15.04.2004 NEW 146 BHP DUCATO 2.8 JTD POWER AND THE REVISED DOBLO CARGO WILL LEAD FIAT'S LIGHT COMMERCIAL LINE UP AT THE 'TRANSPOTEC LOGITEC 2004' IN VERONA

The Fiat Ducato range is extended at the Verona show by the debut of the new 2.8 JTD POWER engine with variable geometry turbo. The power unit develops 146 bhp of power and a torque of 310 Nm (as opposed to 127 bhp and 300 Nm for the 2.8 JTD with fixed geometry turbo) for improved performance and handling.

Power and maximum torque are achieved at low speed: 3600 rpm for the former and 1500 rpm for the latter. The torque curve remains flat at its peak from 1500 to more than 3000 rpm. All these features ensure very smooth running performance and driving flexibility in all situations, even around town.

Vehicles fitted with the new engine are particularly well suited to customers who cover long distances, particularly on motorways. The sturdy, reliable 2.8 JTD POWER assures outstanding performance under all service conditions, even with heavy loads. Suffice it to say that the vehicle takes just 17.5 seconds to speed from 0 to 100 km/h while the top speed is 159 km/h.

The new power unit therefore combines great driving satisfaction with such outstanding pick-up and acceleration that it could be considered the ideal solution for top class camper vans/motorhomes, vans, cargo boxes and high volume refrigerated vehicles.

The powerful, flexible 2.8 JTD POWER offers all the benefits typical of this turbodiesel family: low noise levels, high performance, respect for the environment and low running costs (e.g. the engine oil change interval is 30,000 km).

Driving satisfaction, reliability, sturdiness, environmental compatibility and comfort. These are the results achieved by combining a heavy duty engine such as the 146 bhp 2.8 JTD POWER and a vehicle such as the Fiat Ducato that could be described as the commercial vehicle par excellence.

Nowadays the Fiat Ducato also stands as a benchmark within its category for quality of life on board. Its great versatility (more than 600 versions and 140 options) and great load capacity (its payload ranges from 1000 to some 1800 kg and volume from 7.5 to 14 cubic metres) have brought it great success in recent years: more than 1,300,000 units sold since 1981.

The Fiat Ducato is also a paragon of performance, reliability and running economy. The credit goes to a range of seven engines that includes: one 2.0 petrol; three Common Rail turbodiesels: one 84 bhp 2.0 JTD, a 110 bhp Sofim 2.3 JTD 16v, a 127 bhp 2.8 JTD (the latter also with automatic transmission) and from now on the 146 bhp 2.8 JTD POWER - and lastly two minimum environmental impact power units featuring a dual fuel petrol/methane system (Natural Power) and a petrol-GPL system (Gpower).

The Verona show also features some converted Ducato versions that bear witness to the model's great flexibility. It goes without saying that the vehicles on show are merely a small part of the dozens and dozens of possible conversions. This makes it a vehicle widely appreciated by the market, due to its ability to meet the needs of customers who are not content with a general-purpose vehicle but want a vehicle designed for their personal needs that will enable them to increase their working productivity and perform their activities with less stress.

Shelved chassis cab 'mobile shop'

The vehicle features a wheelbase of 3700 mm and is converted to a mobile shop for the sale of groceries. The Ducato Mobile Shop is ideal for shopkeeping activities. It is equipped with a sliding refrigerated sales counter while a refrigerator is fitted behind the counter under the work surface. The chassis cab is 5866 mm long and 2100 mm wide. It offers a convenient tailgate (on the right side) with hydraulic opening and a rear tailgate with a mobile opening.

The vehicle van structure is in steel and lined outside in aluminium and steel panels. The interior is lined with insulated panels. The vehicle is equipped with a water system complete with sink and electric boiler, shelves and an electric panel for lighting and power points built to the toughest standards.

Low chassis cab with 27 m3 van

This conversion turns the Ducato into a vehicle of truly remarkable size: it was created out of a collaboration between Fiat Auto and two converters: the first replaced the original chassis with a low chassis with lengthened wheelbase and overhang (5.2 m usable for the body) while the second applied a high volume light alloy van structure.

Chassis cab with box and crane

In this case, the conversion is built onto a Ducato Maxi Truck 2.8 JTD with super length wheelbase. The vehicle is equipped with a 4 metre long fixed box and equipped with a 2500 kg/m crane on the back of the cabin.

2.8 JTD refrigerated van

This vehicle is equipped with IN standard insulation for temperatures down to 0 degrees and is available with power supply from the mains or from the vehicle engine (or a combination of both). A plate refrigeration system has also been developed for the Fiat Ducato that is fully environmentally friendly because it does not use fuel to operate the refrigerator. This allows a continuous temperature setting to be maintained in optimum manner. The power supply is guaranteed by a device that cools the refrigerated plates located in a gap inside the load compartment electrically during the night.

Panorama for disabled transport

The vehicle is a Panorama Hi Cube 2.8 JTD with medium wheelbase converted for the transport of people with limited mobility. It offers eight seats and is equipped with a hydraulic rear lift located under the floorpan and a step by the sliding side door.

Mobile workshop vans

Vans converted as mobile workshops are just as useful and more common. No fewer than 3 such vehicles are on show at Transpotec this year: a medium-wheelbase Ducato 2.3 JTD Hi Cube, a short wheelbase Scudo and a methane-driven Doblò Cargo. The vehicles come with a wooden floor, workbench, shelves, drawers, cabinets and automated removable platform. This equipment is complemented by a roof rack made up of three aluminium crossbars, sides, a rear roller and convenient ladder holders. Such conversions may be used to repair, for example, agricultural machinery or lift trucks that would be difficult and costly to transport elsewhere. They may also be used to repair plumbing or electrical systems and so on at customers' homes.