Fiat Ducato on sale in UK

Fiat Auto’s all-new Ducato LCV went on sale in the UK last week (Friday 6 October).

Over the past 10 years, the European LCV market has grown considerably, rising from some 1,300,000 units in 1995 to over 2 million in 2005. In the UK last year, Fiat Auto posted a record of 12,417 commercial vehicle sales, resulting in a market share increase from 3.85% in 2004 to 3.92% in 2005 – a rising trend for the fourth consecutive year. Fiat Auto’s 2006 UK market share reached 4.4% at the end of August.

With the current model Ducato representing two thirds of all Fiat LCV sales registrations in the UK, and an increase in sales of 6.5% this year, the range’s outstanding flexibility and practicality has afforded Fiat’s largest LCV consistently high sales figures amongst an increasingly discerning customer base. In the leisure conversions segment, two out of every three camper vans are now built on Ducato chassis cab bases. Some 8,000 sales of the new Ducato are anticipated for 2007, representing a 12.5% increase on 2006.

Available in 25 versions from launch, priced from £14,475 – £24,575 + VAT, the new 2006 Ducato Panel Van range, which is designed to be the most versatile in its segment, encompasses panel van, dropside truck and crew cab truck variants, chassis cabs as a base for conversion and a nine seat Commercial Passenger Vehicle, the Combinato. It features larger dimensions, both within the passenger cab and to the length, height and width of a load compartment which now offers a maximum volume of 17m3. The new Ducato range offers an increase in Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) to a maximum of 4.0 tonnes, and a driver-inclusive payload of up to 1850 kg.

The new Ducato LCV range is on sale in the UK with a choice of three sophisticated Fiat MultiJet common rail, direct injection, 16 valve turbodiesel powerplants – a 2.2 litre 100 bhp unit, a 2.3 litre 120 bhp variant, and a 3.0 litre engine producing 157 bhp. To reduce NOx emissions, all three engines are fitted with an Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) system, with cooling of exhaust gases by recirculation controlled directly by the engine ECU. The exhaust gas post-treatment system completes gas oxidisation to ensure EURO 4 emission limits are met.

All three powerplants are transverse mounted, providing front-wheel drive through a range of robust, durable, manual gearboxes. Both 2.3 and 3.0 litre MultiJet engines are mated to new 6-speed manual transmissions, whilst the 2.2 litre MultiJet unit is mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox.

Particular attention has been paid to the painstaking design of every aspect of a new, larger cab interior, to provide best-in-class cockpit room, driver and passenger seat position and posture, switchgear and instrumentation ergonomics, storage practicality, and acoustic, climatic and vibrational comfort. As a result, the new Fiat LCV is exceptionally quiet on the road, recording an outstanding ‘articulation index’ – the

ease with which a conversation may take place at high speeds – of 49; an improvement of 5 over the outgoing model.

The new Fiat Ducato is available in one trim level, and boasts a comprehensive standard equipment specification which includes Servotronic variable power assisted steering, remote central locking with deadlocks, ABS with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD), a dual stage driver’s airbag, electric windows, cargo area side panelling and load restraining belts, wax protection and an Autoradio ‘high’ stereo radio/CD/MP3 player.

This lavish equipment package is enhanced by a range of options carefully considered to simplify and enhance life on board, and further improve the working practicality of the new Fiat LCV. These include manual and automatic climate control, supplementary heaters, ESP with Load Adaptive Control (LAC), front foglamps, cruise control, a rear view video camera, Fiat’s unique Blue&Me handsfree phone system, a heat reflective windscreen, a shock absorbing driver’s seat, swivelling driver and passenger seats for camper van conversions, alloy wheels, headlamp washers, a ceiling-mounted storage shelf, rain, dusk and parking sensors, and passenger, front side and window airbags.

In addition, the working capabilities of the new Ducato range may be further enhanced through self-levelling suspension, a second sliding door, 270 degree rear door opening, larger door mirrors, a fixed, full width steel bulkhead, a larger fuel tank and a tachograph, (standard equipment on versions above 3500 kg GVW).

Fiat Auto has equipped the new Ducato with class leading levels of both passive and active safety equipment. The chassis and body have been designed to provide exceptional torsional stiffness yet absorb impact with maximum efficiency.

Compared to the previous model, the new LCV’s torsional rigidity has been increased by 30% even though the new Ducato is 300 mm longer and the load compartment is
1.5 m3 bigger. All seats are equipped with generous head restraints and (except for the central seat in the Crew Cab second tier) three-point seatbelts with pre-tensioners and load limiters.

The new Fiat LCV also offers the full range of braking, traction control and stability systems available today: ABS anti-lock brakes, complete with electronic brakeforce distribution, ASR to limit wheel slip during acceleration, MSR to modulate brake torque whilst changing down, and a sophisticated ESP to control stability through bends, which incorporates Fiat’s Load Adaptive Control (LAC) for the first time. Vehicles fitted with ESP also benefit from hydraulic brake assistance and a unique Hill Holder function to facilitate smooth hill starts.