Cars aren't the only repository of automotive luxury: it's there in the van world as well. We learned that at the Irish launch of Fiat's new light commercial range, the Ducato. Andrew Hamilton reports
Fiat's LCV brand manager here, Frenchman Jean-Christophe Canavesio, says options available to Ducato customers at the end of this year will include ASR traction control, satellite navigation, a rear view camera, cabin pre-heating and blind spot sensors.
Seventeen versions of the new Ducato are going on sale and all use the latest common-rail diesel engines, 2.0JTD, 2.3JTD and 2.8JTD. Their direct injection system improves performance, economy and boosts torque through the gears. "We are promising bigger payloads and lower maintenance costs for operators," says Jean-Christophe. "These engines need oil filter changes only every 40,000 kms, compared with 10,000 for previous Ducatos. For the timing belt, it's replacement at 240,000 kms compared to 120,000 kms. If we take a new Ducato 2.3JTD compared with the old 2.8 for each 100,000 kms or 62,000 miles, an operator saves €2,150 on fuel and €750 on maintenance. That's a total of €2,900 per vehicle per 100,000 kms."
Ducato's big competitor is the Ford Transit which is the market leader, but Fiat thinks that its more competitive pricing will help increase Irish sales from the 900 to 1,000 level at present to above 1,500. Prices start from €19,602 including VAT or €16,200 exclusive of VAT.
The 17 versions include a double cab chassis and three that are suitable for minibus or taxi conversion. In all there are four wheelbase lengths, three heights, four load volumes and four body types.
Drivers of vans such as the Ducato are clearly in a different league from those of us who drive cars. The Ducato spec sheet tells us that features include "a writing surface complete with book rest and clipboard mounted on the fascia, plus a tabletop with glass holder and clipboard built into the centre seat squab that helps the driver to manage paperwork." All the better then, when the driver has to be going about the firm's business.