The all new Fiat Ducato has arrived in New Zealand offering van users a uniquely advanced, stylish choice that looks as good on the company books as it does on the road. “Fiat brought the original Ducato to New Zealand in 1984 and it was immediately welcomed by a wide range of commercial vehicles users thanks to its versatile, easy to use functionality and keen pricing,” says Lawrie Malatios, General Manager for Fiat in New Zealand. “As in other markets where it is a dominant player, it also took the motor home market by storm, accounting for 60 per cent of total sales.”

“The new Ducato lifts its game in every area. Payloads are up across the range, the vans offer increased interior volumes from 11 to 13 cubic metres, we have a new third generation Multijet Turbo diesel engine mated to six speed gearbox for maximum performance and economy and the driving experience is even better than the existing Ducato. Of course, being a Fiat, the new Ducato is extremely well equipped and it is keenly priced,” explains Mr Malatios. “Given that the new Ducato covers a significantly wider spread of the market, offers our key motor home customers the ability to expand their ranges with the Ducato and provides a long list of improvements, we know that the new Ducato will appreciably increase both our sales and Fiat’s share of the New Zealand commercial vehicle market.”

The first generation Ducato was launched in Europe during 1981 and Fiat has now delivered more than 1.7 million Ducatos worldwide. The new Fiat light commercial vehicle offers a distinctive cutting-edge look; it ensures top level comfort and performance; it offers an even greater wealth of equipment - and it ensures low running costs. Not to mention the fact that load compartment access, productivity and payload have all been improved.

The New Ducato, designed by the Fiat Style Centre, is distinctive for its original shape and well-balanced volumes. The new commercial vehicle’s design, inspired by the piercing, aerodynamic lines of high-speed trains, immediately conjures up an impression of dynamism, strength and distinctive personality. And more. The New Ducato’s design is clever as well because, though function is treated as a priority, its looks have not been overlooked in the least. For example, the bumper is divided into three parts in order to ensure lower repair/replacement costs in the event of an accident and thus lower insurance costs in certain countries. The windscreen pillar rake also offers one of the best drag coefficients in its category (0.31) while sharp, squared-off lines contribute to a more linear load compartment with greater load volume.

Inside, the vehicle offers linear, elegant styling featuring new colours, fabrics and seat, dashboard and door panel designs. The passenger compartment also boasts a well-lit interior and excellent visibility, achieved by oceans of glass that optimise working conditions by ensuring the greatest comfort. The new dashboard is designed to ensure excellent practicality and stylish shapes, all within easy reach of the hand or eyes, to make driving easier and reduce the number of distractions to the driver.

Higher load capacity and reduced running costs

Light commercial vehicle customers have always focused their attention on the practical and the rational: such as load capacity and running costs. The new Ducato meets these needs through an increase in size (greater volume) and also in load capacity (GVW and payload): both versions for New Zealand are now available with GVWs  of 3.5 tonnes and a payload of up to 1.7 tonnes. Plus vans with effective volumes up to 13 m3 and interior length in excess of 3.7 metres. Not to mention the fact that the New Ducato is built to ensure that goods loading and unloading operations can be carried out with greater ease: this is partly due to the reduced load platform ground clearance, which has been cut from the previous figure of 56 centimetres to 53 cm. The new Fiat light commercial vehicle is also outstanding for its reduced running costs: achievements include a significant reduction in fuel consumption (up to 16% less than the current Ducato); an increase in service intervals (45,000 km for a major service with oil and filer change at 22,500 km) and a significant reduction in repair costs.
 

Flexible and powerful engines

Customers who use the New Ducato as a working tool will prioritise reliability, low fuel consumption and reduced running costs but also driving flexibility and great torque available from low speeds for a responsive, satisfying drive even in town traffic. For this reason, the new model differs from the previous version in offering a new state-of-the-art Common Rail direct injection 16 valve turbo diesel engine with Multijet injection, the 2.3 litre 88 kW Multijet unit. This new engine is gentle on the environment, with Euro 4 compliance, and it is combined with a new six speed gearbox. It offers greater power, improved flexibility and, above all, a higher torque (from 250 to 400 Nm) at low rpm: for customers this means lively take-off and pick-up, great driving satisfaction, optimum comfort but above all reduced fuel consumption.

Maximum safety

Safe driving: this, in a nutshell, is the concept followed by designers throughout the development of the New Fiat Ducato. The aim was to ensure maximum practicality and qualities as far as preventive, active and passive safety are concerned. The improvements carried out set the new model at the peak of its category. Examples include a body with differential crumple zones, new braking systems with four disc brakes, the adoption of ABS with EBD and twin airbags throughout the entire range.

Driving comfort and onboard wellbeing

The new model confirms that the greatest attention has been paid to factors linked with ergonomics and also acoustic, climatic and vibration comfort. Onboard wellbeing is of paramount importance to the user of a commercial vehicle who spends long hours at the wheel under often demanding conditions. For this reason, the passenger compartment has been designed as a welcoming, well-lit, comfortable and quiet mobile office with a car-type driving position for ideal mental and physical conditions on the road. Plenty of space is also available (drawers, compartments and shelves) for possessions (PC, road maps and mobile phones).

One of the most versatile vehicles in its sector

The New Ducato maintains the tried and tested mechanical layout of its predecessors (front wheel drive and transverse engines) and offers two versions ideally suited for the New Zealand market: Goods transport versions, people carrying conversions and bases for conversions and bodybuilders; 2 mechanical structures: 15” and 16” wheels and tyres; Gross Vehicle Weight of 3.5 tonnes; Payloads from 1614 to 1714 kg; 2 wheelbases, 2 lengths and 1 height for Van versions; 2 load compartment volumes from 11 to 13 m3; and a choice of glazed or unglazed vans.

Fully equipped

As with the previous Fiat Ducato range, the standard equipment list is extensive. All versions of the Fiat Ducato are equipped with such essential safety and security items as twin airbags, ABS anti-lock brakes with electronic brake force distribution (EBD), twin mirror electrically adjustable door mirrors and remote control central locking, with a front passenger airbag and ASR traction control standard on the medium vans and the cab chassis. Comfort is ensured with folding armrests for the driver and front passenger, AirCon, power windows, cloth upholstery, digital audio system with CD player and controls on the steering wheel and windows in the rear doors with demisting elements. The new Fiat Ducato opens its New Zealand market pricing with the Ducato medium roof medium wheelbase van with a recommended retail price of NZ$54,990 or NZ$56,250 in glazed form. The long wheelbase medium roof van is NZ$56,990 and NZ$58,250 when glazed.