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The new Fiat Scudo, Europe’s current Van
of the Year, has just been launched in South Africa
officially by Fiat Professional in the guise of the 8 or
9-seater Combi version. This means that Fiat
Professional, the light commercial vehicle wing of Fiat
Group Automobiles, now boasts a very well rounded range
of vehicles ranging from the Strada ¾ -ton bakkie to the
19-seater Ducato.
The new Scudo slots in just under the Ducato and offers the
ultimate in flexible passenger transport, for both
professional and private use. The Scudo Combi is the ideal
vehicle to transfer business clientele (hotel/airport
shuttles, rentals with driver), but it’s equally as
user-friendly for large families looking for the comfort and
styling typical of a people-mover. In short, the Scudo is
for those individuals who need the convenience of an MPV in
a vehicle that has compact external dimensions, is agile in
traffic, easy to handle in parking manoeuvres, as
comfortable as a car, but as sturdy, economical and reliable
as a commercial vehicle.
According to Roberto Nobili, Fiat Professional Country
Manager: “The new Scudo reconciles car-like performance,
agility and comfort with the spaciousness, flexibility,
reliability and productivity of a light commercial vehicle.”
The front conveys an impression of sturdiness and solidity,
which is highlighted by the wrapround bumper. The front
light clusters, which include the direction indicators, have
clear lenses and an elongated shape that makes the vehicle
more dynamic. The rear end has square lines that immediately
tell you that this vehicle is capacious and easy to load.
The sleek line of the sides, and the styling typical of an
MPV, gives the New Scudo a strong stylistic dynamism; the
large side rubbing strips, wrapround bumpers and door
handles speak of strength and solidity, the sturdy moulding
on the sides emphasises the length of the vehicle and
transmits a sense of the solidity of the sheet metal; while
the double sliding doors with openable windows highlight the
Scudo’s practical side. Options include attractive 16”
alloys, park distance sensors, metallic paint and the
Integral Pack (body-coloured bumpers, side mouldings,
electrically folding exterior mirrors and front foglights).
Inside, the new Scudo styling embodies modernity, comfort,
quality and practicality. The facia has a two-tone treatment
that enhances the styling and good looks more typical of a
saloon than of a working vehicle. The interior is well lit
and visibility is excellent. The practicality of the cab is
made even more interesting by the many oddment compartments:
from the ceiling-high ‘capucine’ shelf to the locking glove
compartment (refrigerated) in the facia, the door panels,
the oddment compartment in the console and the cupholders on
the facia.
Of course, the Scudo’s whole raison d’etre is its ability to
haul human cargo – eight or nine depending on which spec you
choose. Up front there are two individual seats but a
two-seat bench for passengers is available as an option. In
the rear there are two rows each with three seats. Rear
seats are set slightly higher so that passengers enjoy the
same commanding vista as those in front. All seats come with
height-adjustable head restraints and 3-point retractable
seatbelts. Although the cargo bay is incredibly roomy,
ingenious design means that you can totally remove the seats
or reconfigure them to reshape the interior for every task.
Comfort features abound including electric front windows, a
stereo system with steering controls, remote central
locking, air conditioning with separate controls for the
front and rear, heated and electrically adjustable side
mirrors, power steering and electronic headlamp adjustment.
On the safety front dual front airbags are standard as is
ABS with EBD.
Comfort on the road also means being able to count on a
sparkling engine with smooth torque delivery – in this
regard the Scudo doesn’t disappoint. The 2.0-litre Multijet
delivers a maximum of 88 kW at 3600 rpm and peak torque of
300 Nm at 2000 rpm. The secret of this Common Rail
turbodiesel is the second generation Multijet system; this
is the state-of-the-art technology that manages high
injection pressure independently of the engine speed and the
quantity of fuel injected. Compression is not linked only to
engine speed but to several parameters which are
communicated to the control unit by specific sensors (air
and diesel fuel temperature, engine revs, position of the
accelerator, brake and clutch pedals, vehicle speed, air and
diesel oil pressure). The key element of this system is the
electronic control unit, which commands a series of
injections very close together (hence the name ‘Multijet’).
During each engine cycle, there may be as many as five
injections instead of the usual two. Inside the cylinder,
the same quantity of diesel fuel is burned, but it is broken
down into numerous small bursts, making combustion more
gradual. This guarantees ‘smoother’ operation in all use
situations, outstanding elasticity and prompt reactions that
make these engines very similar to petrol engines. The other
advantages include quiet operation, reduced emissions and
boosted performance, accompanied by engine efficiency that
improves the driveability of the vehicle. The 2.0 Multijet
is mated to a smooth, precise six-speed gearbox.
The suspension layout adopted on the New Scudo gives the
driver total control over the vehicle’s movements,
guaranteeing stability, prompt reactions and pinpoint
steering at all times, in all load conditions. The front
suspension is of the MacPherson type, with triangular lower
struts and an anti-roll bar. The adoption of an independent
wheel system allows strict control of the geometry which in
turn means excellent behaviour on the road, outstanding
comfort and a significant reduction in tyre wear. The rear
suspension is of the ‘torsion axle’ type, i.e. with a
semi-deforming rear axle and Panhard bar.
The Fiat Scudo
comes to the South African dealerships with a recommended
retail price tag of R363 100, while options include 16”
alloy wheels (R4 240), metallic paint (R3 120), front
passenger bench seat (R1 060), body colour pack (R3 710),
side airbags (R2 120) and park assist at rear (R2 120) with
all prices including VAT.
Enhancing the ownership prospect, the new Fiat Scudo, as
with other premium products in the Fiat stable, has 30 000
km service intervals and enjoys full after-sales support in
South Africa thanks to a comprehensive parts inventory
(housed and distributed in an all-new, state-of-the-art
facility) and the back-up of trained technicians at Fiat
dealerships countrywide. Fiat Auto South Africa offers a
three-year 100 000 km Warranty (three years on paintwork and
five years on rust anti-perforation) as well as a standard
five-year 100 000 km service plan. The new model is covered
by the AA Fleetcare roadside assistance for 12 months. The
service is active 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and is
available by calling the dedicated toll-free number 0800 223
727.
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