19/06/2007 - Fiat Ducato Named As Best Motorhome Base Vehicle

The Fiat Ducato has been named as the best vehicle on which to base a Motorhome by 'Which Motorcaravan, the UK's leading motor home magazine.

Which Motorcaravan's judges drive hundreds of motorhomes every year and the new Fiat Ducato emerged as the clear-cut winner.

"We knew that the new Ducato had not just to raise the game of its pensionable predecessor, but surpass it in every conceivable way," said the judges. "And surpass it, it has. The chassis is unique to Ducatos destined to become motorhomes, and offers wider rear track and a host of modifications, including special electrics and cab roof pre-cutting, to make life as easy as possible for motorhome manufacturers.

"The 3.0 litre, four-cylinder JTD MultiJet engine makes everything else seem a little insipid by comparison. Naturally, with all that class-leading power, it's quick, but understanding just how potent, comes only from hands-on experience.

"It handles superbly, too, and while the suspension is perhaps just a little too firm for some people's liking, it doesn't feel crashy or uncomfortable. The cabin is also an object lesson in clarity and modernity, and the swivel seats with in-built safety belts, driver's airbag, electric windows, mirrors, and remote central locking are real advantages. The new Ducato is unquestionably the king of the current crop."

Fiat is market leader in Europe and the UK for the supply of base vehicles to the motorhome industry. The UK motorhome market is one of the largest in Europe, with more than 136,000 registered on our roads, and sales of new motorhomes currently running at more than 11,000 per annum.

In Australia and New Zealand Motor Home conversions are the largest single market sector for the Ducato with six converters - Jayco, Avan, Trackker, Winnebago, Sunliner and Horizon - using the Fiat Ducato to meet a wide range of different motorhome market requirements. To meet the demand locally Fiat provides the motorhome industry with a range of specialist platforms on which to build their vehicles:

• Ducato LWB Med Roof Van (4035 mm) (4000 GVM) 2.3L 88 kW
• Ducato ELWB Med Roof Van (4035 mm) (4000 GVM) 2.3L 88 kW
• Ducato Med/Long Wheelbase Cab Chassis STD (3800 mm) (4000GVM) 2.3L 97 kW
• Ducato ELWB Cab Chassis STD (4035 mm) (4000GVM) 3.0L 115.5 kW
• Ducato ELWB Special Cab Chassis (4035 mm) (4000GVM) 3.0L 115.5 kW
• Ducato ALKO back to back Cab Cassis (4250 GVM) 3.0L 115.5 kW
• Ducato MWB Special Cab Chassis (3450mm) (3510GVM) 2.3L 97 kW
• Ducato Med/Long Special Cab Chassis (3800mm) (4000GVM) 3.0L 115.5 kW

These special-order versions of the Fiat Ducato are in addition to its main market variants, that provide the Ducato with market leading - and award-winning - performance in commercial applications thanks to their excellent blend of load volume and high payloads:

• 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