Mercedes-Benz Vito News

An Australian company has promised a wheelchair conversion for vans and people movers that provides a “dignified approach” for passengers.Tysons sales manager Ryan Tyson said their Glide Rite wheelchair access system would not leave a wheelchair-bound person in full view of passing traffic.“Until now, anyone confined to a wheelchair suffered from difficult access to vehicles, or at best a very steep ramp,” he said.“They were also positioned in the back of vehicles, away from other passengers and either stuck up in the air on a platform, or down in a pit in the rear of the vehicle. It robbed them of dignity.”Glide Rite uses airbags to lower the vehicle and the floor. An access ramp also deploys to allow entry to the vehicle for manual and electric wheelchairs as well as mobility scooters.The passenger is not confined to the rear or in a lowered floor area.A low ramp angle and “soft-start” winch allow the carer to be with the wheelchair-bound passenger at all times and reduces the risks involved in high-lift transfers.The ramp folds into a dedicated area and cannot be seen from outside the vehicle.An alloy/honeycomb construction reduces the weight of components and the risk of injury to carers.The system is available for Mercedes Benz Vito Wagon and Vito XLWB, Renault Traffic and Master and is under development for the Volkswagen T5 van.Tysons is an Australian family business that has been converting vans for various uses for 30 years.The basic conversion cost for the fitted Glide Rite system is about $15,000, but most people spend around $28,000 having the whole interior fitted out with extra seating.

An Australian company has promised a wheelchair conversion for vans and people movers that provides a “dignified approach” for passengers.Tysons sales manager Ryan Tyson said their Glide Rite wheelchair access system would not leave a wheelchair-bound person in full view of passing traffic.“Until now, anyone confined to a wheelchair suffered from difficult access to vehicles, or at best a very steep ramp,” he said.“They were also positioned in the back of vehicles, away from other passengers and either stuck up in the air on a platform, or down in a pit in the rear of the vehicle. It robbed them of dignity.”Glide Rite uses airbags to lower the vehicle and the floor. An access ramp also deploys to allow entry to the vehicle for manual and electric wheelchairs as well as mobility scooters.The passenger is not confined to the rear or in a lowered floor area.A low ramp angle and “soft-start” winch allow the carer to be with the wheelchair-bound passenger at all times and reduces the risks involved in high-lift transfers.The ramp folds into a dedicated area and cannot be seen from outside the vehicle.An alloy/honeycomb construction reduces the weight of components and the risk of injury to carers.The system is available for Mercedes Benz Vito Wagon and Vito XLWB, Renault Traffic and Master and is under development for the Volkswagen T5 van.Tysons is an Australian family business that has been converting vans for various uses for 30 years.The basic conversion cost for the fitted Glide Rite system is about $15,000, but most people spend around $28,000 having the whole interior fitted out with extra seating.

An Australian company has promised a wheelchair conversion for vans and people movers that provides a “dignified approach” for passengers.Tysons sales manager Ryan Tyson said their Glide Rite wheelchair access system would not leave a wheelchair-bound person in full view of passing traffic.“Until now, anyone confined to a wheelchair suffered from difficult access to vehicles, or at best a very steep ramp,” he said.“They were also positioned in the back of vehicles, away from other passengers and either stuck up in the air on a platform, or down in a pit in the rear of the vehicle. It robbed them of dignity.”Glide Rite uses airbags to lower the vehicle and the floor. An access ramp also deploys to allow entry to the vehicle for manual and electric wheelchairs as well as mobility scooters.The passenger is not confined to the rear or in a lowered floor area.A low ramp angle and “soft-start” winch allow the carer to be with the wheelchair-bound passenger at all times and reduces the risks involved in high-lift transfers.The ramp folds into a dedicated area and cannot be seen from outside the vehicle.An alloy/honeycomb construction reduces the weight of components and the risk of injury to carers.The system is available for Mercedes Benz Vito Wagon and Vito XLWB, Renault Traffic and Master and is under development for the Volkswagen T5 van.Tysons is an Australian family business that has been converting vans for various uses for 30 years.The basic conversion cost for the fitted Glide Rite system is about $15,000, but most people spend around $28,000 having the whole interior fitted out with extra seating.

The Canter Eco Hybrid could well be a taste of the future in light trucks. And this is no experimental test bed or concept vehicle; it's a production truck that is now on the market in Japan and is being considered for other countries, especially where cities are wanting to slash exhaust emissions.It has a newly developed small diesel engine – a three-litre unit with double overhead camshafts, four valves per cylinder and with turbocharger and intercooler.It delivers 92kW of power at 3200rpm and 294Nm of torque at 1700rpm. It has a new diesel particulate filter and an exhaust gas recirculation system for minimising nitrogen oxide emissions.It shares duty in powering the truck with a compact electric motor-generator which generates 35kW of power.It's a parallel hybrid system which means that the power to drive the truck comes from the electric motor, the diesel engine or both depending on conditions.The electric motor drives the Eco Hybrid when starting off. Under hard acceleration, the diesel engine and the electric motor power the truck. When cruising, the vehicle is driven by the diesel engine only.When the truck is slowing or braking, the electric motor doubles as a generator, converting brake energy into electric energy. This is stored in latest development lithium-ion batteries – ready for the next acceleration.Mitsubishi Fuso says regeneration of braking energy is improved by disengaging the clutch during deceleration. An idling stop-and-start system automatically shuts down the diesel engine when the transmission is shifted to neutral.DaimlerChrysler owns 85 per cent of Mitsubishi Fuso Truck & Bus Corporation and says MFTBC in Japan is its "global competence centre for hybrid technology."SMALL TORQUEBenz recordMERCEDES-BENZ light commercial vehicles are selling more than 4 per cent greater than last year, which was a record year for it. "The Vito is an extremely versatile, reliable and appealing light commercial vehicle," says Campbell York. "Mercedes-Benz light commercial vehicles were first introduced into Australia in 1998 and since then the expansion of our dealer networks has ensured that the sales success of the Vito and Sprinter has continued."Limited VitoTHE silver limited-edition Vito has been restricted to 175 vans now on sale.Boss manCARLO Beltrame is new general manager of trucks for DaimlerChrysler Commercial vehicles. He has national sales and marketing responsibility for Freightliner, Sterling and Mercedes-Benz heavy trucks in Australia. Mr Beltrame, 54, was general manager of DAF Trucks Australia and previously worked with Ford Australia.

Spanish-made Vito has undergone a complete model change bringing more of the stuff buyers want in a safer, more economical, roomier and better looking package.The new model arrived last year and it features, among other things, ABS, electronic stability program, anti slip control and electronic brake force distribution as standard across the range. A drivers airbag is also standard.It is full of work related solutions to transporting passengers and goods and is ideal for mixed applications.Three models are available, the 65kW 109, 110kW 115 and 140kW 119 in various body styles including compact, short and long wheelbase and high roof. The 109 and 115 are both diesel four cylinders of 2.2-litres capacity but with different boost settings. The 119 is a 3.2-litre V6 petrol.All have the essential remote central locking, power steering and power windows and all drive through the rear wheels.We were able to get hold of a short wheelbase crew cab 109 priced at $37,500. It's something of a hybrid in terms of goods and passenger transport.While still offering enough load space for a pallet there are two seat rows with full size seating and three point belts for five, potentially six.The side sliding doors have fixed glass windows but the load space is blind.While the interior is utilitarian in terms of floor coverings and upholstery, it is comfortable and easily accessible. The front compartment is modern and car-like incorporating many Benz passenger car features such as the foot operated park brake.The dash layout facilitates work offering plenty of storage compartments and easy to operate controls including a centre console mounted gearshift.The engine is a four cylinder, twin cam turbo diesel delivering 65kW and 220Nm of torque, not a lot on the face of it but the six speed manual transmission optimises performance while contributing to 1000km per tank fuel economy.We were able to load 'er up with about half a tonne of stuff and four passengers and while progress wasn't as sprightly as when unloaded, the Vito still hummed along the freeway at a good clip. It hardly dented fuel economy.Plenty of engine and transmission noise gets into the cabin but it is after all a commercial vehicle.Particularly pleasing is Vito's tight turning circle. Prices start at $33,990.

Sales soared and Toyota went all the way with a chisel-nosed Tarago that was the class act of the field.Every big brand had some sort of people mover for drivers with more than four in the family. Some called them, unkindly, Catholic vans.But they were mostly just converted delivery vans with three rows of seats, built to a price and with little concern for safety, comfort or equipment. A head-on crash meant the driver's legs would be first on the scene.People movers have never really recovered from the backlash against those evil originals, and the rise and rise of four-wheel-drives has also made life tough.Some people just don't want to be seen in a boring, boxy people mover, even if the newest of the breed are morphing into crossover cars that do more with less.The latest Mitsubishi Grandis and the Honda Odyssey point to the future. They're shorter and smoother but still pack lots of positions and choices into the cabin.They could spark a revival, particularly if petrol prices put real pressure on hulking seven-seat four-wheel-drives, but the current sales figures don't suggest that will happen soon.Kia sold 461 of its class-leading Carnivals in July to take its year-to-date total to 3199, but that was nearly half the total number of people movers, only 8579 going on to Australian roads in the first seven months. In contrast, big sixes totalled 103,677.People movers still fill a role, particularly if you really need to carry a lot of people for more than a sprint to the shops.Most carry seven in reasonable comfort. Among the official people movers, only the Volkswagen Kombi is rated as a nine-seater. The pricey Toyota Tarago and VW Caravelle seat eight.Still, people movers have come a long way on safety, comfort, refinement and equipment, and the benchmark Honda Odyssey is set for a huge sales rise very soon.A PEOPLE mover is no longer a box on wheels, nor is it an embarrassment to its occupants.The new Ford Territory is hot, and happily carries seven people if fitted with the rear seat. A Holden Crewman combines work-and-play duties, and the Toyota Kluger is a seven-seat family van disguised as an all-wheel-drive.Families want a vehicle that sits between traditional passenger car and hulking bush basher, and carmakers are rushing to fill the void.In coming years we can expect a rush of crossover vehicles that will blur the lines between traditional market segments.The Territory is already doing the job of an old-fashioned Falcon, albeit one dressed up in a macho body with a high-rider seating position, a classy finish and plenty of equipment and versatility. Luggage space is tight with the third row of seats up, and access to those seats could be easier, but it is a winner with families.The Crewman, the Cross8 in particular, is aimed at part-time parents who want family wheels with a bit of excitement. The upright back seat isn't all that comfortable, but the person making the buying decision – and using a Crewman for work – will be sitting up front.1. Honda OdysseyLowdown: Attractive body and Honda quality boosted by a top-value price.Verdict: The smooth new Honda shows how people movers should be done.Plus: Refined, classy, good looking.Minus: Not a huge amount of space.Rating: 18/20THE newest member of the Honda family is more quality stuff from the company that gave us the pace-setting Accord Euro. It comes with only seven seats, but that's no real handicap because the 2.4-litre engine has 118kW of power and impressive response. Letdowns are suspension that thumps over bumps, child-seat anchor points in the ceiling block the rear view, and loss of the V6. But to cap the action and really rattle its rivals, prices open at $38,790 and the fully loaded luxury model is $45,290.2. Chrysler VoyagerLowdown: The incredible hulk of the people-mover class is the one to buy if you have a big family and equally large budget.Verdict: An American "minivan" that's great for heavyweight hauling.Plus: Roomy and versatile, with V6 power.Minus: Costly, and not the best right-hand-drive conversion.Rating: 17/20THE American carmaker says this is the Rolls-Royce of people movers. There's space for seven with innovative roll-out rear seats and armrests in the front. The 3.3-litre V6 is punchy, if a little thirsty. Also available in a long-wheelbase model and all-wheel-drive. Prices start at $53,490 (SE model), step up to $59,090 for the long-wheelbase machine and go all the way to $78,590 for the fully loaded four-wheel-drive.3. Holden ZafiraLowdown: The innovative Holden was developed in Europe for three-row family work and Opel's original has been smartly tweaked for Australian sales.Verdict: Not the biggest of the bunch, but a good drive for smaller families.Plus: A good drive with impressive quality.Minus: Poor space in the tail, second-row bench has to slide forward for access to back seats.Rating: 16/20THE Zafira is close in concept to the now-dead Mitsubishi Nimbus, with a compact body that has Tardis-style third-row seating. It has excellent suspension tuning and good punch from its 2.2-litre four. The price is pretty nice, too, at $32,890, and the TV commercial with a youngster sketching on a baby is one of our favourites.MITSUBISHI GRANDISRating: 16/20Price: $43,990Engine: 2.4-litre four-cylinderSMOOTH lines, nicely built and well equipped, but hit hard when the Odyssey arrived. Definitely worth a look for those dollars.MAZDA MPVRating: 15/20Price: $50,665Engine: 3.0-litre V6THE multi-purpose vehicle has been left behind by the zoom-zoom models in the Mazda family. Quality is impressive and it drives nicely, but few people seem to want a Mazda people mover.TOYOTA AVENSISRating: 15/20Price: $43,100Engine: 2.4-litre four-cylinderNICE to drive with good access for kids in back, but minimal luggage space with third row up. Too costly for what it is, and shows Toyota doesn't really care about people movers in 2004.TOYOTA TARAGORating: 15/20Price: from $52,460Engine: 2.4-litre fourTHE faded former champion. Still has a great name. Desperately needs a V6 engine to justify prices that go up to $72,620.VOLKSWAGEN CARAVELLERating: 15/20Price: From $59,990Engine: 2.8-litre V6BOTH Volkswagens are in a run-out situation, with no turbodiesels left. The new turbodiesel T5 could be the pick for long-distance families.HYUNDAI TRAJETRating: 15/20Price: From $32,990Engine: 2.7-litre V6ONE of the newer models in the Hyundai family, and punchy with its V6 motivation. The price is good but it shapes as a big-box deal for people who are more worried about practicality than quality.VOLKSWAGEN KOMBIRating: 14/20Price: $39,990Engine: 2.5-litre four cylinderTHE Kombi has a great name and drives better than you'd expect, with austere but quality finishing. Not as flashy as some.KIA CARNIVALRating: 14/20Price: $29,990Engine: 2.5-litre V6THE easy sales leader but doing it on value. Is much like its Hyundai twin but with a little more equipment and a price that makes it a real winner.MERCEDES-BENZ VITOArriving early next yearPrice: TBAEngines: TBATHE Vito people mover will be available in two models, with the upmarket version getting leather seats and all the fruit. Worth a look.