Latest news with #HiAce
The Citizen
25-06-2025
- Automotive
- The Citizen
Cargo hauling, diesel-powered Foton View C2 panel van priced
View joins the electric eView, the 16-seat Asambe taxi and the 15-seat View CS2 in completing Foton's range of vans and minibusses. View panel van bears more than a passing resemblance to the Toyota HiAce. Images: Charl Bosch Foton officially expanded its van and minibus range with the introduction of the combustion engine View C2 panel van at its inaugural 'Made for Business' event at Emperors' Place on the outskirts of Boksburg on Wednesday (25 June). Fundamentals Joining the 16-seat Asambe taxi, the 15-seat View CS2 and the all-electric eView, the View C2 largely resembles the latter, but with the obvious omittance of the blue accents, colour-coded bumpers and the sealed grille. ALSO READ: Foton sets sights on HiAce with Asambe taxi and View minibus Continuing to also appear almost identical to the Toyota HiAce, the View C2 only comes in long wheelbase bodystyle, which translates to a loading area of 2 820 mm in overall length, a claimed loading capacity of 1 200 kg and cubic capacity of 5.66 metres. Manually sliding dual side doors are standard on the View. Similar to the HiAce, the View C2 sports a flip-up opening rear door rather than a split barn door-style arrangement, along with a pair of manually sliding side doors. Diesel replaces electric Up front, the electric hardware of the eView, also displayed at the event, has been replaced by the same turbodiesel engine and automatic gearbox combination as the View CS2. Rear has elements from both the HiAce and Nissan NV350 about it. Again displacing 2.0-litres, the oil-burner develops 101kW/330Nm, which is sent to the rear wheels via a six-speed automatic gearbox. Spec Interior differs slightly from the HiAce, and comes standard with an infotainment display. In terms of standard specification, the View C2 boasts 15-inch steel wheels with plastic covers, electric windows, air-conditioning, an infotainment system with Bluetooth and USB, LED daytime running lights, ABS and EBD, a driver's airbag, rear parking sensors and remote central locking. Price Priced at R449 900, the View C2 panel van's price tag includes a three-year/100 000 km warranty, with a service plan being an optional extra. NOW READ: Foton Tunland G7 single cab now available with four-wheel-drive
Telegraph
28-03-2025
- Automotive
- Telegraph
UK's rarest cars: 1987 Toyota Space Cruiser – one of only two left
When Toyota GB began importing the Model F Space Cruiser in 1983 it seemed a world apart from the likes of humdrum European fare such as the Morris Ital and the Talbot Solara. Here was a vehicle with a velour-trimmed interior that resembled the lounge of a showhome on an executive housing estate. Today, Mohammed Rahman's 1987 example is one of only 18 left on the road, but only one of two with the optional automatic gearbox. The Space Cruiser made its bow in 1982. One intended market was the USA, where by 1983 it would compete with the Plymouth Voyager and Dodge Caravan in a sector dubbed 'minivans'. That year, Toyota GB stressed that the Space Cruiser was not an adapted HiAce van but a wholly new form of vehicle. The two may have looked similar but the former was for carpet retailers, the latter for go-ahead drivers who could program a ZX81 Spectrum personal computer. The sales copy emphasised a name with vague science-fiction connotations. 'Experience A Close Encounter With The Toyota Space Cruiser,' urged one advertisement. Additionally, it 'goes where no other vehicle goes before', although the copywriter sadly resisted the temptation to say: 'It's a HiAce, Jim, but not as we know it.' By the autumn of 1983, Toyota GB had found sales exceeding expectations. One of the Space Cruiser's main attributes was its versatility, with accommodation for eight occupants, while the second and third rows of seats could be arranged to form a double bed. This more than compensated for a front passenger seat with no fore and aft adjustment as it was mounted on the engine compartment lid. The Space Cruiser's equipment list was a further strong point: electric front windows, an adjustable steering wheel, power-assisted steering that was 'out of this world', a stereo radio-cassette player, a separate heater for the rear occupants and even twin mileometers. The gearbox choices were a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic and – perhaps the most stereotypically 1980s feature of all – the Space Cruiser was the world's only production vehicle 'with two moon roofs'. The Telegraph 's motoring correspondent praised how the Space Cruiser's seats gave passengers 'a grandstand view of the countryside'. He went on to say they might have an even better view if they stood up and looked through the opened sliding roofs, although 'I suppose this should not be encouraged'. The Space Cruiser's looks attracted some controversy; one Autocar tester complained it was 'bizarre at the front and looks like a van at the back'. However, another of the magazine's writers was more complimentary, approving of the high-mounted driving position. 'An added bonus of the Space Cruiser is that sitting that high up gives you a traffic advantage – and you can look over other people's hedges.' The last-named feature may have appealed to the Hyacinth Bucket (pronounced Bouquet) market. A dealer could also say, with some justification, that the Space Cruiser had no direct British rival in 1983. The main alternatives were the Mitsubishi Space Wagon, the Nissan Prairie and, by 1984, the Renault Espace. In addition, Toyota warned prospective buyers: 'Test drive a Model F Space Cruiser and see Peugeot 505 Family Estate owners or Citroën Familiale owners turn into green-eyed monsters.' Some owners may have found the 1.8-litre engine's 84mph top speed not especially rapid, but the 2.0-litre version arrived in the UK in February 1985. The price was now £8,994 (£27,400 in today's terms), compared with £8,199 for the Space Wagon, £8,399 for the Prairie in Anniversary II guise and £11,250 for the Renault Espace 2000 TSE. Motor praised the Space Cruiser's driving position and found its ride 'improves markedly when full of people'. They also noted 'you can sleep in comfort' on the double bed. Toyota facelifted the Space Cruiser eight months later and sales ended in February 1990 with the launch of the larger Previa MPV. Toyota sold 9,346 examples of the Space Cruiser in the UK and more than 250,000 globally, but the familiar corrosion issues ensured that barely any exist in 2025. Rahman's Model F deserves to be celebrated as a prime example of Toyota's marketing acumen.
