NEW FIAT ULYSSE

EVERYTHING EXCEPT THE NAME

In spring Fiat will launch the New Ulysse, successor to the current Fiat MPV. It is produced as part of a joint venture with the French PSA group, a profitable collaboration that has been on-going since 1994.

The New Fiat Ulysse is bigger than the previous model: it measures 4.72 metres in length, 1.86 metres in width and 1.75 metres in height. The car comes with four engines, two petrol units and two common rail diesels. It is also equipped with a series of safety, comfort and telematic devices that set it at the top of its category in terms of interior space, agreeable living, application flexibility and technological features A recap is in order if we are to understand the personality and strengths of this new MPV.

The MPV has managed to carve out its own niche of the European market that has settled at around 2.5% of total sales (about 350,000 cars in 2001) and owes its success - above all - to its ability to interpret the lifestyle of our times. Because these cars are an ideal solution to present-day family needs: for work and leisure and, more generally, to satisfy the ever-changing times and situations imposed by our day-to-day activities. This type of vehicle is also particularly well-suited to the specific values of the Fiat Brand because Fiat's mission is to make innovation available to all by offering fairly-priced high-tech products designed for people who choose an energetic, fun lifestyle (life in primary colours). When it set out to replace the MPV, Fiat did much more than simply restyle the existing model. Instead it created an all-new car that shares nothing but a name with its predecessor. And, incidentally, that name refers to the traveller par excellence, the character who symbolises an ability to come through every trial with flying colours. Everything else has been radically changed: styling, interiors, mechanicals, engines, electronic equipment, telematic devices and safety features. Beginning with the size that has been increased to offer more passenger room and improved comfort. The result is the New Fiat Ulysse, a model designed to meet (and sometimes even exceed) the expectations of European customers with an average age of 35 to 50. Customers who often own more than one family car. They use their MPVs for work (tradesman, representative) or leisure activities. They want a comfortable, roomy, versatile MPV with plenty of seats that offers great practicality. These motorists usually already own an MPV or medium-sized saloon and the Fiat Ulysse offers them a personality-packed design that is very different from similar vehicles: generous interior dimensions (one of the best specifications in the category) - and an outstanding engine range comprising two petrol units (a 136 bhp 2.0 and a brand new 204 bhp 3.0 V6 24v) and two common rail turbodiesels: a 2.0 JTD offering 109 bhp and the new 128 bhp 2.2 JTD. The manual gearboxes are joined by automatic units for the petrol engines and the 2.0 JTD.

The New Fiat Ulysse complements these basic attributes with other distinguishing features that relate to safety, agreeable living and comfort.

Safety is assured by the presence of six airbags, ABS with electronic brakeforce distributor (EBD), antislip regulation (ASR), electronic dynamic stability control (ESP) and emergency brake assistance device. Plus xenon headlamps and extra features for children: Isofix seat attachments, monitoring mirrors and electric safety locks on the doors.

Agreeable living and flexibility are guaranteed first and foremost by the different vehicle configurations: five to eight seats. And also by swivelling front seats. The driver's seat is also adjustable and can also be fitted with a memory and heater. These are joined by 3, 4 or 5 seats on the second and third row that slide along guides. These can be folded down and turned over with a single movement; folded down and converted to a table; folded down, folded up and removed with ease. Not to mention the fact that they can be folded down and pushed together so that four seats are piled up one behind the other behind the front seats.

Convenience means a host of storage compartments, two fold-down aircraft-style tables and a luggage compartment equipped with a containment net for items. The Fiat Ulysse also offers outstanding comfort due to an automatic bizone climate control system that allows the driver and front passenger to adjust the temperature to different levels and a state-of-the-art telematic array. All these features are packed into the CONNECT system that incorporates a GSM phone, navigation system and interface to the world of Targasys services. This is, in essence, the most advanced integrated tool of its type and the one that currently offers the highest number of functions and services.


IMAGES FIAT ULYSSE