It
measures 4.72 metres in length, 1.86 in width, 1.75 in height and comes
with four engines: two petrol and two Common Rail turbodiesels. Meet the
new Fiat Ulysse, on the market for a few short months and already a big
hit with the public. An MPV equipped with a series of safety, comfort and
telematic devices that set it at the top of its category in terms of high-tech
content, interior space, gracious living and application flexibility.
Visitors to the Paris show see the 128 bhp EC 2.2 JTD and the 109 bhp EC 2.0 16v, both in the Emotion specification.
The great strength of the New Ulysse lies in the fact that Fiat Auto was not content with restyling its earlier model but radically changed every aspect of the car - i.e. styling, specifications, interiors, mechanical systems, engines, electronic devices, telematics and safety. Beginning with the size that has been increased to offer more passenger room and improved comfort.
The New Ulysse, Fiat claim, now offers: a design that is very different from that of similar vehicles; generous interior dimensions, among the best in its class; an excellent range of engines, a 136 bhp 2.0 and a brand new 204 bhp 3.0 V6 24v) and two Common Rail turbodiesels, a 2.0 JTD with 109 bhp and the new 128 bhp 2.2 JTD. Lastly, the manual gearboxes are complemented by automatic units on petrol engines and also the 2.0 JTD.
The New Fiat Ulysse builds on these basic attributes with other distinguishing features that relate to safety, and comfort. Safety is assured by the presence of six airbags, ABS with electronic brakeforce distributor (EBD), antislip regulation (ASR), electronic dynamic stability control (ESP) and emergency brake assistance device. Plus Xenon headlights and, for children, Isofix seat attachments, a monitoring mirror and electric safety locks on the doors.
The Ulysse offers different vehicle configurations: five to eight seats. And also swivelling front seats. The driver's seat is also adjustable and can be fitted with a memory and heater. These are joined by 3, 4 or 5 seats on the second and third row that slide along guides. These can be folded down and flipped over with a single movement; folded down and converted to a table; folded down, folded flat and removed with ease. Or they can be folded flat and stacked up like dominos to stow four on one side behind the front seats.
Convenience means two sliding side doors ( some electrically-controlled ), storage compartments, two fold-down aircraft-style tables and a luggage compartment equipped with a containment net for items. The Fiat Ulysse claims to offer improved comfort due to an automatic bizone climate control system that allows the driver and front passenger to adjust the temperature to different levels and a state-of-the-art telematic array. All these features are packed into the CONNECT system that incorporates a GSM phone, navigation system and interface to the world of Targasys services. This is, in essence, the most advanced integrated tool of its type and the one that currently offers the highest number of functions and services.
