GATWICK-based tour operator Titan Travel has bought 41 Volkswagen Caravelle Variants.

The vehicles will be added to the company's 235-vehicle fleet, which is made up of Ford Galaxys, Ford Mondeos and SEAT Alhambras. Each vehicle covers about 60,000 miles a year.

The Caravelle Variants will be driven by uniformed chauffeurs as part of Titan's VIP Local Departure service, which delivers clients to and from airports.

The vehicles, which have been specified to meet Titan's requirements, include Climatronic air conditioning, ABS, twin sliding doors, a 102bhp TDI engine and metallic paint. Negotiations with Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles were conducted through Cordwallis Van Centre in Heathrow.

Jayne Marchetti, Titan Travel's fleet manager, said: 'One of the most important aspects of our service is collecting customers from their home town, so we were looking for an upmarket vehicle to carry six passengers and their luggage.'