9/06/2007 - Fiat Ducato Is 2007 Medium Van Of The Year

Australia's leading light commercial vehicle magazine, 'Delivery', has named the new Fiat Ducato as its 2007 Medium Van of the Year, citing design excellence, all-round ability and value for money as the key attributes that put the Ducato ahead of the pack.

"In terms of value for money this year in the medium van segment we have come out in favour of the Fiat Ducato," says Chris Mullett, Managing Editor of Delivery. "The SWB, low roof van can access almost anywhere, has a fuel efficient 2.3 litre, common rail diesel, is front wheel drive to provide a low cargo floor height and has sound safety factors built in. With a payload of 1714 kgs, it's a class leader."

In a tough-fought class that offers van buyers vehicles from Europe and Japan, the Ducato beat the previous winner, the Volkswagen Transporter, as well as the Mercedes Vito, the Ford Transit and Toyota's HiAce to take the 2007 title just months after its Australian launch.

"The new Fiat Ducato is a mature design from a dedicated commercial vehicle manufacturer that has built on the success of the previous Ducato generations to provide a new model that excels in all areas," explains Chris Swann, General Manager for Fiat Commercial Vehicles in Australia. "With a unique range to choose from we have selected a range of vehicles for Australia that meet our specific requirements, with powerful engines for good performance and fuel economy and a class leading payload to ensure that our owners can fully utilise the interior volume offered by each model in the range. The Medium Van sector offers buyers more choice than any other sector with the cream of manufacturers from Europe and Japan putting forward their best products, so for the Ducato to win in this class is highly significant and proves that Fiat has produced a new commercial benchmark with the new Ducato."

The all-new Fiat Ducato was launched in Australia earlier this year, providing a new range of commercial vehicles with bigger payloads, vans with larger interior volumes, a range of new more powerful and economical engines and all at value for money prices that are ensuring that the success story of Fiat's commercial growth in Australia will continue and expand.

The new Fiat Ducato is available in four key variants:

• Ducato Low Roof Panel Van Medium 3000 mm wheelbase, 2.3 88 kW engine, 3510 GVM
• Ducato Medium Roof Panel Van Long 3450 mm wheelbase, 2.3 88 kW engine, 4000 GVM
• Ducato Medium Roof Panel Van, Extra Long 4035 mm wheelbase, 3.0 115.5 kW engine, 4000 GVM
• Ducato Cab Chassis Medium 3800 mm wheelbase, 2.3 88 kW engine, 4000 GVM

All versions of the Fiat Ducato are equipped with such essential safety and security items as driver's airbag, ABS anti-lock brakes with electronic brake force distribution (EBD), twin mirror electrically adjustable door mirrors and remote control central locking, with a front passenger airbag and ASR traction control standard on the medium vans and the cab chassis. Comfort is ensured with folding armrests for the driver and front passenger, power windows, cloth upholstery, digital audio system with CD player and controls on the steering wheel and windows in the rear doors with demisting elements.