The Iveco Daily has been voted Best Light Truck 2007 in the Van Fleet World Honours, judged by a panel of industry experts representing the leasing industry, fleet managers and residual value guides.
The trophy was presented at a special awards ceremony held at the Royal Automobile Club in Pall Mall, London, on 17 May, with the sheer breadth of the Daily product line-up winning considerable praise.
Iveco’s light commercial vehicle range extends to over 2,500 possible configurations with models available between 3.2 and 6.5 tonnes, ensuring there is a suitable vehicle for the needs of every light commercial vehicle operator. Daily can be specified with a choice of five engines, a selection of different wheelbases and interior heights, lengths, side and rear door configurations and volume capacities – and includes the largest panel van available on the market, offering a load carrying capacity of 17.2 m³.
Commenting on the award, Van Fleet World Editor John Kendall said: ‘The Iveco Daily has gone from strength to strength in recent years following a programme of continuous development. Hot on the heels of a new Euro 4 engine range last year, Daily has undergone a complete facelift and held on to the top slot in the 3,501kg - 6,500kg sector in 2006, pushing the Ford Transit into second place.”
The new Daily was launched in October 2006 and features a revised cab, styled by the world-famous Italian automotive design house Giugiaro. Amongst the most significant changes are improved driver ergonomics and ease of movement across the cabin, thanks to the dash-mounted gearshift, together with an enhanced range of vehicle options including a hands-free Bluetooth telephone kit, MP3 player, parking sensors and an auxiliary heater with timer. New seats make Daily even more comfortable and provide greater support, whilst the interior is spacious and practical to manage thanks to the increased amount of storage available.
Additional safety features have also been built into the new model, with new larger ventilated brake disks helping to bring a typical 3.5-tonne S class van from 60 to 0 mph in just 42 metres. All new Dailys are equipped with ABS / EBD and, as with the previous model, can be specified with the latest generation ESP8.
In addition to a driver’s airbag, which is standard for people carrier MPV models and higher power vans, vehicles can also now be fitted with passenger side and window airbags.
This latest model builds upon Iveco’s significant experience and heritage in the light commercial vehicle industry, which started with the launch of Daily in 1978 and has since seen nearly two million vehicles delivered to customers around the world.
The Van Fleet World Honours are presented annually to those van manufacturers and service companies who have, in the opinion of the judges, achieved the highest possible level of excellence in their sector.
Prices for a Daily start from £16,400, with vehicles available to test drive at any of Iveco’s 26 main distributors and 43 satellites across the UK.