With the whole of the automotive industry focused on technology, autonomous driving, and connectivity, most of the innovation announcements relate to premium passenger cars. But there’s enormous innovation happening in LCVs—light commercial vehicles—as well. While we might think of LCVs as typically equipped to the minimum, that sector of the industry is fielding new ideas similar to those in cutting-edge passenger cars. It only makes sense, given that a multipassenger van could serve extremely well as a sizeable connected mobile office.
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The new Renault Trafic, for instance, turns into a real mobile office. Its intelligent cockpit boasts connectivity on board with powerful multimedia solutions, enormous storage—90 litres of it, including a 54-litre locker under the passenger seat, ideal to store office stuff.
Interior design has been enhanced with particular attention to details like air ducts, the centre console surround, air conditioning controls, gear lever, counters, and suchlike in terms of colour and materials. There are touches of satin chrome and dark carbon, blending luxury-car beauty with special attention to material durability appropriate for a shared commercial vehicle.
And the big new Renault Master, redesigned with sleeker lines, is now equipped with an “Easy Life” table tray above the glovebox. It opens with a simple finger touch and offers space to work or eat lunch. There’s also a large new central cup holder, a tablet dock in the central part of the dashboard, an induction smartphone charger, and connected multimedia access with the R-LINK Evolution and Media Nav Evolution systems.
It was only a matter of time before the technology of today and tomorrow facilitated new use of the vast space in LCVs, configured and equipped as convenient, connected, polyvalent workspaces—and the time is now, as it seems!
