Ineos has showcased potential future Grenadier variants at this week’s Goodwood Festival of Speed, with prototypes highlighting the versatility of the body-on-frame 4×4. Among them were the rugged portal-axled Ineos Grenadier Quartermaster and the short-bed ‘Shortermaster’ pickup. Taking the Grenadier Quartermaster Pickup’s off-road capabilities to literal new heights, German vehicle modifiers LeTech introduced a raised chassis fitted with portal axles and offset wheel hubs that increase ground clearance by 250mm to 514mm and wading depth from 800mm to 1,050mm. Larger off-road tyres complete t ..read more

eBay is again running its Van Conversion of the Year Awards, celebrating well-executed, space-efficient, and intelligent light commercial vehicle conversions in the UK. The online automotive marketplace is seeking the best fit-outs across various industry sectors. From custom racking in an electrician’s van to a plumber’s shelving or a holidaymaker’s camper, all van converters are encouraged to enter. As part of this year’s competition launch, eBay has unveiled its project vehicle — a converted Ford Transit Mk1. The classic van, named the ‘eBay Lounge,’ was owned by a German fire department be ..read more

Kia is developing an electric, car-based pickup to go alongside the forthcoming Tasman, if video of the vehicle testing in California is anything to go by. Spy photographer KindelAuto captured footage of the electric pickup undergoing testing in California, posting it on YouTube (which you can see below). Despite the disguise, it’s clear that the design has been influenced by both the large KIA EV9 electric SUV and the US-market Hyundai Santa Cruz pickup. Unlike the frame-based diesel-powered Tasman, which targets the likes of the Ford Ranger and Toyota Hilux, this yet-unnamed electric pickup ..read more

Volkswagen is set to invest billions into Rivian, aiming to share software and platforms with the US EV start-up. The German automaker announced it would be investing up to $5 billion (£3.9bn), which saw Rivian’s shares surge by nearly 50%, while Volkswagen’s stock dipped amid concerns over costs, according to reports from Reuters. Rivian founder and CEO Robert Scaringe told Reuters that Volkswagen’s investment would enable the development of its R2 SUVs, slated for release in early 2026 to compete with the Tesla Model Y, and its planned R3 crossovers. The joint venture will also reduce Rivian ..read more

Hyvia and Hype have announced a strategic partnership to accelerate decarbonised hydrogen mobility. Hyvia, a joint venture between Renault Group and Plug, focuses on hydrogen mobility, while Hype is an independent leader in zero-emission mobility and hydrogen taxis. This collaboration is founded on a shared vision that decarbonised hydrogen mobility is essential for the energy transition needed to address climate change and public health challenges. The joint goal is to rapidly develop practical uses for decarbonised hydrogen mobility, facilitating volume growth that will reduce costs. The par ..read more

The latest Euro NCAP Commercial Van ratings show significant improvements in the performance of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) in vans, with seven of the vehicles tested being awarded a coveted Platinum rating. The high-scoring vans, representing 40% of the vehicles tested, performed substantially better than the minimum requirements of the EU General Safety Regulation (GSR2), which came into effect on 1 July 2024. The top-rated vehicles are the Ford Transit Connect, Ford Transit Courier, Maxus eDeliver 5, Mercedes-Benz Vito, Nissan Interstar, Renault Master, and Volkswagen Caddy C ..read more

Nissan has added a Crew Van option to its compact Townstar range, based on the long-wheelbase L2 model. Maximising flexibility, the five-seater van can switch from a people-focused vehicle to a twin-seater panel van in seconds. The second-row seats can be folded up or down, allowing easy switching between passenger and cargo modes. With the seats in place, the van can comfortably carry five passengers. When additional cargo space is required, folding the seats provides an extra 1m3, increasing the total loading capacity to 3.1m3. The process is a one-person — and even one-handed — operation, m ..read more

The Renault Kangoo is getting revamped with a series of enhancements for the 2024 model year, including a lower starting price for the fully electric E-Tech version. What’s Changed The most obvious update is the front end, which has been made more distinctive with the adoption of Renault’s new visual identity. The modern interpretation of the diamond logo is boldly displayed in the centre of the new front grille. Standard equipment has been improved across the Renault Kangoo range, which now includes a new 4.2-inch colour driver information display, electric parking brake, passenger sun visor ..read more

The Ellesmere Port plant in the northwest of England — now the manufacturing home of the Vauxhall Combo Electric compact van and its Stellantis siblings under different brands — has been building cars and vans for 60 years, with the first Vauxhall Viva rolling off the production line in June 1964. The plant opened in 1962, with the first models of the popular family car being manufactured in 1964. Since the Viva, it’s been the manufacturing home of the Vauxhall Chevette and seven generations of the Vauxhall Astra, producing more than five million cars. Since 1970, the Ellesmere Port plant has ..read more

Bedeo has released a whitepaper that exposes significant policy gaps in the UK’s EV retrofit market despite its proven potential to boost EV adoption. Titled ‘Accelerating the Transition, Supporting our Businesses: Enabling Low-Emission Fleets with Retrofit Electrification’, the paper emphasises the urgent need for retrofit incentives and stricter regulations for safety and quality standards. Retrofitting, which converts used internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles to electric, is popular and subsidised in other European countries. It extends vehicle lifespan, increases residual value, and i ..read more