Fiat Ducato News

When it comes to motoring, the winds of change blow stronger with each passing day. For some people, they may have unknowingly already bought their last petrol or diesel-engined car. For the rest of us, it’s really a question of “when”, not “if” we’ll turn our back on combustion propulsion.

Right now, new-car sales are booming, buyers have to wait months and even years for specific model or grade choices in some instances, and nobody is really wheeling and dealing like they used to pre-pandemic.

Fiat Professional Australia has released the Series 7 version of the Ducato large van, with it ushering in a new turbo-diesel engine and a new automatic transmission

A number of potentially hazardous faults have been identified in vehicles sold in Australia, prompting a wide range of recalls.

The major brands are keen for a good start to 2015 and that means a lot of sharp deals for the first two months of the year.Low profile brand Citroen currently has a hot deal on its Berlingo compact hauler, offering the 66kW diesel manual long body version for $25,990 drive away. It has also thrown in an extended warranty, covering it for five years/200,000km.Volkswagen has two limited edition vans available now, with special drive-away pricing.They are called Runner models and are effectively entry-level models.The Caddy Runner is based on the TSI 160 petrol version of Volkswagen’s small van. It is not loaded with gear, but does have airconditioning as well as stability control, and costs $23,990 drive away.The Transporter Runner, based on the TDI 250 diesel, is not completely void of features either and has just picked up Bluetooth phone connectivity and cruise control in addition to AC and stability control.Volkswagen is currently offering it for $32,990 drive away.Renault is receiving initial stock of the new Master large van, but there are a fair few of the old one left and that means bargains are to be had.The company hasn’t locked in incentives with the dealers, instead asking them to check in when someone is interested, so it might well be worth asking.The company does have an extended warranty offer in place at the moment to help its Kangoo compact van, which covers it for five years or 200,000km.Ford is offering two special deals with price cuts and extended warranty deals for its front-drive Transit Custom vans.The first is a short wheelbase model at $38,990 drive away and the second is the long wheelbase version for $40,990 drive away.These are keen prices, especially as Ford has now introduced an extended warranty that lasts for five years/200,000km.Both models are standard, but the Transit is very well specified and each van has a five-star crash safety rating, stability control, cruise control, Bluetooth connectivity, a bulkhead and even heated seats.There is only one transmission, a six-speed manual, as an automatic is still being developed, and only one engine, a 2.2-litre turbodiesel.Fiat is not doing any special deals on its just-introduced Doblo and Ducato vans, maintaining the strong pricing structure from the launch, including the well specified Doblo compact van from $22,000 for the petrol 1.4 and the larger Ducato with a 3.0-litre diesel from $38,000, but neither price includes drive-away costs.

Winnebago marketing manager Max Mayo says while most campervans are designed to cater for two people, these ones will be patterned after the space and comfort of the larger motorhome styles."Our new campervans take comfort and versatility to a new plateau and both models will cater for four people in style," he says.The Escape is a 6.4m campervan on a Fiat Ducato three-litre turbo diesel, while the Diversion is built on a 7.3m, long-wheelbase Mercedes Benz Sprinter van. There are no prices yet for the Diversion, but the drive-away price of the Escape is $105,929.They feature an electric roll-down bed which drops from the ceiling and can sleep two adults. There are other beds for two more people.Both will be displayed for the first time at the Queensland Caravan Camping Touring and Holiday Show from June 9 to 15 at the RNA Showgrounds in Brisbane.While most campervans do not include bathroom and toilet facilities or have a small shower recess, the Escape and Diversion have an expanding bathroom system with a flushing toilet.There is also a large "garage" area in the rear of the campervans made by storing the electric double bed against the ceiling and folding up the two single beds against the wall. The space created can hold a motorbike or two, a quad bike, bicycles, surfboards fishing rods and more.During the week, the Escape can double as mum's car or as a tradies truck with optional checker plating installed for the tool box. On the weekend, it can be used as a self-contained campervan. Winnebago claims the Escape has the biggest bathroom of any campervan and features a fold away external table.The Diversion is highlighted by leather armchairs, well-equipped kitchen, a sofa bed which converts electronically into a large comfortable bed and large awning. It also features roof and cabin air-conditioning, an LCD 12 volt TV with DVD player inbuilt , awning, microwave, two gas bottles and the largest campervan bathroom on the market.Both campervans have kitchen drawers that can be accessed from outside.

Get hold of a motorhome, go camping and find out how easy relaxing can be.After a weekend in the new seven metre Trakka Veneto four berth "C- class motorcamper" relaxation swept over us as soon as we had packed the large vehicle, driven out the drive and ventured forth on a weekend surfing safari to coastal national parks.There is absolutely no point in driving hard in a vehicle such as this because you can't. It is more of a waft rather than a drive as the big Veneto glides over rough roads and off into the sunset."How good is this" issues from everyone's lips as a holiday feeling sweeps across the touring party.The Veneto is Trakka's latest medium size motorcamper and is built on a Fiat Ducato cab/ chassis unlike other Ducato-based motorcampers which are van based.It means the Veneto has a robust truck-like ladder chassis underneath, a high load capacity and a low centre of gravity.The cab is neatly joined to the accommodation unit and it drives well for a large weighty vehicle.Power comes from a turbo diesel 2.8-litre four cylinder driving the front wheels through a five speed manual transmission. A four-speed auto is also available.The engine is relatively economical and gives good performance considering the weight it's hauling. Cruising on the freeway at 110kmh is a breeze with the occasional downshift on steep hills.Fuel consumption allows about 500km touring range.The test vehicle had air rear suspension which is superb, smoothing rough roads, allowing the vehicle to be levelled at campsites and holding it comfortably on the road. The veneto has single rear wheels with heavy duty Michelin tyres. Brakes are Brembo and make light work of slowing the Veneto which can weigh up to around four tonnes fully wet with four people aboard.The vehicle is quite luxurious offering a swag of goodies for the $130,000 pricetag. It has two double beds on over cab the other down the back, an oven/grille, three burner cook top, gas/electric and battery fridge, shower/bathroom/toilet, TV, microwave oven, twin gas bottles, large fresh water storage, hot water system, grey water storage, integral 240V power cord, dual auxiliary batteries, oodles of cupboard and wardrobe space and air conditioning in the cabin and an electric system in the living area and numerous perspex side windows complete with screens and blinds and a number of skylights. The panoramic rear windscreen is a major attraction at campsites, especially if there is a view. It is also handy when driving the Veneto giving wide vision to the rear A large rear boot has two access doors where we stowed surfboards, fishing gear and folding seats.The side awning is a roll out type and a real asset in the warm weather for alfresco eating."Camping" in this vehicle is hardly what you'd call roughing it but still gives a quintessential outdoor experience with a touch of luxury and the practicality of a motorhome.

However, the Italian motoring giant is making its Australian comeback through its excellent commercial van range.The Ducato comes in mid-roof and high-roof versions and the big-cube model is riding on the wave of popularity of these bigger vans, which include the Ford Transit and the Mercedes Sprinter.Fiat sold 343 Ducato vans last year and has set a target of 600 this year. However, a slowing van market has stunted this ambitious mark. After four months, just 158 Ducatos were sold — but the sales are still better than 2004.But it's only a fraction of the Fiat Ducato's European popularity. There were more than 20,000 Ducatos sold in Europe in April alone.The first quarter of 2005 was the best-ever Ducato sales figure.Fiat says the Italian, German,French and Spanish business operators are particularly attracted to the Ducato's engine."The good performances have been driven by the customer appeal of the models powered by Fiat's advanced JTD diesel range, that are appreciated by customers for the great performances and low fuel consumption," a spokesman says.The Ducato offers a 2.8-litre turbocharged diesel engine that features common rail and has better fuel economy than petrol.The front-wheel drive provides extra space at the back and there's 12 cubic metres of it.With a GVM of 3510kg, this big boy crosses into the light-truck category, which, according to VFACTS, starts at 3500kg.The Ducato can fit two pallets and be loaded either from the sliding side door or the back doors, which open 270 degrees.The engine has 94Kw of power 300Nm of torque at 1800rpm.The dashboard-mounted gear stick is placed for fast gear changing and it's interesting to see the new Fuso Canter has also adopted this driver-friendly design.The cabin is very upmarket and the van comes with ABS brakes, dual airbags, airconditioning, power windows and mirrors and remote central locking.This keyless entry is a bonus for busy delivery people who don't want to waste time fumbling around for keys 50 times a day.The driver's window is brought up and down with just one touch.What gives this bigger van the edge is the high seating, which offers excellent vision.But forget about trying to find a park in Westfield — unless you want to turn your 2.4m-high van into a convertible.Parking this big vehicle is easy in normal car parks as the 3700mm wheelbase fits neatly in a normal car parking spot. However, the high roof is attracting interest from camper manufacturers.