A FACELIFTED, more powerful Daihatsu Hijet van and pickup range has been unveiled at the British International Motor Show. The front end has been treated to some modernisation but the biggest change is under its skin - the 1.0-litre petrol engine has been replaced by a 16-valve 1,295cc unit.

Despite the 36% increase in power to 64bhp and 30% rise in torque peak to 99Nm at 2,800rpm (previously 76Nm at 4,000rpm),

Daihatsu has kept the new Hijet van and pickup prices the same as those of the runout models. Excluding VAT, road tax and first registration fee, the new Italian-built 1.3 Hijets - a joint development between Daihatsu and Piaggio - cost £6,700. Following on from a toe-in-the-water exercise earlier this year with a liquefied petroleum gas-only Hijet, the partnership is understood to be developing a dual-fuel version.

There are no plans to reintroduce the 1.2-litre diesel engine in the revised range. Standard equipment on the van includes halogen headlamps, rear wash/wipe, heated rear window, front and rear mudflaps, reclining seats, cargo floor covering and cargo deck light. The pickup is similarly equipped but includes a rear window bar guard.

Van payload is 635kg with 2.9 cu m of space, and the pickup - which has three drop-sides - can carry 760kg. All Hijets come with a three-year/60,000-mile warranty, 12 months' RAC cover, and a six-year anti-perforation corrosion warranty