That’s the Weststar Maxus V80 commercial van which has been plying trade as a dependable workhorse, or a transporter in critical situations for medical services on Malaysian roads since 2011.
“We have put over 3,000 units on the road in the last seven years. Our clients include Massimo Bread (bakery brand by The Italian Baker Sdn Bhd), the medical sector and government bodies like the Ministry of Defence where performance and reliability are critical,” said Weststar Group executive director Datuk Vikram Menon during a recent interview at Weststar Maxus Glenmarie in Shah Alam.
“They give us a lot of feedback - so we understand how the components are performing, failure rate, etc. Over the years, the V80 has been refined and improved, and undergone two facelifts to be the ultimate solid, efficient and superior workhorse.”
Weststar Maxus Sdn Bhd is the sole distributor in Malaysia for the Weststar Maxus V80 van and the G10, a 10-seater premium multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) priced at RM152,488 onwards.
The Maxus V80 is priced without insurance at RM110,888 (panel van) and RM130,888 (window van - 12 seater) and RM131,888 (window van - 15 seater).
The warranty is 100,000km or 3 years (whichever comes first) and an attractive after-sales package is a 4-year or 100,000km (whichever comes first) free service program and maintenance package (free parts, free lubricants, free labour).
A 5-year or 150,000km (whichever is first) free service and maintenance package is also offered to those who buy 3 units or more.
“These after-sales packages provide business owners with better peace of mind as they can calculate their financing, depreciation and maintenance costs. No nasty surprises or bill shocks,” said Vikram.
The cost-competitive Maxus V80 is fully customisable and caters to a wide array of service and business needs, including ambulances, food and coffee trucks, mobile libraries, delivery vans, tour buses, and mobile offices or sales showrooms.
Among its growing list of A-list clients are DHL, Federal Express, Eco Coach Travel and Tours, and the Ministry of Health.
It offers a very roomy cabin, with lots of interior standing room (at 1,710mm) and measures 5,700mm (length); 2,345mm (height); 1,998mm (width) and 3,850mm (wheelbase).
There’s plenty of grunt from the 4-cylinder 2.5-litre turbo diesel engine courtesy of Italian diesel engine maker VM Motori, featuring a Bosch common rail direct fuel injection system, that makes 136PS at 3,800rpm and 330Nm at 1,800 to 2,600rpm.
Mated to a five-speed manual gearbox, the Maxus V80’s fuel consumption is rated at 8.9 to 9.4 litres per 100km (depending on van type and customisation).
Engineered in Britain, featuring components from global automotive specialists, the V80 is loaded with high quality features for business owners.
Billed as the ultimate transporter with the tagline “Built To Work”, the V80 comes standard with an eight-way adjustable driver’s seat, lots of storage spaces, front power windows, cruise control, MP3 head unit with Bluetooth, daytime running lights, a side impact protection system and a single sliding door, 16-inch wheels, all-round disc brakes, as well as safety features such as anti lock braking system (ABS), electronic brake force distribution (EBD), brake assist, reverse parking sensors and dual airbags.
Vikram
The suspension and steering were tuned in Britain by automotive testing specialist Horiba Mira.
Vikram emphasised that the V80 panel van is a strong alternative to a one- or 1.5-tonne truck.
“The panel van has the height, more length and also has more volume (compared with a 1 tonne truck). Also, the side exterior panels are a great platform to advertise or to brand their businesses or products. A good example are the Massimo Bread vans,” said Vikram.
He also pointed out that the V80 is very versatile and can easily be custom-fitted.
“The panel van can be customised to be an ambulance or a mobile office. It is used as a JPJ (Road Transport Department) mobile office, and also mobile units for Lembaga Tabung Haji and also, mobile medical clinics.”
“Or if you want a coffee truck or a vehicle to be fitted out for rackings and chequered panels, or you need a delivery truck. The versatility of the V80 connects very well with business owners and service providers, who do not want the cost of setting up a retail outlet or restaurant where renovation costs are high and you have fixed overheads.”
As for ambulance services, Vikram said the company offers pre-set designs including fully integrated ambulance units with all the needed equipment.
“Of course, medical clients also have their own specifications and requirements, and they sit down with our engineering team.”
Vikram also highlighted the size of the V80.
“Compared with its rivals, it is larger in terms of length, height and obviously, it provides more legroom. So, it is suitable as a tour or schoolbus or if you need a 15-people mover. That added space is a competitive edge for us.”
He also spoke about the reliability and performance of the VM Motori engine and five-speed manual gearbox.
“The V80 can take harsh and high frequency or high mileage driving conditions. Also, the engine is mounted in the bonnet, compared with many commercial vans where the engine is actually under the driver’s seat. This means much more comfort for the driver - compared with commercial vans where the engine is discharging heat under the seat.”
Built as a efficient mover of goods, the V80’s rear doors open up to 255 degrees.
“Even in tight and narrow parking spaces, you can still open the doors and unload your goods. The V80 was been built by understanding business needs.”
The V80 was first produced by the British Leyland DAF Vans (LDV) group in Birmingham, England.
LDV has a strong heritage as one of Europe’s top selling van brands, supplying vehicles for Britain’s Royal Mail.
In 2010, LDV became part of SAIC Motor Corp when the Shanghai-based automaker acquired the commercial division of British Motor Corp.
Subsequently, LDV was re-branded as Maxus in selected markets including Malaysia where SAIC Motor has a partnership with the Weststar Group.
SAIC Motor Corp is the leading automaker in China, thanks to its joint ventures with Volkswagen and General Motors.
In 2016, SAIC Motor sold a staggering 6.49 million vehicles which made it the seventh largest vehicle manufacturer in the world.
“The V80 has been much improved and refined over the years, and features components from renowned OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) - Bosch, Delphi, ZF, Sachs, Continental. In Malaysia, we assemble it at the Berjaya Assembly Sdn Bhd plant in Tampoi, Johor.”
Vikram also noted this was an exciting time for the Maxus brand in Malaysia, with annual sales consistently at around 1,000 units.
“In 2019, we plan to launch the Maxus T60 pick-up truck. That would further increase our presence on the road.”
