ON TEST: FIAT PROFESSIONAL DUCATO
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Ducato exudes confidence as it retains Europe’s top spot Andrew Walker With the growth of internet shopping – and my word, hasn’t that been the case over the past few months – the van market continues to thrive, as more customers have parcels delivered to their homes and places of work. With that growth has been a matching rise in van sales, particularly those ideal for the urban sector. And while a host of new electric vans are with us, sales are still dominated by new, clean diesels. The FCA Group was at the vanguard of this with its Fiat Professional Ducato, which has been updated for 2020. The best-selling Fiat Professional vehicle, the Ducato is now offered with a range of improved Euro6D engines, including a new 9-Speed automatic transmission with latest-generation torque converter. Fiat has also taken the opportunity to upgrade the safety and tech, adding advanced ADAS driving assist systems, the latest-generation infotainment system and they’ve also revised the exterior. Ducato has been the European market leader in its sector for the past five years, as well as the leading vehicle as a base for motorhomes in Europe, taking approximately three in every four motorhome sales.
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The Ducato’s new range of MultiJet 2 engines come with a variable geometry compressor, which results in a smoother drive, increased flexibility at low speeds and improved fuel consumption, no matter which power output. The entry level Ducato produces 120hp from the 2.3-litre MultiJet 2 engine at 2,750rpm with a maximum torque of 320Nm at 1,400rpm. It is teamed with the manual gearbox, which improves power and torque delivery by 10 per cent compared to the previous 2.0-litre engine. The 140hp version offers 350Nm torque at just 1,400rpm and is offered with a choice of 6-speed manual gearbox or the new 9-speed automatic transmission. The 160hp variant reaches peak power output at 3,500rpm and distributes up to 400Nm torque at 1,500rpm in the automatic version. The range-topping engine boasts 180hp, with peak power coming in at 3,500rpm and 400Nm torque from 1,500 to 3,000rpm, with manual gearbox. Combined with the new 9-speed automatic transmission it produces 450Nm torque, 12 per cent more than the previous model placing it best-in-class in terms of torque in its category. The new nine-speed automatic transmission offers drivers a choice of three driving modes:
Normal, Eco and Power. There are two operating modes, Drive and Autostick. In Drive the control module automatically selects and shifts into gear according to the various driving conditions. In Autostick the driver can change gear manually. The Ducato MY20 also comes as standard with the new EcoPack, which includes Start and Stop, smart alternator and electronicallycontrolled fuel regulator. Improved safety features include blind spot assist, rear cross path detection, lane departure warning, traffic sign recognition, high beam recognition and a rain and dusk sensor. The infotainment system features a 7” touchscreen by Mopar®, USB port, DAB and SatNav, as well as integration for Apple CarPlay and Android AutoTM. We had the opportunity to spend some time driving a couple of the new models and came away impressed. First up we tackled a 140hp manual LWB version. On a route that took in city and country roads plus the motorway, this version proved very capable. With two passengers and a one-tonne load on board, this version is the most popular engine choice in the UK. Continued on page 36
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