The New Daily, the third generation of Iveco’s light commercial vehicle, has been named the “International Van of the Year 2015”. The annual award is organized by a jury panel of 23 leading journalists from major international commercial vehicle publications. The winner is the van that, according to the Jury, “has made the greatest contribution to the standards of efficiency and the sustainability of transport of goods by road with respect to environment and safety of people”.
The prestigious award was presented during the 65th edition of the Hanover International Motor Show, the largest commercial and industrial vehicle show in Europe.
In the most competitive year ever since the awards programme was established in 1991, the Iveco New Daily won by a margin of 17 points over the shortlisted finalists from Fiat, Ford, Mercedes-Benz and Renault//Opel. In voting, New Daily was the first choice of the 23 jury members.
Receiving the award from International Van of the Year Chairman, Jarlath Sweeney, Pierre Lahutte, Iveco Brand President, said: “We are delighted that our New Daily has been awarded the prestigious Van of the Year accolade. The New Daily is a major step forward in improving TCO, Comfort, Driveability, Productivity, and Sustainability. We would like to dedicate this award to our customers who every day count on this reliable and dependable working companion”.
Attributes of the New Daily
New Daily is a completely renewed vehicle which presents itself with a load volume efficiency at the top of its category, best-in-class for volume and capacity, car-like comfort, plus driveability and fuel consumption further optimized. These are the main features of the third generation of the light commercial vehicle of Iveco of which 80% of components have been redesigned.
Two vehicles in one for the best Daily ever, in a perfect balance between cutting-edge innovations and the continued evolution of the Daily’s strong heritage. The working partner of choice for transport professionals, the new vehicle is presented as being convenient and practical to use as a light van, whilst continuing to offer the maximum reliability, efficiency and versatility that have always made the Daily a reference point for the sector. The New Daily has preserved its classic ladder frame chassis structure, which has long been a key part of its DNA and ensures its sturdiness, versatility and durability over time, including maximum bodybuilding flexibility for chassis cab versions.
The third generation of the Daily is also focused on business requirements and offers a considerable reduction in fuel consumption compared with the previous model, with a significant improvement in vehicle running costs, together with the best performance in the category offering a wide range of engines, transmissions and axle ratios.
The New Daily features important technologies which aim to limit consumption: fuel savings equate to an average of 5.5%, depending on the different vehicle versions, and can reach up to 14% with EcoPack for urban missions.The aerodynamics have also been enhanced, especially on van models, with the drag coefficient (Cx) reduced by 6% (from 0.335 to 0.316).
The new front suspension QUAD-LEAF, guaranteeing increased load carrying capacity of the first and ground clearance and maximum allowed payload on axles of the latter and the new HI-MATIC 8-speed automatic transmission that establishes high standards of flexibility, efficiency and fuel economy, ensuring maximum travel comfort represent the high level of the technological solutions offered by the New Daily and presented at the IAA.
The vehicle incorporates new advanced and integrated telematics services, improved customer services instruments and the most advanced road safety features such as IVECONNECT, the exclusive system that allows for simple and integrated management of the infotainment and navigation systems and of the advanced driving assistance and fleet management instruments.
The ongoing quest for efficiency is also embodied in a range of state-of.the-art, intuitive control devices which help businesses to create a productive working environment. IVECONNECT is equipped with a 7" touch screen built into the dashboard and comes complete with radio, CD player and iPod/iPhone and MP3 compatible USB port, along with Bluetooth connectivity with steering wheel controls and an AUX/video port.
But that is not all: the comfort of the vehicle has also been greatly improved. The driver of the New Daily can benefit from a more comfortable and quieter interior compartment that guarantees the driving position and sensations typical of a premium automobile, as well as a multitude of closed and open storage compartments. The ergonomic design of the controls is at the top of its category, the sound insulation has been improved, the air conditioning system is more efficient and driving comfort is excellent in all load conditions.
Technological innovation at the service of customers in the New Daily to reinforce every day the Iveco's commitment in the field of sustainable mobility, is evidenced by the availability of specific versions using natural gas, electric . The New Daily CNG, presented in Hanover, maintains the same strongpoints as the diesel version in terms of reliability, comfort, and useful payload. The ladder frame chassis makes the New Daily not just the preferred vehicle for outfitters, providing them with robustness and the ability to support heavy loads, but much more: as a result of the way in which the cylinders are mounted on the Natural Power model, there is no reduction in load space or to the flexibility offered to body builders.
The electric version will arrive soon to complete the range of alternative traction of the New Daily, which has the same improvements of the other versions: architecture, wheelbase range, suspension schemes, interior and exterior design. It will be available in vans and urban buses. Iveco, a front runner in this kind of technology, developed and built the first electrically propelled Daily and since 2009 is officially distributed, guaranteed and assisted by the Iveco Network.
The New Daily evolution range will include also a new 7.2 ton top range version which offers the highest payload in the category (up to 4.9 tons) and two different 4x4 models (an all-road version available in twin – wheel versions of 3.5 and over with van, chassis cab and crew cab bodies and a pure off-road version which will adopt the same technical scheme of previous Daily 4x4.
The Daily is a “global” vehicle: more than 2.6 million Daily vehicles have been sold to date in over 110 countries worldwide. It is produced at the Iveco Suzzara plant, near Mantova in Italy, where the company has recently made substantial investments to renew the production lines.
