Fiat Automóveis have facelifted the popular Doblò van range for their home Brazilian market, now offering it with the flexfuel engine, a first in the light van segment, as well as detailed aesthetic changes, revised interiors and higher equipment levels.

The Fiat Doblò light commercial van is built by Tofas in Turkey, Europe, and also by Fiat Automóveis, Fiat Auto's Brazilian operation, where it has been a huge success in the five years since it was introduced. The European version was comprehensively facelifted last autumn and now Brazil has followed suit with its own, slightly less detailed, revisions to the range which as well as the van, includes a people carrier and off-roader version.

The biggest change though is the availability across the whole range of Fiat Automóveis' 1.8-litre Flex engine, a powerplant that offers 'flexfuel' capability, that is, offering either petrol or alcohol use, or a varying mixture of both. With the recent surge in oil prices alcohol has returned to prominence in South America after a long, steady decline, and flexfuel engines are expected to account for more than half of all Brazilian car sales this year, with Fiat's respected unit already available across the Stilo, Palio and Siena model ranges.

More powerful, versatile and with greater low-end torque, the improved 1.8 Flex unit offers 112bhp in petrol format, meaning a 9bhp increase over the previous engine which offered 103bhp (petrol) and 114bhp (alcohol). Maximum torque, which is achieved at 2,800rpm, is 17.8kgm with petrol and 18.5kgm with alcohol. The Flex powered version will be detailed with logos denoting this engine on the rear door.

The revised Doblò range receives some external aesthetic changes to distinguish it from the model it replaces. The ELX version now feature colour-coded front grilles, a treatment that is extended to the horizontal strips that divide the large headlights units.
 

The lower front bumper is also colour-coded and incorporates a silver aesthetic effect which simulates a protector. Sections of the rear bumper are also now colour-coded. Additional colour finishes are also now available. Inside, the Flex versions receive more functional instruments, with the Adventure version gaining additional yellow detailing and the model's graphic signature applied to the console. The ELX and Adventure now are fitted with two front and one rear cupholders, and a new green 'Venus 55' tinting to the windscreen and glass offers 55 pct transparency which blocks out 50 pct of solar rays.

New equipment to be offered on the Doblò Adventure includes 'voice-alive' Bluetooth connectivity, a communications method that is exploding in popularity in Brazil, as well as a Compact Disc player with MP3 and Radio Data System (RDS) which allows text messages to be displayed on its digital information panel. 'My Car' becomes available also. This computerised system allows certain functions to be personalised and defined, such as speed limit alerts, clock adjustments, options to show the distance graphics in km/h or mph, volume emitted when pressurising the keypad, and also the level of sound acknowledgements.

Fiat Automóveis hope this fresh upgrade will allow the Doblò range to cement its position as undisputed leader of the light van segment. A highly cost effective solution, the Doblò arrived on the Brazilian market in November 2001, and by the end of the next year it had conquered the segment with a massive 73.6 pct share. By the end of last year it had crushed all other opposition, taking its share of the segment to 98.5 pct.