Fiats unveils new Ducato

Fiat Professional has lifted the lid on its revamped light commercial vehicle, the Ducato

Following on from the spy pics published five weeks ago, Fiat’s commercial vehicle arm, Fiat Professional, has released the first photos and initial details of its revised Ducato LCV.

The latest iteration of the Ducato features more dynamic, car-like styling, the front of the vehicle now boasting a new grille in either silver or black, plus new headlights and LED daytime running lights. New alloy wheels add to a more elegant overall appearance.

Developed in conjunction with Citroen’s Relay and Peugeot’s Boxer, the refreshed model will go head to head with the recently updated Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, Renault Master, and Ford Transit.

While details are still scant, Fiat says it will be offering the new Ducato in either of two cabin formats: Classic or Techno. The differences between the two are yet to be revealed, but both will feature upgraded seats, larger cup holders and a tablet/smartphone holder.

A total of three ‘Multijet II’ engine formats will be available: a 2.3-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder with an output of either 97kW/320Nm or 112kW/350Nm, or a 3.0-litre turbo-diesel producing 135kW/400Nm.

Fiat claims the 2.3-litre unit returns an economy of 5.2L/100km – bettering that of the previous generation – while the 3.0-litre unit is said to return 6.4L/100km. All Ducato models adopt a front-wheel-drive configuration.

All three formats will come with a six-speed manual transmission as standard, while a ‘ComfortMatic’ automated manual is optional for the 2.3-litre engines.

Other mechanical updates include updated rear suspension, brakes and clutch, along with additional strengthening of the chassis and body.

The new Ducato has a GVM (gross vehicle mass) of up to 4250kg, with a rear-axle limit of 2500kg.

It will be available in eight different load capacities in Europe spanning 8m³ to 17m³, along with four body lengths and three heights.

The revised model has also received a healthy injection of safety technology, with electronic stability control with rollover mitigation now offered as standard and able to account for load placement in the vehicle’s load bay. Standard hill-start assist is complemented by optional ‘Traction+’ with hill descent control, while European markets will also be offered a lane departure warning system and road sign recognition technology.

A 5.0-inch multimedia screen augments an entertainment/comms system with Bluetooth connectivity, with up-spec models featuring sat-nav, digital radio, and a reversing camera.

According to Fiat Australia the new Ducato will arrive here in mid-2014; local pricing and specifications details are yet to be confirmed.

Fiats unveils new Ducato

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