Box Autos

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New Scudo Crew Van 

Fiat Professional’s new Scudo Crew Van is powered by Fiat’s 2.0 MultiJet 130hp engine and is available on both short and long wheelbase bodies. The Scudo Crew Van has been developed with Snoeks Automotive, a leading European specialist in this sector. The conversion will offer six seats and a semi-glazed configuration with the specific components being supplied by Snoeks and assembled directly on the assembly line.

The rear cabin features a comfortable three seat bench which has individual head rests and each seat has a three-point seatbelt. The rear seats feature the same upholstery as that of the front seats. A bulkhead with window is positioned behind the rear seats providing protection against load intrusion into the cabin.

The rear passenger compartment has high quality and durable plastic trim for the interior panels and sliding door including the grab handle and cupholder. The fabric roof lining features a courtesy light and there is a removable carpet which sits on the rubber floor trim.

The conversion also allows for the storage of longer items as there is an extension of the load space under the rear seat.

Ducato

Fiat Professional will be exhibiting three versions of the Fiat Ducato at the show which include the new Ducato Tipper and a Ducato Tecnico on the stand and there will be a Ducato Luton conversion by Trucksmith Vehicle Body Builders on display outside.

The new Ducato Tipper is based on a MWB chassis and has been developed with VFS (Southampton) Ltd, a leading commercial vehicle converter specialising in high quality Tipper and Dropside conversions. Further details will be available at the show.

The Ducato Tecnico on the stand is based on the Ducato Van 35 L3H2 2.3 130 MultiJet II, but offers a number of attractive additional features as standard equipment that are normally available as extra cost options.

In addition to the already comprehensive normal standard specification on Ducato, the Tecnico adds manual air conditioning, front foglights, Blue&Me with controls on the steering wheel, TomTom predisposition on the dashboard, TomTom Live navigator, Start&Stop, special wheel trims and reverse parking sensors.

Ducato Tecnico versions provide customers with a great value for money package and are currently available at a promotional price of £13,495 OTR excluding VAT for the 30 L1H1 2.3 MultiJet II 130 version and £15,995 OTR excluding VAT for the 35 L3H2 2.3 MultiJet II 130 shown on the stand.

The Ducato is the latest incarnation of the best-selling van whose five generations have picked up numerous international awards and sold more than 2.4 million vehicles since 1981.

The Ducato offers a wide range of new content and a renovated engine family that enhances its competitiveness in the segment, and offers the market the best in terms of performance, comfort, payload and running costs.

Fiat’s range of Euro 5 engines is more powerful and diverse. Each one is a leader in its power bracket in terms of consumption, emissions and performance.  The range includes three 2.3 MultiJet II engines with power outputs of 110bhp, 130 bhp and 148 bhp respectively. There is also a 3.0 litre 180 MultiJet Power Euro 5 engine.

The 2.3-litre engines have MultiJet II technology which provides economy, ecology and performance levels that are unrivalled on the market.

Fiat has a proud history of leading the world when it comes to diesel power, and MultiJet II technology, the latest development, employs faster injectors with a new servo valve and balanced shutter allowing them to operate at 1800 bar of pressure compared to the 1600 bar of the previous generation. The fuel system is different from the first-generation MultiJet engines as it contains faster injectors that can carry out multiple injections close together.

The MultiJet II can manage eight injections per cycle with more speed, flexibility and precision in the various stages of operation.

Available as an option on Ducato is Blue&Me TomTom LIVE. This device allows customers to manage – through a practical colour touch-screen – phone calls, satellite navigation, media and all the driving information required, which it downloads directly from the on-board computer systems. This feature is standard on Ducato Tecnico versions.

The Comfort-Matic gearbox is an innovative robotised transmission that combines the advantages of a manual gearbox (simplicity, fuel efficiency and performance) with the practicality and comfort of an automatic transmission. It is therefore an extremely interesting option both for professionals in this sector and for those who love leisure, such as motorhome owners.

This gearbox is available on the 2.3 litre 130 and 150 MultiJet II engines in addition to the top-of-the-range 3.0 litre 180 MultiJet Power engine.

Technically, the gearbox is described as an MTA (Manual Transmission Automated) and consists of a conventional manual gearbox in which the manual linkage is replaced by an actuator, controlled electronically by a TCU (Transmission Control Unit).

Another significant new feature is Traction+, an innovative traction control system that improves the vehicle’s handling on difficult terrain with poor grip. This uses the engine’s Electronic Stability Programme (ESP) computer to simulate the behaviour of a self-locking differential. When one of the driven front wheels spins on a slippery surface or over poor terrain, the brakes are applied to that wheel as simultaneously engine torque is transferred to the wheel with better grip.

The system is operated by a button on the dashboard, can be engaged at speeds of up to 19mph and ensures the best possible traction is maintained over the roughest terrain.

The adoption of Traction+ provides the benefit of lower weight, lower loading height and less expensive maintenance costs than a traditional 4×4 system.

Doblò Cargo

Fiat Professional will be exhibiting two versions from the award-winning Doblò Cargo line-up, the new XL and Work Up versions.

The Doblò XL further strengthens and broadens the appeal of the Doblò Cargo range. The Doblò XL’s combination of a long wheelbase and high roof provides a load volume of 5.0 m³ and a payload of 1,000kg, providing customers with a new proposition previously unavailable in this segment.

The new version’s high roof integrates seamlessly into the body providing an aerodynamic and elegant vehicle. The rear doors provide full access to the load compartment allowing customers to fully utilise the 5.0 m³ load volume.

The new Doblò XL Cargo versions are powered by a choice of three Euro 5 turbodiesel engines: 1.6 MultiJet 105 hp, 1.6 MultiJet 90hp MTA and 2.0 MultiJet 135hp. Combi versions are available with the 2.0 MultiJet 135hp only.

As with the current range, the new Doblò XL offers outstanding features such as Best in Class for payload and volume and Best in Class for load compartment dimensions (width and height).

With its increase in load volume, ease of loading, low fuel consumption, reduced operating costs, safety and comfort, the Doblò XL appeals to a  variety of customers including utilities, service vehicles (with ladder stored internally), converters and wheelchair-accessible transport for example.

Fiat Professional’s Doblò Cargo is the first LCV to have a Bi-Link rear suspension, which ensures a smooth ride, lower loading height and better width between wheelarches.

The Doblò Work Up is a ‘dropside’ vehicle with compact external dimensions allowing easy use in urban areas. The external dimensions are not, however, a limit to its performance. The load box is 2.30 m long and 1.82 m wide, with 4.2 m² of loading area which can accommodate a payload of up to 1,000kg. Additionally, the Bi-Link suspension permits a rear axle load up to 1,450kg.

The load box is made of high-resistance steel with a floor created from anti-slip multilayer wood and sides in aluminium alloy. Under the floor is a compartment for stowing long tools, safely protected from the elements.

In addition, on each side of the vehicle there is a small, practical step that allows the user to get into the load area. This structure has a ladder rack/door poles, load restraining hooks, and a sturdy protective grille on the rear window of the cab.

All these features make the Doblò Work Up ideal for agriculture, construction, maintenance or city parks services sectors. It is ideal for the transport of frames and glass and can take, for example, three Euro pallets or 33 boxes of fruit.

The Doblò Work Up is powered by a choice of two Euro 5 turbodiesel engines: 1.3 MultiJet II 90 bhp and 1.6 MultiJet 105 bhp. Both engines are characterised by excellent performance, low noise, low operating costs (fuel consumption and maintenance), reliability and environmental friendliness. Both feature the fuel-saving Start&Stop system as an option.

On the stand there will be a Fiat Doblò Work Up 1.6 105 MultiJet together with a Doblò XL Cargo 2.0 135 MultiJet SX.

Fiorino

Two versions of the award-winning Fiorino will feature including the new Fiorino Crew Van N1 1.3 75 MultiJet II Active and a Fiorino Cargo 1.3 75 MultiJet II SX.

Employing Fiat’s latest MultiJet technology which helps to reduce running costs and emissions, the new Fiorino Crew Van is powered by the 1.3 MultiJet II 75 hp engine and is a N1 homologated vehicle. Featuring panelled sliding side doors on both sides and twin panelled rear doors, the interior will have a rear passenger seat which can either be folded or removed completely. In addition, it will have deadlocks and remote control central locking as standard equipment. An optional non-removable ladder bulkhead, which sits behind the rear seats, is available to order now and a movable mesh bulkhead is also available and fitted to the display vehicle.

eco:Drive Professional

Fiat’s award-winning eco:Drive and its application for commercial vehicle drivers, eco:Drive Professional, are available for the Fiorino and Doblò models if equipped with Blue&Me and help drivers learn to use less fuel, thereby reducing CO₂ emissions and saving up to 15 per cent in running costs.

Drivers download eco:Drive to their computer. Plugging any USB stick into the Blue&Me port allows acceleration, deceleration, gearshift and speed information to be saved onto it automatically. When the USB is plugged back into a computer, eco:Drive converts the data into facts and figures such as mileage, CO₂ emissions and money saved.

A development of this is eco:Drive Fleet which allows fleet managers to monitor all the data from the vehicles they supervise via an on-line dashboard. It automatically updates the database with management costs and the mileage count for maintenance intervals. As well as enabling fleet managers to reward efficient drivers, it allows them to see how well their fleet is performing according to an overall eco:Index.

Eco:Drive Professional builds on this further by allowing commercial vehicle drivers to enter various parameters such as the load they’re carrying and the frontal area of the vehicle. The software allows the driver or fleet manager to analyse the impact of the load on the vehicle’s efficiency and suggests the most appropriate behaviour to get the best economy.