-4D motor also gets the filter, plus a new variable nozzle turbocharger which lifts power to 142 bhp (106 kW / 144 PS). However, fuel economy actually improves from 34.0 mpg (8.3 l/100km) to 38.6 mpg (7.3 l/100km), while CO2 emissions drop to 193 g/km.



Related posts:

Mazda BT-50 Freestyle

2011 Ford Ranger revealed

Mazda BT-50 Freestyle

Mazda has unveiled the Freestyle cab for its all-new 2012 BT-50 pick-up.



In a configuration that mimics the Mazda RX-8 coupé, the rear doors open backwards to reveal a 1,408 mm pillarless opening and four seats. For extra practicality, the backseat cushions can be removed to allow for cargo storage inside the cab.

Naturally though most potential buyers will be interested in the 1,453 litres of external load space, which is 239 litres up on the BT-50 Dual Cab thanks to the Freestyle’s longer cargo box.



The Mazda BT-50, which shares its underpinnings with the new Ford Ranger, is due to go on sale later this year. Public debut for the BT-50 Freestyle will be at the Australian International Motor Show, which takes place in Melbourne from the 1st to the 10th of July.



Related post:

2011 Ford Ranger revealed

‘60 Years Unimog’ concept

Mercedes-Benz Special Trucks has unveiled a unique concept to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the first Unimog, which rolled off the production line in Gaggenau on 3rd June 1951.

Based on the current U 5000 model, the ‘60 Years Unimog’ has an open cab just like the original. The lurid green colour scheme is apparently inspired by the poison dart frog, while the Unimog’s trademark coil springs have been painted a contrasting shade of red. Aluminium trim on the exposed chassis and huge five-spoke ‘alu-rim’ wheels complete the visual effect.



Unfortunately the ‘60 Years Unimog’ isn’t a prototype for a production model, but Bertrand Janssen from Daimler’s commercial vehicle department stated: "On no account did we work in an atmosphere where our ideas were divorced from reality. Here we have a vehicle which is puristic, but still clearly true to concept - with the claim that some of its details will turn up in coming product ranges in future. We continued to take up the most important Unimog features which have characterised the vehicle for the last 60 years and which will also characterise it in future - features such as portal axles, coil springs or the frame concept."

VW Transporter Sportline

The desirable Sportline specification is returning to Volkswagen’s Transporter range.



Available on both the panel van and kombi, 2011 Sportline models get a purposeful look thanks to 18” alloy wheels, stainless steel side bars, a rear roof spoiler, revised headlights, a bespoke body-coloured front bumper and a black and chrome grille.



Finishing off the effect is a choice of Deep Black pearlescent, Reflex Silver metallic or Candy White paintwork, the last of which comes with a gloss black roof.

On the inside there’s two-tone leather upholstery, plus a generous equipment list that includes Bluetooth connectivity, a 7” touch screen with full European satellite navigation, electric windows and air conditioning.



But the Sportline isn’t just about appearances, as under the bonnet there’s a 2.0 litre BiTDI diesel engine that features twin turbochargers and common rail direct injection.



Producing 177 bhp (132 kW / 180 PS) and a very useful 400 Nm (295 lb/ft) of torque, it’s powerful enough to accelerate the six-speed manual panel van Sportline from 0-62 mph (100 km/h) in just 9.9 seconds. Top speed is 119 mph (191 km/h).



The optional seven-speed DSG gearbox doesn’t really harm performance, but fuel economy and emissions do suffer slightly.



All of that power and kit comes at a cost though, with UK on-the-road prices starting at £28,220 (excluding VAT).

2011 Volkswagen Transporter Sportline - Specifications and Pricing
Panel van	Short wheelbase		Long wheelbase
Transmission	6-sp manual	7-sp DSG	6-sp manual	7-sp DSG
Top speed mph	119	119	119	119
0-62 mph secs	9.9	10.0	9.9	10.0
Combined fuel economy mpg (l/100km)	36.2 (7.8)	34.9 (8.1)	36.2 (7.8)	34.9 (8.1)
CO2 g/km	205	214	205	214
Total OTR excl. VAT	£28,220.00	£29,620.00	£28,710.00	£30,110.00
Total OTR incl. VAT	£33,811.00	£35,491.00	£34,399.00	£36,079.00
Kombi	Short wheelbase		Long wheelbase
Transmission	6-sp manual	7-sp DSG	6-sp manual	7-sp DSG
Top speed mph	119	119	119	119
0-62 mph secs	10.3	10.2	10.3	10.2
Combined fuel economy mpg (l/100km)	36.2 (7.8)	34.9 (8.1)	36.2 (7.8)	34.9 (8.1)
CO2 g/km	205	214	205	214
Total OTR excl. VAT	£30,100.00	£31,500.00	£30,580.00	£31,990.00
Total OTR incl. VAT	£36,067.00	£37,747.00	£36,655.00	£38,335.00