53 replies to this topic

[sirgrant]

Fiat Doblo', exactly like Transit Connect, is functional for short range deliveries into the cities of Europe for the most time in traffic jam . I think that for U.S. it will need more powerful engines . I've travelled in a Doblo and you have more room than you can imagine .

[patfromigh]

Quote

Ram brand and Chrysler Group's Mexico operations head Fred Diaz said the automaker is looking at some styling changes to Fiat's current commercial van lineup to give them 'that punchy Ram look.'

Source: http://manufacturing...n-mexico-160112

[RVC]

That's reassuring news, can't have a Doblò running around looking like that in the US. No matter how good it is, people will not buy it just because the look is too Euro for US taste.

[burt]

Just doing some nosing around, came across this site...
http://www.roadtestr...ts/Fiat/Ducato/
Sure hope these Ducato's don't come with the issues
griped about on this site

[RVC]

They will.....if you plan on buying a Ducato chassis with a 2.2L engine and load a super heavy motor home on top of it! That is the problem I suspect most of these guys are having. The UK has on of the largest motor home communities out there, and they tend to do "unusual" stuff with their vans to save money. One of the more common is trying to fit an oversized home on a smaller Ducato frame (instead of the more expensive Iveco Daily alternative), or buying it with a less expensive 2.2engine instead of a larger one.

Having said that, no car is perfect so I guess there wil be problems, but considering it's the most used frame for motor homes in Europe and one of the most successful courier vans out there, I would think that those problems will be within the norm. I read somewhere that the Mexican version had transmission (clutch) problems, so I'm sure they will be looking at it very carefully before they launch it as a RAM, especially considering that Americans are much heavier on their right foot than Europeans.

[DaveAdmin]

Yeah, I knew someone who carried I-beams in his 2.2 G1 minivan and complained about how the crappy transmission died after 100,000 miles.

[patfromigh]

Maybe they found a fix. http://www.fiatprofe...s/article/11418

I expect the only diesel offered for the Ducato here will be the 3 liter four, since that one is federalized already.

[patfromigh]

Fiat is introducing a 1.4 Multiair turbo option for the Doblo. The official introduction will be at the Geneva show in a few weeks. They are not saying what the drivetrain options will be when the Doblo shows up as a Ram here in the US next year.

Source: http://www.fiatpress...ss/detail/11476

Edited by patfromigh, February 20, 2012 at 04:39 pm.

[patfromigh]

Quote

Swedish Mail continues to travel on board the Fiat Fiorino

• The supply contract signed in 2009 has been renewed until 2015, thus reaching a total of 5,000 units identified by yellow livery.
  
• The vehicles are equipped with the 75 HP 1.3 MultiJet engine combined with the Comfort-Matic robotised gearbox, which ensures low CO₂ emissions (112 g/km) and reduced fuel consumption (4.2 l/100 km in the combined cycle).

Fiat Group Automobiles and Svenska Posten, the Swedish Mail company, have signed an extension of the 2009 contract that envisaged the delivery of 3,000 Fiat Fiorino 1.3 MultiJets with the Comfort-Matic robotised gearbox. Within 2015, another 2,000 units will be added, bringing the total supply to 5,000 vehicles allocated in 6 years.
The new agreement confirms the winning characteristics of the model - reduced running costs, high level of ergonomics, low emissions and low fuel consumption - that won over one the largest companies in Sweden, with more 30,000 employees, as well as one of the most famous in the world for the quality of service provided.
Identified by the yellow livery distinctive of the Swedish Mail, the Fiat commercial vehicle has undergone some changes to adapt it for use across the country, such as right-hand drive, which simplifies making deliveries, internal lighting boosted with LEDs, in addition to a kit of "utilities" to improve visibility and functionality in the cab.
The renewal of the contract with the Swedish Mail above all rewards the winning features of this model, recently updated in terms of both looks and engine range, today all Euro 5. These innovations contribute to consolidating the leading role that the Fiat Fiorino plays in its category. In fact, it is a one-off vehicle that was developed to meet the needs of customers seeking a compact van with economical running costs that is nimble in traffic and easy to handle when parking.
More specifically, the Fiat Fiorino is above all distinguished by reduced fuel consumption and emissions. The 75 HP 1.3 MultiJet turbodiesel allows a range of more than 1,000 km on a full tank of diesel (4.2 l/100 km in the combined cycle) and it is marked by only 112 g/km of CO₂ emissions, a best in class value in its segment. This latter aspect - particularly important in Sweden where sensitivity to ecological issues is high - confirms that environmental protection is an important guiding principle for Fiat Professional, together with all Fiat Group Automobiles brands, for the development of its models.
Turin, 16 March 2012

Source: http://www.fiatprofe...s/article/11464

The Fiorino is a B sized vehicle. It's too bad it can't be built here for our market. The Fiat Press website has some photos. The slight styling modifications for the Swedish postal version look much better than Fiat's usual trim.

[RVC]

If you mean the smaller black plastic side trim (I can't really see any other difference), it seems identical to the standard 2008 model IIRC.

Kudos on the contract!

Edited by RVC, March 18, 2012 at 04:03 pm.

[patfromigh]

The grill is cleaned up a little along with having the basic black bumpers. I like steel wheels and dog dish hubcaps. I think the European stylists try too hard on some of these commercial vehicles.

[MoparNorm]

patfromigh, on March 18, 2012 at 06:31 pm, said:

I think the European stylists try too hard on some of these commercial vehicles.

Excellent!
Dave says I too often call Doblo ugly... From now on I'll just call it "over thought".

[freshforged]

That is too bad, especially if Fiat stays true to its mini-car roots.  I think it would fit nicely into an all mini lineup.

[RVC]

patfromigh, on March 18, 2012 at 06:31 pm, said:

The grill is cleaned up a little along with having the basic black bumpers. I like steel wheels and dog dish hubcaps. I think the European stylists try too hard on some of these commercial vehicles.

yeah, I see what you mean. What I have noticed is that some things that look right in the US, just look out of place in the Euro context, and viceversa...I guess that's what it boils down to. After all, I doubt manufacturers would feel the need to spring for more expensive alloy wheels, fog lights, etc if the customer didn't demand those items.