Bush Fire, a fire protection engineering company in Middlesex, turned to LDV’s Special Vehicle Operations (SVO) department to design a bespoke unit to test dry riser systems in high rise buildings.

The metallic silver fire van was based on a 2.8 tonne short wheelbase MAXUS chassis cab. The customised vehicle was required to contain a 1,000 litre water tank, pressurised water pump, hose pipes and fire extinguishers, all accessible behind roller shutter doors.

Bush Fire provides companies with a service to test the effectiveness of dry riser systems in order to meet the requirements of insurance companies and fire and licensing authorities. The procedure ensures all fire safety equipment is functioning correctly should a fire occur.

Bush Fire’s Andy Brind explains. “Most fire protection companies usually use old fire engines to do this, but we wanted a unique, purpose built vehicle that was much smaller and could operate far more effectively in confined city centre locations.

“We briefed LDV to design what is essentially a mini fire engine. The SVO team were brilliant, we knew what we wanted and they enhanced our ideas and provided a quick and professional service.”

The MAXUS vehicle was also modified to include scene lights on the side and low level mark lighting at the back to illuminate the working area.

The unique SVO department at LDV provides a specialist design facility allowing customers the opportunity to customise their MAXUS vehicles.   

Gary Nash, SVO sales manager, said: “This recent project clearly demonstrates the capabilities of the SVO department in delivering highly unique MAXUS vehicles.”

GAZ Group, Russia’s leading manufacturer of commercial vehicles, has bought a 50 per cent stake in VM Motori, alongside General Motors Corporation.

The Italian-based company currently supplies LDV with the latest hi-tech diesel engines for its MAXUS range, along with other international brands including Chrysler and Jeep.

As part of the agreement GAZ Group will produce the hi-tech VM Motori engines under licence for the MAXUS range and have more control over the transfer from the production line to the LDV site in Birmingham.

GAZ Group’s chief executive, Sergey Zanozin, said: “Having more control of the production and supply of the diesel engines for the MAXUS range of light commercial vehicles, will help the company achieve key strategic goals.GAZ Group intends to provide a complete range of diesel engines to meet existing and future customer and environmental requirements for its global markets.”

LDV’s chief executive, Evgeniy Vereshchagin, said: “This significant investment by the group will give LDV greater access to a wide range of state-of-the-art diesel engines.It’s an exciting development and allows the company increased flexibility and input in developing future engines for the MAXUS range.”

For further information on the MAXUS range visit www.maxus.com

Notes to editors:

About LDV:  LDV Group is the only dedicated light commercial vehicle manufacturer in the UK, producing the award winning MAXUS range of light commercial vehicles.  Based in Birmingham and employing approximately 1,000 people, LDV became a wholly owned subsidiary of GAZ International, part of the GAZ Group in July 2006. More information can be found at www.MAXUS.com

About GAZ Group:  GAZ Group holds leading positions on the Russian market of commercial vehicles with a diversified product portfolio including a wide range of light commercial vehicles, trucks, buses, construction equipment, cars, power train and its components. It operates 18 large production facilities in Russia and the UK. GAZ Group consolidated revenue in 2007 was just under USD $6.0 billion. GAZ Group is a publicly traded company at the Russian Stock Exchange (ticker: GAZA) and has a majority shareholder OJSC “Russian Machines”, a subsidiary of Basic Element Co.

About VM Motori: VM Motori is a diesel engine engineering and manufacturing organization based in Cento Italy. It currently has 1,200 employees producing seven automotive and marine engine families for customers around the world.  More information can be found at www.vmmotori.it

Further information on the joint venture with GM can be found at http://eng.gazgroup.ru/news

The Birmingham-based van maker is launching the new Extended Frame range in its Chassis Cab, Dropside and Luton derivatives.   The extended frame extends the existing long wheelbase Chassis Cab by an extra 750mm.

The September 1, 2008 launch comes on the back of a celebrated history for LDV in the Chassis Cab market.  Its Convoy range of Chassis Cabs was market leader across many derivatives and the company is confident it can repeat this with its new MAXUS models.

All Chassis Cabs and Dropsides will come with a choice of a 95PS, 120PS or 135PS engine, with the Luton available with a 120PS or 135PS engine. 

The Extended Frame range features an uprated rear axle, with the plated weight increasing to 2300KG from the standard 2120KG.  There is also an uprated wheel and tyre assembly, which is changed to 205/75/R16 10 ply.  Despite these significant improvements, the MAXUS Extended Frame Dropside and Luton vehicles are both only £450 more than standard Dropside and Luton models.  Further new features include:

New longer electrical harness
Rear parabolic spring – the increased free height improves departure angle
CAT 6 side repeaters
New long arm mirrors

The new Extended Frame shares the same high level of specification as the rest of the MAXUS range including:

Power adjusted and heated door mirrors
Rear fog lamps
CD/radio with MP3 compatibility
ABS & EBD
Driver airbag
Engine immobiliser
Remote central locking
Fully adjustable driver’s height rise, tilt and reclining seat
Underfloor spare wheel carrier

The launch of the Extended Frame brings the number of MAXUS derivatives to well over 100 and LDV is confident the new vehicles will meet the needs of even more customers. 

Guy Jones, marketing director, said:
“The newly launched Extended Frame range will provide our customers with a class-leading payload of up to 1,474kg alongside an internal load length of 4.20 metres for the Extended Frame Dropside and 4.02 metres for the Luton. We are extremely proud to design and manufacture our vehicles in the UK for  all of our export markets. With the backing of our parent company, GAZ Group, we have been able to consistently deliver an increasingly wide range of vehicles to the market in the last two years while at the same time investing in our Birmingham plant to increase product quality and reliability.  With LDV, customers benefit from our ‘one stop shop’ approach offering factory built vehicles straight from the production line without the need for a lengthy external conversion.”

All vehicles will come with MAXUS ONE, LDV’s industry leading four year/120,000 mile manufacturer’s warranty (covering both chassis and rear bodies) as well as MAXUS Assist which provides roadside assistance in the UK and Europe for two years. 

For further information on the MAXUS range visit www.maxus.com

Juliet Cadzow, better known to children under five across the world as Edie McCredie the school bus driver in CBeebies’ hugely popular Balamory, joined LDV to officially launch its MAXUS School Bus.

Welcoming Edie McCredie to Birmingham were children and teachers from West Heath Primary School who sang songs as the first MAXUS School Bus travelled off the production line.

Speaking at the launch, marketing director, Steve Miller said: “We offer the widest range of minibuses in the UK market and we have won Minibus of the Year both last year and this. Our new MAXUS School Bus will enable us to reach an even wider audience. Our last Convoy School Bus was popular with schools and colleges across the UK and we know this new model will do just as well.

“As any parent will tell you, the most famous school bus driver in the land is Edie McCredie. We could think of no better person to invite to the factory than Juliet who has got to know our products very well over the years that she filmed for the popular BBC show.”

LDV’s new vehicle puts children’s safety at the top of the agenda, with features including:

Distinctive highway yellow paint with reflective schools livery kit
Anti lock brakes and electronic brake distribution
Driver and passenger airbags
Yellow seat belt webbing and head restraints
Audible reversing bleeper
Rear parking sensors
Retractable electric side load door step
Fire extinguisher and first aid kit

Schools can also upgrade their vehicle to include interior and exterior cameras, front parking sensors and audible warning systems on the doors.

The standard MAXUS School Bus package starts from as little as £26,500. All vehicles come with free RoSPA driving training as well as:

Guaranteed finance for all state schools with easy payment terms spread over four annual payments
Dedicated insurance for education authorities
Four year/120,000 mile manufacturer’s warranty and two year MAXUS assist European roadside recovery programme
For education authorities only, there is a complete peace of mind package that includes servicing, repair and maintenance, annual MOTS and roadside recovery for four years of ownership from as little as £2.50 per day

For further information on the LDV MAXUS School Bus visit maxus.com.

The new 3.5 tonne Aero Luton delivers an affordable cube van into the market, providing customers with an impressive 15.6 square metre volume.  It's also an ideal vehicle for either box or refrigerated derivatives.

Evgeniy Vereshchagin, LDV Group's new chief executive said the Aero Luton provides yet another reason for customers to turn to the MAXUS range to meet their vehicle requirements:  “The Aero Luton is a fantastic example of the great vehicle building qualities housed at our Birmingham factory.  Our aim is to continue to expand the range to meet the needs of every type of customer.”

The new model includes all the driver-like comforts and vehicle features of the current MAXUS range and comes with the following as standard:

120PS engine
Ratcliffe Tailift
ABS with EBD (electronic brakeforce distribution)
Driver's airbag
Power adjustable and heated mirrors
Electronic windows
CD player with MP3 compatibility
Height rise driver's seat
The Aero Luton is the result of a successful collaboration with JC Payne, producers of truck bodies, and the vehicle demonstrates how LDV Group can work with leaders in the field to deliver even more choice for customers.

Every 2008 MAXUS Aero Luton comes with MAXUS ONE, a comprehensive support package which covers all aspect of vehicle ownership including a 120,000 mile/four year warranty and a two year MAXUS Assist European roadside recovery programme as standard.

For further information on the MAXUS chassis cab range visit www.maxus.com.

The Prestige Sport Van is the result of a collaboration between LDV Group and Prestige Motor Homes, a specialist motor home manufacturer and importer based in Droitwich.  The 2.8 tonne MAXUS vehicle is designed for the weekend traveller and comes fully loaded for a fun trip away. 

Features on the black MAXUS include:

Double bed
Dining area
Entertainment system including CD player with MP3 compatibility and TV DVD satellite entertainment system
Full fitted kitchen with three burner hob, sink and fridge
Exterior styling includes roof rails, stainless steel nudge bars and rear door ladder
The second collaboration sees the company join forces with BVS UK and Bollanti to introduce a new private ambulance into the market.  The MAXUS ambulance is less than 3.5 tonnes fully loaded, a unique attribute for the ambulance market.  The 120PS long wheel base vehicle is built to CEN 1789 standards and comes with a five year warranty.

Features include:

Haztech LED light bar and siren system
Lateral hydraulic pull down suspension and wedge ramp
Durable Kevlar reinforced saloon
Electric windows
Electric adjusted and heated mirrors
CD player
Tailored interior
Configurable patient access
Accommodates all stretcher types

For further information on the MAXUS range visit www.maxus.com.