Low Cost Vans

Fiat Professional commercial vehicles have announced an exciting extended partnership with TomTom that will now see TomTom’s fully integrated and state-of-the-art navigation solution added to the new Fiat Ducato range of vans. The state-of-the-art navigation software will be integrated in the Uconnect™ 5” Radio Nav system, which is fully integrated in the dashboard, has a 13 cm (5") resistive colour touchscreen, and also feature TomTom’s IQ routes and digital maps. I really like the look of the dashboard system with the 5" screen, but personally, I have yet to upgrade to a shiny state-of-the-art sat nav system in my car. It just might be too much of a distraction for me, so I have thus far resisted, although my map reading ability would warrant a look at investing in one of these. Lucky for Fiat Ducato owners, as the added new technology will provide them with: World class TomTom navigation software High quality maps for over 30 countries across Europe and Latin America...

If you have a thriving business to run which requires the use of fleet vans, yet still have a desire to do your bit for the environment, do you opt for the zero emission electric van or choose the most “green” and economical standard van on the market? The decision of whether or not to operate a fleet of environmentally friendly vans can be daunting, especially when you absolutely need to take into account factors such as budgets, business needs/criteria, plus overall costs like maintenance, and fuel. There are a few standard fuel LCV vans currently on the market that can be both ecologically and economically sound, such as the Fiat Fiorino van which was recently named the ‘City Van of the Year’ for the second year in a row at the 2013 Fleet Van Awards. It was great to see that not only did the Fiorino win accolades for its latest MultiJet II engines, fuel economy, and practicality, but the van maker, Fiat Professional brand, collected the ‘Green Van Manufacturer of the Year’ award t...

Great news announced from Fiat on the awards front. FIAT Professional has been named “LCV Manufacturer of the Year” at the 2013 GreenFleet Awards. The award, which recognises the efforts made by manufacturers in reducing CO2 emissions and improving fuel economy in the Light Commercial Vehicle (LCV) sector, was presented to FIAT Professional for a second year in a row. Let’s take a look at what features swayed the judges into honouring the van manufacturer with the second prestigious win. Firstly, the current range of commercial vehicles is engineered with a range of efficiency technologies such as Start&Stop - temporarily shuts the engine down when the vehicle is stationary, and optional Traction+, which offers improved traction in slippery conditions without the need for 4X4 hardware. Along with these, other technologies such as the eco:Drive Professional* and eco:Drive Fleet* software take Fiat efficiencies further by encouraging drivers to obtain the best possible fuel efficien...

I have recently read a few press releases regarding van manufacturers’ sales growth in the first six months of this year. Just this week, Fiat Professional has chimed in with their results so far and the outlook is so positive that they are confident that their brand is one of the fastest growing LCV brands in the UK market today. What do you think, are you driving a newly purchased Fiat van this year? Fiat Professional released sales figures recorded January-June of 7150 units. Thanks in part to their successful range of commercial vehicles. The figures equated to a boost of over 50% over the same period last year, thus providing them an increase in the LCV market share of 1.3 percentage points compared with last year. The Doblò Cargo range is a strong performer for Fiat and had recently been expanded to include new additions such as the Doblò XL and Doblò Maxi Crew Van versions. These vans are well regarded within the industry and of course with customers alike. One feature that st...

Fiat Professional has recently posted a release on the benefits of their new safety system, ESP (electronic stability programme), which now come standard in their entire range of Ducato vans, chassis cabs, combis and minibuses. The ESP was introduced back in April this year and comes in anticipation of any possible changes to commercial vehicle legislation and includes all Fiat Ducato models except the back-to-back cab range. What exactly is ESP (no it’s not the ability to see dead people, i.e. a sixth sense)? Fiat defines it as an important safety device which uses information supplied by various sensors to check whether a vehicle is cornering safely or not. If the ESP computer believes the vehicle is going to skid, it brakes the appropriate wheel or reduces engine power. The programme also includes and incorporates other technologies to make it work, such as Load Adaptive Control (LAC) which identifies the size of the load and the vehicle’s centre of gravity to enable the systems to ...

More exciting award announcements have been reported this week. This time Fiat Professional have posted about how their exceptional commercial van range was decreed winners of the 2013 Van Fleet World Honours, which are presented annually to those motor manufacturers, service companies and individuals who have, in the opinion of the judges, achieved the highest possible level of excellence in their sector. The Fiat Doblò Cargo was named Best Small Van, while the Fiorino took the Best Light Van award at a special ceremony held at the Royal AutomobileClub, Pall Mall, in London. So, what makes the Doblò Cargo van the best small van winner? Probably has something to do with it being the first LCV to have a bi-link rear suspension which ensures a smooth ride, lower loading height and better width between wheelarches. Additionally, the bi-link suspension permits a rear axle load up to 1,450kg. Oh and not to mention its hefty carrying capacity in both weight and size terms: up to 1 ton paylo...

Fiat Professional has posted news of their delight in being named the Traders’ Choice winner in the 2013 Trade Van Driver (TVD) Magazine Awards. This latest title completes a triple win for Fiat Professional in the 2013 TVD Magazine Awards and is in addition to the previously announced awards for Fiat Professional’s Fiorino being named Best City Van and the Doblò Work Up winning Best Small Pick-Up. Commenting on the award, Matthew Eisenegger says: “We asked the traders on our judging panel which van was, in their opinion, the top choice for small business owners. The Fiat Doblò Cargo was their unanimous choice. Stylish looks, a huge range of models, low running costs, rock solid reliability, superb drivability and great back-up all added up to a vehicle that they felt just couldn’t be beaten.” Sebastiano Fedrigo adds: “We are delighted that our class-leading Doblò Cargo has been recognised again in these awards. It is particularly pleasing that this latest award is from traders who u...

Fiat Professional is on a roll in the awards stakes, as they have just announced that they have picked up two more accolades. This time the Fiat Fiorino was named Best City Van and the recently introduced Doblò Work Up won the Best Small Pick-Up award in the 2013 Trade Van Driver (TVD) Awards. The TVD Awards aim to give recognition to manufacturers, firms and people who, in the opinion of the judges, offer the very best to retail van buyers. The TVD awards are extra special, as they are judged not only by an expert panel of journalists at the magazine but also by a panel of readers who use light commercial vehicles as part of their businesses. To be chosen by those who know the industry and actually drive these commercial vans is a fantastic endorsement for Fiat. Want to know more about these two award winning vehicles? See below for details taken from Fiat Professional's recently posted press release containing all the best bits about them. Best City Van – Fiat Fiorino “ The Fiori...

More joyous announcements have been posted on the selected vans that won awards at the VansA2Z Van of the Year Awards for 2013. Fiat Professional’s successful Doblò Cargo has secured another prestigious award after being named Best Light Van in the VansA2Z Van of the Year Awards that took place last week at an industry lunch at Lords Cricket Ground, London. Commenting on the award, Neil McIntee, Editor of VansA2Z.com, said: “Fiat’s Doblò Cargo is one of the most impressive vans of its size to have been launched over the past few years. That is why we have made it our Light Van of the Year for 2013. Here are just some of the highlights that won the Doblò the Best light van award (details posted from Fiat Professional's press release). "Fiat Professional’s Doblò Cargo is the first LCV to have a bi-link rear suspension which ensures a smooth ride, lower loading height and better width between wheelarches. Additionally, the bi-link suspension permits a rear axle load up to 1,450kg...

Fiat Professional has just announced that Medical Services Ltd - the largest independent provider of patient transport solutions to the NHS and private healthcare organisations, has just taken delivery of 66 new Fiat Doblò Combi wheelchair accessible vehicles. The Euro 5 Doblò Combi Maxi (long wheelbase L2H1) N1 Active 1.6 MultiJet 16v Diesel 105 versions are being supplied to Medical Services Ltd (MSL), through Fiat Professional dealer, HTC Van centre, Croydon, Surrey. These vehicles will feature the distinctive Medical Services livery and have been converted to a single wheelchair accessible vehicle with bi-fold access ramp. Lateral Design Concepts Ltd of Keighley, West Yorkshire worked closely with MSL to produce a vehicle tailored to their exact requirements, developing a highly versatile, durable and hygienic accessible vehicle appropriate for increasingly demanding ambulance patient transport applications. The resulting ‘MediWav’ conversion is now part of Lateral’s highly effici...

This is Lincolnshire has posted a great article on October 4th, 2012, from the Boston Target, offering an in depth review on the Fiat Ducato van. The article titled, " The van that can ", evaluates key aspects of the large panel van, from driver experience to practicalities and cost. The Ducato was first launched in 1981 and has seen many redesigns, but the newest generation Fiat Ducato range offers one of the most practical panel vans on the market. From technological innovations to practical accessibility from the sliding side doors and generous payloads, the Ducato surely answers to the question, "what more could you ask for?" To read the glowing review, please click here .

Fiat Professional has expanded their award-winning Doblò Cargo van range with a new XL version of the Doblò. This new offering comes one year after the introduction of the Doblò Work Up, which I wrote about yesterday. The Doblò XL's long wheelbase and high roof provides a load volume of 5.0 m 3 and a payload of 1,000kg and its rear doors allow for full access to the load compartment so customers can fully utilise the large volume of space. All importantly, the new XL gives a choice of three Euro 5 turbo diesel engines: 1.6 MultiJet 105 hp, 1.6 MultiJet 90hp MTA and 2.0 MultiJet 135hp (combi versions will be available with the 2.0 MultiJet 135hp only). Fiat's recent press release says: "The new XL version will sit between the Purpose Built Van and Small Panel Van segments and is likely to attract customers from the latter as it offers the same load capacity and payload (1 Ton) but at a lower price." Fiat also suggests that the Doblò XL will appeal to a variety of cust...

I found an interesting article (supplied by i-Van magazine) that was published on Van Trader UK's website, regarding Fiat's Doblo Work Up. When it was launched last year, the main selling feature was its plywood platform: 2.3 m long , 1.82 m wide and with 4 m² of surface that was large enough to carry up to one ton or "up to 3 euro pallets or 33 crates of fruit,” as described by Fiat on their website. It also came with a range of two turbo diesel engines with low noise levels and low fuel consumption and maintenance. But a year on, article writer Liam Campbell asks, "Is there a ‘gap’ in the British marketplace for such a compact pickup in British industry?" The article provides a few 'real world' photos and includes more practical details about Mr Campbell's week long test in the Fiat Work Up. To view the answer to the question, you can read the article by clicking here .

Fiat Professional has just announced the special series Ducato Tecnico van. It's a new version based on the Ducato 30 Van 2.3 Litre 130 MultiJet II SWB (L1H1). The standard model will include air conditioning, front fog lights, Blue&Me with steering wheel controls, TomTom predisposition on the dashboard, B&M TomTom Live navigator plus cradle, Start&Stop, special wheel trims, reverse parking sensors and eco: Drive Professional software. Promotional prices for the Ducato Tecnico are: Ducato VAN 30 L1H1 130 MultiJet II Tecnico - £13,995.00 OTR excluding VAT and Ducato VAN 35 L3H2 130 MultiJet II Tecnico - £16,995.00 OTR excluding VAT. Also announced was the Doblò Cargo Tecnico version being made available for the first time. The Doblò Cargo Tecnico versions are based on the SX version with additional standard equipment that includes air conditioning, Blue&Me with steering wheel controls, TomTom predisposition on the dashboard, B&M TomTom Live navigator plus cradle,...

Back to Fiat for this review where Mark James drives the Fiat Fiorino. The Fiorino is a joint effort with Citroen (where it is known as the Nemo) and Peugeot (who call it the Bipper): [S3VIDEO file='FiatFiorino.flv' sitemap='true' thumbnail='http://www.lowcostvans.co.uk/Images/video_thumbnails/FiatFiorino.jpg' title='Fiat Fiorino van review' description=Fiat Fiorino van review from Low Cost Vans']

We recently handed the latest Fiat Ducato van over to our resident motoring journalist, Mark James. Checkout the video below to see what he thought about it: [S3VIDEO file='FiatDucato.flv' sitemap='true' thumbnail='http://www.lowcostvans.co.uk/Images/video_thumbnails/FiatDucato.jpg' title='Fiat Ducato van review' description='Review of the new Fiat Ducato van from Low Cost Vans'] If you are impressed with the new Ducato van from Fiat then perhaps you would like to consider leasing a new Fiat Ducato van .