CUTTING EDGE ON BOARD TECHNOLOGY
 

The New Scudo pays great attention to well-being on board, offering the best solutions in the field of visibility, ergonomics, and acoustic, climatic and vibrational comfort. For this reason, the passenger compartment was conceived as a friendly mobile office, which is luminous, comfortable and quiet, with a driving position typical of a car, ideal to ensure that the driver takes to the road in the best psycho-physical condition. Without mentioning that the New Scudo can also be fitted with rear parking sensors that make it easier to manoeuvre in small spaces, Cruise Control that relieves the stress of long distances on the motorway, and a lavish array of audio and infotelematic equipment.

Class-topping visibility

Thanks to a generous glazed surface (over 5.5 m2 on the short wheelbase Combi) and areas with optimised transparency, the interior luminosity on the new Scudo is outstanding, significantly enhancing comfort for occupants. The windscreen has an area of 1.68 m2: it is positioned forward and slopes to increase the impression of roominess. The side windows (front doors, sliding side door and 3rd rear side windows) make up a total area of 1.53 m2 per side on the short wheelbase versions and of 1.70 m2 on the long wheelbase versions. And finally, on the version with a tailgate, the large rear window (0.76 m2) also provides rear passengers with plenty of light. The view of rear passengers is optimised by the raised position of the second and third rows of seats (+7 cm for the second row compared to the front seats, and +3 cm for the third row compared to the second).

Acoustic and vibrational comfort

Silence onboard is not only an aspect of comfort, but an important element of preventive safety. It helps the driver to concentrate so that he can drive even long distances without tiring. For this reason, during the development of the New Scudo, the engineers worked painstakingly on the acoustic optimisation of the passenger compartment, trying to reduce the noise transmitted by the engine and suspension, and to limit vibration, whistling and aerodynamic noise.

Climatic comfort

The temperature and humidity inside the vehicle play an important part in the creation of ideal travelling conditions. A good climate system must therefore maintain these two parameters between optimal limits for the human body in all seasons of the year (temperature between 22 e 25° C, humidity between 40 and 50%). For this reason, depending on the version, the new Scudo is available with a manual heater/fan or climate system, or an automatic climate system. All the systems include an electrical control to block the input of air from outside and recirculate interior air, and the excellent distribution of air flows through 4 swivelling, tilting air vents (2 central and 2 lateral) that distribute warm or cold air to the passengers’ heads, and 2 diffusers in the front footwells, significantly improving the conditioning/heating compared to the previous Scudo generation vehicles. We should underline that a new rear climate unit has been introduced on Panorama versions which both heats and cools. The air distribution in the rear part of the vehicle has been optimised by incorporating ducts in the ceiling lining and 6 vents to distribute air to passengers.

Supplementary Webasto heater

To guarantee a comfortable inside temperature even in the coldest climates, the new Scudo can be fitted on request with an extra independent Webasto heater.
 

This operates even when the engine is turned off, being activated by a timer that allows both direct and programmed operation. This means that when it is particularly cold, the driver can set the timer on the device (keying in the starting time) before he gets into the vehicle, so that the cab is already pleasantly warm. He will not have to waste any time scraping snow or ice off the windscreen and windows, and there is no risk that he will find the locks frozen. Preheating the engine considerably reduces the emission of polluting substances during ignition, and decreases the fuel consumption.

Audio and telematic systems

The audio and telematic systems on the New Scudo have been developed to match the styling of the centre console, to enhance visual and tactile ergonomics, and to interact with the steering wheel controls and the multifunction screen, for the best audio and telematic performance. The New Scudo offers a choice of two different radios: the first incorporates a CD player and is compatible with the hands-free Bluetooth functions; the second incorporates the audio functions and a satellite navigator (with monochrome or colour maps), a hands-free dual band GSM telephone and voice controls. The outfit includes a CD changer for 5 CDs installed under the radio.

Cruise control and Speed limiter

The optional equipment available on the New Scudo range also includes an electronic speed regulating device (Cruise Control). This allows you to drive at a chosen constant speed without having to touch the accelerator, which enhances comfort particularly on long journeys on the motorway. Cruise Control can only be engaged above 30 km/h, and is controlled by turning the ring nut on the left steering wheel located stalk, adjusting the speed setting with the ‘+’ and ‘-’ controls. The device is automatically deactivated by pressure on the brake or clutch pedal, or by activating a special button. A speed limiter is also available; this deactivates the accelerator when a set speed is reached. However, this threshold may be passed at any time by pressing the pedal right down (to override the limit) or by activating the specific lever (to de-activate the limiter).

Rain/dusk sensor

Excellent visibility at all times is another important feature of preventive safety, and for this reason the New Scudo offers the option of a rain and dusk sensor. This is applied in the upper part of the windscreen, behind the rearview mirror, and it detects the first drops of rain and manages the windscreen wipers according to the amount of water on the windscreen. The second function measures the external luminosity and automatically turns the lights on (side lights and dipped beam).

Parking sensors

The New Scudo can also be fitted with a rear parking sensor, a device that is automatically activated when reverse is engaged (it can be excluded by a special button) and helps to simplify manoeuvres in small spaces or when visibility is particularly poor, indicating the presence of obstacles behind the vehicle, outside the driver’s field of vision. Four ultrasound sensors incorporated in the rear bumper ‘monitor’ the area behind the vehicle and send the information received to a microchip control unit that processes the data and detects the presence of potential obstacles. The system warns the driver with an intermittent beep. The frequency of the beep is inversely proportional to the distance from the obstacle (below 30 cm the signal becomes continuous).