Under the bonnet the Ducato is now fitted with Fiat's range of common rail diesels including the new 2.3-litre 16v JTD engine, with remapped electronics to adjust the unit to the demands of a medium size commercial van. It also is available with the 2.0 JTD and 2.8 JTD engines.

Safety has been upgraded. As well as an improved braking system, the Ducato now comes with the usual features one expects, including ABS, EBD and ASR. Passenger and side air-bags now join the driver's one.

The revised Ducato now has available optional extras which include an optical scanning overtaking sensor that helps the vehicle move from the right of the carriageway to the left in safety; a TV camera for rear visibility and a parking sensor to help manoeuvres in tight spots; Cruise Control, and CONNECT, an infotelematic device that Fiat claim currently offers more functions and services than any other similar system.

Inside, the Ducato's cabin has been revised, with a wider range of trim levels and reworked dashboard.

The new Ducato will be unveiled in public at the European Road Transport Show in Amsterdam on the 5th February.

On February 5 and 6, the European Road Transport Show in Amsterdam will host the presentation of the new Fiat Ducato. This vehicle's attributes include an exterior with restyled front end, bumpers and light clusters - and a cabin fully redesigned for maximum roominess and comfort.

The following have been changed: facia, seats, steering wheel, door panels and instruments. Many other innovative devices have also been added to make the vehicle more practical and simplify life on board. One example says it all: a practical paper holder on the facia that can be converted into a convenient desk for jotting down notes.

The new Fiat Ducato is also a paragon of performance, reliability and running economy. The credit goes to a range of six engines that includes the brand-new Sofim 81 kW (110 bhp) 2.3 JTD 16v, another two Common Rail turbodiesels (2.0 JTD and 2.8 JTD), a petrol-driven 2.0 unit and, lastly, two minimum environmental impact power units with petrol-methane and petrol-LPG fuel systems.

Model safety has also been improved. Passive safety: a driver's airbag has been joined by a 120 litre passenger airbag and sidebags. And active safety: stiffened body, braking system upgraded with rear discs on high-performance versions and some new options including an ABS with four sensors complete with electronic brakeforce distribution EBD and ASR to prevent wheel slip during acceleration and under conditions of poor grip.

The New Fiat Ducato confirms the range attributes of versatility and great load capacity (in terms of payload and volume) that have brought it such success to date (more than one million two hundred thousand have been sold). The van will be a new benchmark within the category in terms of driving comfort, quality of life on board and telematics.

The vehicle boasts such devices as an optical scanning overtaking sensor that helps the vehicle move from the right of the carriageway to the left in safety; a TV camera for rear visibility and a parking sensor to help manoeuvres in tight spots; Cruise Control to lighten the effort of long motorway trips - and CONNECT, a state-of-the-art built-in infotelematic device that currently offers more functions and services than any other similar system.