Lighting design and installation specialist Challenger Lighting Services has recruited the new Toyota Proace van to its fleet.

The Gosport-based business has chosen Toyota for the first time, with an initial eight Proace going into service with its installation and maintenance teams across the south of England. Around a dozen more are set to be ordered in the next 12 months; all the vans are being acquired with support from Toyota Financial Services.

Challenger Lighting Services’ vehicles are the long wheelbase/standard height (L2/H1) Proace, powered by a 126hp 2.0-litre diesel engine. Fitted with a full corporate livery and specialised racking for the client, the vans can accommodate a 1.2-tonne payload and return official combined cycle fuel consumption of 44.1mpg.

The Proace was launched in 2013, based on the Citroen Dispatch, Peugeot Expert and Fiat Scudo family of vehicles. The range offers two wheelbase lengths and two vehicle heights, plus a choice of three efficient diesel engines. The single equipment grade includes airbags for both driver and passenger, front fog lights, heated door mirrors, electric windows and daytime running lights.

The Proace has sliding doors on each side of the vehicle, plus a choice of glazed or unglazed double rear doors. Payload capacity ranges from 1.0 to 1,222 tonnes. Interior load space is between 5.0 and 7.0 cu m according the wheelbase and height specified.