The Fiat Doblò Jamaica show car, finished in the colours of the Caribbean nations flag, was presented at the 29th Bologna Motor Show this month.

The car will be given to the President and Vice President of the Jamaican Bobsleigh Federation to reflect Fiat's sponsorship of the Italian team at the 2006 Turin Olympic Games.

The pair managed the first, historical Jamaican national team that took part in the 1988 Calgary Olympics and starred in the Disney film 'Cool Runnings'. Tal Stokes (Vice President of the JBF) took part in four consecutive Winter Olympic games and is one of the best-known personalities on the international bobsleigh scene.

And now the Doblò Jamaica reinforces the link between Fiat and the Caribbean national bobsleigh team. Yet the link between Fiat and the Jamaican national bobsleigh team goes back further to 2000 and the Fiat Doblò launch campaign. The campaign won a 'Mezzominuto d'oro' award (a prize awarded by a people's jury) with numerous other accolades. It was also the most memorable of the year and is still one of Fiat's best-loved adverts of all time.

The Doblò Jamaica also gives a glimpse of some exterior details that will be introduced on the standard production model from next year: strips on the front and rear wheelarches, side strips, tinted windows on the tailgate and on the rear windows in the 2nd and 3rd rows, roof rails and alloy wheels.

The interior is enhanced by seat and panel high-tech cloth trim in Jamaican black which borders the middle of the seats in yellow and green piping. The facia is completely black.

The end result is bubbly and particularly apt for a car devoted to the land of reggae music. Since sun and carefree fun are the distinctive traits of one of the most attractive islands in the Caribbean, the Fiat Doblò is an ideal match with its happy-go-lucky air and ability to adapt to any situation.

The same attributes are also evident in the standard production model that, as of the beginning of this year, offers a range with revised styling and equipment, but above all two new products that are bound to appeal to everyone: the revolutionary 1.3 Multijet 16 valve unit, available at a later date - and a special Family version, the only seven-seater in this segment.

The Fiat Doblò Model Year 2004 also offers a 1.9 JTD unit upgraded from 100 to 105 bhp and three new body colours: the non-metallic World Blue and the metallic shades Astral Blue and Opal Green. As an option, it is also possible to obtain the rear end framing the tail-light cluster in the same shade as the body (standard on the Active and Dynamic versions).

New features also abound inside, with a tone-tone facia (black for the top and grey/blue for the lower half and air intakes) and an instrument panel of new design.

The cloth used for the seats and front door panels has also changed and is different on each of the three specifications: Actual, Active and Dynamic.

Photos: Carlo Ombello