Truckworld

“Fiat brought the original Ducato to Australia in 2002 and it was immediately welcomed by a wide range of commercial vehicles users thanks to its versatile, easy to use functionality and keen pricing,” says Chris Swann, General Manager for Fiat Commercial Vehicles in Australia. “As in other markets where it is a dominant player, it also took the motor home market by storm, with six local converters now using the Ducato prominently in their ranges, accounting for 60 per cent of total sales.”

“The new Ducato lifts its game in every area. Payloads are up across the range, the vans offer increased interior volumes from eight to 15 cubic metres, we have a choice of two advanced new third generation Multijet Turbo diesel engines mated to six speed gearboxes for maximum performance and economy and the driving experience is even better than the existing Ducato. Of course, being a Fiat, the new Ducato is extremely well equipped and it is keenly priced,” explains Mr Swann. “Given that the new Ducato covers a significantly wider spread of the market, offers our key motor home customers the ability to expand their ranges with the Ducato and provides a long list of improvements, we know that the new Ducato will appreciably increase both our sales and Fiat’s share of the Australian vehicle market.”

The first generation Ducato was launched in Europe during 1981 and Fiat has now delivered more than 1.7 million Ducatos worldwide. The new Fiat light commercial vehicle offers a distinctive cutting-edge look; it ensures top level comfort and performance; it offers an even greater wealth of equipment - and it ensures low running costs. Not to mention the fact that load compartment access, productivity and payload have all been improved.

The New Ducato’s design is clever as well because, though function is treated as a priority, its looks have not been overlooked in the least. For example, the bumper is divided into three parts in order to ensure lower repair/replacement costs in the event of an accident and thus lower insurance costs in certain countries. The windscreen pillar rake also offers one of the best drag

coefficients in its category (0.31) while sharp, squared-off lines contribute to a more linear load compartment with greater load volume.

Inside, the vehicle offers linear, elegant styling featuring new colours, fabrics and seat, dashboard and door panel designs. The passenger compartment also boasts a well-lit interior and excellent visibility, achieved by oceans of glass that optimise working conditions by ensuring the greatest comfort. The new dashboard is designed to ensure excellent practicality and stylish shapes, all within easy reach of the hand or eyes, to make driving easier and reduce the number of distractions to the driver.

Higher load capacity and reduced running costs

Light commercial vehicle customers have always focused their attention on the practical and the rational: such as load capacity and running costs. The new Ducato meets these needs through an increase in size (greater volume) and also in load capacity (GVW and payload): versions are now available with GVWs up to 4.0 tonnes and a payload of up to 2.0 tonnes. Plus vans with effective volumes up to 15 m³ and interior length in excess of 4 metres. Not to mention the fact that the New Ducato is built to ensure that goods loading and unloading operations can be carried out with greater ease: this is partly due to the reduced load platform ground clearance, which has been cut from the previous figure of 56 centimetres to 53 cm.

The new Fiat light commercial vehicle is also outstanding for its reduced running costs: achievements include a significant reduction in fuel consumption (up to 16% less than the current Ducato); an increase in service intervals (45,000 km for a major service with oil and filer change at 22,500 km) and a significant reduction in repair costs.

Flexible and powerful engines

Customers who use the New Ducato as a working tool will prioritise reliability, low fuel consumption and reduced running costs but also driving flexibility and great torque available from low speeds for a responsive, satisfying drive even in town traffic. For this reason, the new model differs from the previous version in offering three state-of-the-art Common Rail direct injection 16 valve turbo diesel engines with Multijet injection: 88 kW and 97 kW 2.3 Multijet (the latter is used only for the motor home sector) and a 115.5 kW 3.0 Multijet unit.

All the engines are gentle on the environment, with Euro 4 compliance, and are combined with new six speed gearboxes. They offer greater power, improved flexibility and, above all, a higher torque (from 250 to 400 Nm) at low rpm: for customers this means lively take-off and pick-up, great driving satisfaction, optimum comfort but above all reduced fuel consumption.

Maximum safety

Safe driving: this, in a nutshell, is the concept followed by designers throughout the development of the New Fiat Ducato. The aim was to ensure maximum practicality and qualities as far as preventive, active and passive safety are concerned. The improvements carried out set the new model at the peak of its category. Examples include a body with differential crumple zones, new braking systems with four disc brakes, the adoption of ABS with EBD and driver's airbag throughout the entire range. The Medium Roof vans and the cab chassis have, additionally, a front passenger’s airbag and ASR traction control.

Driving comfort and onboard wellbeing

The new model confirms that the greatest attention has been paid to factors linked with ergonomics and also acoustic, climatic and vibration comfort. Onboard wellbeing is of paramount importance to the user of a commercial vehicle who spends long hours at the wheel under often demanding conditions. For this reason, the passenger compartment has been designed as a welcoming, well-lit, comfortable and quiet mobile office with a car-type driving position for ideal mental and physical conditions on the road. Plenty of space is also available (drawers, compartments and shelves) for possessions (PC, road maps and mobile phones).

One of the most versatile vehicles in its sector

• Goods transport versions, people carrying versions and bases for conversions and bodybuilders
• 2 mechanical structures: 15” and 16” wheels and tyres
• Gross Vehicle Weights from 3 to 4 tonnes
• Payloads from 1500 to 2000 kg
• 3 wheelbases, 3 lengths and 2 heights for Van versions
• 3 load compartment volumes from 8 to 15 m³
• 3 engines and six speed gearboxes

Ducato for the Australian Market

Fiat is providing two groups of Ducatos for the Australian market, a range for the general market and, given its importance to Fiat, a special range of ‘to-order-only’ Ducatos specifically for the motor home market.

Full market Versions

• Ducato Low Roof Panel Van Medium 3000 mm wheelbase, 2.3 88 kW engine, 3510 GVM
• Ducato Medium Roof Panel Van Long 3450 mm wheelbase, 2.3 88 kW engine, 4000 GVM
• Ducato Medium Roof Panel Van, Extra Long 4035 mm wheelbase, 3.0 115.5 kW engine, 4000 GVM
• Ducato Cab Chassis Medium 3800 mm wheelbase, 2.3 88 kW engine, 4000 GVM

Motor Home, ‘to-order-only’ versions

The extensive range of Ducato versions for the motor home sector clearly indicates the strength of Fiat’s plans in this sector. This range of base vehicles will allow motor home converters to expand their range through new vehicle sizes, price ranges and performance benchmarks, as well as offering a host of new design features and inclusions:

• Ducato LWB Med Roof Van (4035 mm) (4000 GVM) 2.3L 88 kW
• Ducato ELWB Med Roof Van (4035 mm) (4000 GVM) 2.3L 88 kW
• Ducato Med/Long Wheelbase Cab Chassis STD (3800 mm) (4000GVM) 2.3L 97 kW
• Ducato ELWB Cab Chassis STD (4035 mm) (4000GVM) 3.0L 115.5 kW
• Ducato ELWB Special Cab Chassis (4035 mm) (4000GVM) 3.0L 115.5 kW
• Ducato ALKO back to back Cab Cassis (4250 GVM) 3.0L 115.5 kW
• Ducato MWB Special Cab Chassis (3450mm) (3510GVM) 2.3L 97 kW
• Ducato Med/Long Special Cab Chassis (3800mm) (4000GVM) 3.0L 115.5 kW

As with the previous Fiat Ducato range, the standard equipment list is extensive.

All versions of the Fiat Ducato are equipped with such essential safety and security items as driver’s airbag, ABS anti-lock brakes with electronic brake force distribution (EBD), twin mirror electrically adjustable door mirrors and remote control central locking, with a front passenger airbag and ASR traction control standard on the medium vans and the cab chassis. Comfort is ensured with folding armrests for the driver and front passenger, power windows, cloth upholstery, digital audio system with CD player and controls on the steering wheel and windows in the rear doors with demisting elements.

The new Fiat Ducato opens its Australian market pricing with the Ducato Low roof medium wheelbase van with a recommended retail price of $39,450. The long wheelbase medium roof van is $44,990, while fitted with the 3.0 litre engine and with the extra long wheelbase, the medium roof van is $49,990. The Ducato cab chassis is $42,990. Prices for the special order motor home Ducato base vehicle variants are to order by converters.