28.03.2003 STRONG FIAT LIGHT COMMERCIAL LINE UP AT TRANSPOTEC 2003 SHOW IN PARMA
| Today sees the opening of
the "Transpotec Show 2003", the second edition of the event devoted to
commercial vehicles. This international event will bring sector tradesmen
and the major manufacturers of commercial vehicles and light commercial
vehicles together for three days in Parma. Fiat Auto has always played
a leading role in this market and this year brings two significant new
products to the event.
Firstly, the new Fiat Stilo Multi Wagon Van. This vehicle is ideal for light haulage and offers all the practicality and carrying capacity (an impressive 1600 litres) of a Van, plus the comprehensive equipment package of a normal Multi Wagon. The second new product at the show is the revised Fiat Strada Pick Up. The model comes with a more up-to-date and appealing look and offers long cabin versions and, for the first time, a spirited 80 bhp 1.9 JTD engine. These two new products are flanked on the Fiat stand (that extends for some 1000 square metres) by models representing the whole range of Fiat LCVs variously outfitted for haulage and work. Visitors can admire another 6 vehicles from the range outside the exhibition area. The grand total of 21 vehicles on show represents only a small portion of the numerous customisation options. The product range includes mobile workshops, box-sided vehicles, insulated vehicles and vehicles with a refrigeration chamber. Conversions are a steadily-growing sector: suffice it to say that nowadays one vehicle out of three is converted in segment 2, i.e. the segment occupied by Fiat Auto's New Ducato and Scudo. Visitors to Parma will be able to see numerous conversions of the New Fiat Ducato that represent the model's great ability to adapt to the needs of a very wide range of demands. Examples include the 'Mobile office' outfit that allows you to take your consultancy or public office to locations far away from major city centres due to its up-to-date infotelematic features: computer workstation, TV and video recorder, printer with scanner, photocopier and fax. The New Ducato mobile workshop can be a vehicle repair workshop or working vehicle. It is also used by heating or hydraulic system engineers, and more. The workshop can be driven on site for the repair of large systems or working vehicles such as trucks, earth moving machinery etc. Another exhibit on the Fiat stand is the Doblò Cargo, indisputable leader of light commercial vehicle segment 1B in Italy. Suffice it to say that the model sold more than 26 thousand units in Italy during 2002 and achieved a market share of nearly 50%. These very encouraging results were also confirmed by the European sales figures: nearly 50,000 units were sold during 2002, with a market share of 11%. The practical, versatile, comfortable and safe Doblò Cargo is the ideal workmate for tackling everyday problems. The new model offers many attributes: generous sliding side doors (an opening of no less than 685 millimetres) and great load capacity: 3.2 m3 of volume (rising to 3.8 m3 for the hi-cube version) and 625 kilograms of payload including the driver (805 kg in the higher payload version). Two versions of the model can be seen at Parma, including the outstanding Fiat Doblò Cargo Bipower in the SX specification, equipped with a 1.6 power unit with a methane and petrol dual fuel system. Tradespeople who buy the Cargo will be particularly pleased by the arrangement of the three methane tanks. These are located under the vehicle floorpan so that load compartment volume can be used to the full. The cylinders offer a capacity of 111 litres of methane and ensure a range of 300 km to which can be added the range offered by the petrol tank: 30 litres for 350 kilometres. The Fiat Doblò Cargo Bipower also offers absolute safety (it can be parked in multi-storey carparks) and minimum emissions. For the customer, this means being able to drive through all town centres subject to traffic restrictions (to reduce excessive emission levels). The Bipower system is also very advantageous, primarily because the cost of the dual fuel system per kilometre is less than half that of the 1.6 petrol engine and some 30% less than the 1.9 JTD. The methane unit also entitles certain individuals to an Italian state grant of 1850 Euro, a figure that is doubled by a Fiat special offer valid until April 30 2003. The Parma catwalk is also graced by the Fiat Scudo, a light commercial vehicle available in many versions and engines (four diesel engines offering 69 to 109 bhp and a 136 bhp petrol engine) created to provide a diverse response to the current requirements of the European market, be they urban or intercity. The model is present at the Transpotec 2003 show in the Combi Deluxe version, for passenger transport, and the Van version. This array would not be complete without the vans, the smallest commercial vehicles in the Fait range and ideal for light haulage and city distribution. This segment is made up of the Fiat Seicento Van, Fiat Punto Van and the Fiat Multipla Van, a veritable working MPV that offers three seats in the cabin and a very roomy load compartment: an impressive 1.9 cubic metres. And that's not all. The Fiat Multipla Van comes with a 115 bhp 1.9 JTD engine and boasts a payload of 650 kg (including the driver): winning features that make this a truly unique vehicle. When all these vehicles are equipped with external equipment (such as ladder holders) and internal equipment (such as shelves, drawers and removable worksurfaces), they can be used as mobile workshops or small travelling stores. |
|
|
|
|
| <<< |