Aixam-Mega Mega Van Range : SO SMALL, IT'S MEGA

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It's Certainly The Smallest And Quite Possibly The StRangest Van On The UK Market. Steve Walker Takes A Look At The Mega Vanâ€¦

At first glance, Aixam-Mega Vehicles would appear to have their work cut out in coaxing UK businesses into the driver's seat of their diminutive Mega Van. If, however, you look at the facts instead of staring dumbfounded at the Legoland styling, the vehicle might not be such a peculiar proposition after all. Whatever you think of the Mega Van, it's certainly out of the ordinary.

On the continent it's not unusual to sight a burly builder scooting along the road, his extensive frame crammed behind the windscreen of a tiny three-wheeled van or pick-up. The Mega Van is the spiritual successor to this kind of vehicle - ultra-compact in size, simple yet strong in construction and capable of making you look like a character from Wacky Races. You see, where the French and Italians recognise a cheap functional commercial vehicle when they clap eyes on one, we Brits tend to see only a mode of transport that could leave us wide open to a sustained bout of ruthless Mickey-taking at the hands of our colleagues. Vehicles in the mould of the three-wheeled, scooter-engined Piaggio Ape Poker would appear to underpin the whole Italian rural economy, such is their popularity but the same models have been available in the UK for years. Have you ever seen one? In this country, thanks to some misplaced sense of self-esteem, the type of small business customer at whom the Mega Van is targeted will just about allow themselves to be seen at the wheel of a Micro-van like Daihatsu's Extol or Suzuki's Carry. Smaller and more visually strikingly, the Mega Van is an altogether more leftfield proposition and while it may well be fitter for purpose than mainstream competitors, some buyers are still likely to think twice. Others, on the other hand, will absolutely love it. Looking at the Mega Van, you can see where the manufacturer's hope that it can become the commercial vehicle equivalent of the MCC Smart car is derived from. The cute face, two-tone design and primary colour paint schemes bear more than a passing resemblance to the Smart - a vehicle that has become a common sight in towns and cities throughout the land despite initial scepticism from a conservative public. The Mega Van's dimensions aren't far in excess of Daimler Chrysler's fashionable citycar either. At just over 2.92m in length and only 1.5m wide, the Mega is a truly tiny van, nearly a meter shy of the diminutive 3.8m Daihatsu Extol. Of course, the Mega's size is its main strength. Down tight alleyways, through gaps in the traffic, the vehicle comes into its own. The manufacturers even point out that it's light enough (from just 400kg in conventional engine form) to be driven on delicate surfaces. Landscape gardeners could risk running it across their client's lawn, councils might use it on paved pedestrian areas, factory bosses could use it forklift-style to move goods around inside a warehouse. The Mega can be used as a normal van but its size and the Range of power options open up a variety of alternative functions.

"Of course, the Mega's size is its main strength."

The Mega Van is available in four different bodystyles with van, pick-up, dropside and chassis cab options each offered. Power choice is similarly wide-ranging for such a small vehicle and which engine you choose depends very much on the type of usage you have in mind for your Mega Van. Those valuing Range and fuel economy above all else will gravitate towards the 479cc diesel option. Mega Vans with this engine have been optimistically titled 500 for model designation purposes. It manages to post figures on the economical side of 70mpg, which will do wonders for any company's fuel bills. With the 24L fuel tank, that means a Range of around 370 miles, so the 500 does have the stamina for lengthier trips. You can certainly go a long way in a Mega Van. Unfortunately, you won't be doing so very quickly. The 500 can only haul its acrylic and aluminium frame up to a maximum velocity of 50mph so on motorway journeys you may have to put it in the boot of a conventional car. Still, when did you last average even 30mph on a journey through a city centre? More interesting might be the option of electric power. The Mega Van can employ a 48-volt General Electric electric motor to reach speeds of between 30 and 40mph. The Range on these models is limited - between 60 and 100km depending on how many batteries you opt for - so they're probably best employed as get-around vehicles for large industrial complexes, campsites or, perhaps, as golf carts. Depending on your choice of diesel or electric power, payloads Range between a modest 275kg and a respectable 460kg but a general lack of horsepower and torque across the engine line-up means that performance will drop-off markedly if a full load is hoisted onto the back. The Mega Van has no gearbox and uses a centrifugal clutch to pedal itself along so it's very easy to drive. So easy in fact, that it's classed as a Quadracycle and can be driven on a B1 motorcycle licence. Despite its size, the Mega Van looks surprisingly chunky and hardwearing. The acrylic plastic bodywork is reassuringly resistant to the kind of minor dents and scratches that vans tend to accumulate during the course of their working lives. Manufacturers Aixam-Mega tell us that the material is weather resistant and will not damage even in the harshest, dampest environments. Rust certainly wont be an issue as the chassis is of all-aluminium, weld-free construction. It's also designed to be exceptionally rigid for improved safety. The lively exterior is contrasted by a less extrovert theme on the inside but everything seems robust enough to stay the course. Equipment includes such luxuries as 2-speed wipers, an ashtray and a 3-speed heater but don't expect too much. Any vehicle that needs to give its hazard lights a mention to pad out its standard equipment list is not going to excessively mollycoddle its drivers. The Mega Van is undoubtedly an eccentric choice but it also has a Range of unique capabilities that may be exactly what some businesses are looking for. You have to suspect that it will sell rather better on the continent, where miniscule commercial vehicles are already commonplace, than it will in the UK where people take themselves and their choice of transport that bit more seriously. But companies here that want to make an impact and draw attention to themselves on the streets could certainly achieve those ends by investing in a fleet of Mega Vans.

Facts At A Glance VAN: Aixam-Mega Mega Van Range ENGINE: 479cc diesel or 48v electric PAYLOAD: 275kg-460kg TOTAL UNLADEN WEIGHT: 440-695kg
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: length/width/heightmm 2920/1480/1825mm