NEW IMPETUS FOR CV SALES

Fiat Auto (UK), which has recently formed a dedicated commercial vehicles sales and marketing department as part of a European restructure, will be strongly represented at this year's Commercial Vehicle Show at Birmingham's NEC (Stand no.649, Hall 4, 18-20 March 2003).

The new department, which includes its own fleet team, is currently focused on a number of key areas including the dealer channel, the Motorhome market (Fiat Auto is number one in the UK), and product, pricing and communications.

Planned volume for 2003 is in the region of 10,000 vans, a forecast underwritten by the recent arrival of the new Ducato range and Doblò Cargo JTD models, all of which are being acclaimed by press and customers alike.

Four versions of Fiat Auto's award-winning Ducato range, which went on sale in the UK during May last year, will be among the main attractions on the Fiat stand at the NEC. They include a Ducato equipped with a 2.0 JTD engine, a Ducato 15 Gran Volume equipped with a 2.3 JTD engine, a Ducato 2.8 JTD Chassis Cab fitted with a Razorback body, and a Ducato Minibus converted by Autotrim.

There have been many improvements to the Fiat Ducato over 21 years - during which time more than 1.2m have been sold - and the latest version has again set new standards in transport productivity, in driver comfort and convenience, and in safety.

New Ducato features a restyled front end, new bumpers and light clusters - along with a cabin fully redesigned for maximum space and comfort.

Facia, seats, steering wheel, door panels and instruments are all new, and many other innovations have been added to make the vehicle more practical and simplify life on board. One example is a paper holder on the facia that can be converted into a convenient desk for jotting down notes.

The new Fiat Ducato is also class-leading in terms of performance, reliability and economy, thanks to a range of engines that includes the brand-new Sofim 110 bhp 2.3 JTD 16v, two other common rail direct injection turbodiesels, (2.0 JTD and 2.8 JTD), and a petrol-driven 2.0 unit.

The new Sofim 2.3-litre JTD engine has a maximum power output of 110 bhp (81 kW) and torque of 270 Nm (27.5 kgm), both achieved at low revs - 3600 rpm for power and 1800 rpm for torque. Not only does this promote smooth driving characteristics in all situations, but it uses 16 per cent less fuel than the Sofim 2.8-litre normally aspirated diesel.

The new engine is a very reliable power unit, requiring little maintenance. Service intervals are substantially longer - an oil and filter change is needed only at 18,000 miles, compared to 6000 miles on the 2.8 D engine.

The other JTD engines in the new Ducato range are a 2.0-litre version with maximum power of 84 bhp (62 kW) at 4000 rpm (torque of 192 Nm at 1900 rpm), and the 2.8-litre unit with a maximum power output of 127 bhp (93.5 kW) at 3600 rpm (torque 300 Nm at 1800 rpm).

Safety has also been enhanced. An optional driver's airbag has been joined by a 120-litre passenger airbag and sidebags. There has been further work on body stiffening, and the braking system upgraded, with rear discs on high-performance versions. Some new options include ABS anti-lock braking with four sensors, complete with electronic brakeforce distribution (EBD), and ASR to prevent wheelspin during acceleration and under conditions of poor grip. Fiat Auto's new Ducato was voted joint winner of What Van? magazine's Large Panel Van of the Year for 2002.

Fiat is also exhibiting two versions of the widely acclaimed Fiat Doblò Cargo JTD, one with the optional High Roof and both equipped with the company's 1.9-litre common rail direct injection diesel engine, which gives customers more choice, great value and much more performance. JTD versions of the Doblò Cargo went on sale throughout Fiat Auto's UK dealer network in February last year.

The Fiat Doblò Cargo has received critical acclaim from the commercial vehicle press, which has praised its driveability, features, class-leading payload and load volume. Indeed, the Doblò Cargo JTD has just won the small van category in Commercial Motor magazine's Testers' Choice 2003. This follows on from being voted the Editor's choice at the 2002 Commercial Fleet World honours ceremony last year.

Fiat Auto's JTD turbodiesel engine offers remarkable all-round benefits, including a 60% increase in maximum power (from 63 bhp to 100 bhp); a 16 mph increase in maximum speed, (from 88 to 104 mph); a vastly improved 0-62 mph acceleration time (8.9 seconds faster - down from 20.9 seconds to 12.0 seconds) and a 17% reduction in average fuel consumption.

Capable of delivering 148 lb.ft of torque @ 1500 rpm, the 1.9 JTD is also smooth and quiet, placing the Doblò Cargo JTD among the most powerful competitors in its market segment.

Doblò Cargo JTD is well positioned against its immediate competitors, and together with a class-leading load capacity of 3.2-3.8 cubic metres, a choice of 625 or 805 kg payloads, and twin sliding doors available as an option (standard on the SX version), Doblò Cargo represents a strong proposition for commercial vehicle users.

Last year, Fiat was awarded the prestigious Economist Innovation Award, (Energy and Environment category), for its ground-breaking work in developing the common rail diesel technology that is now used by every major European car maker, and which has revolutionised diesel engines, enabling them to set new dynamics standards.

The common rail diesel system is available here under the JTD badge throughout Fiat Auto's UK range, making it a market leader in performance, economy and low emissions. Most of the models on the Fiat stand at the NEC are equipped with JTD engines.

Completing the Fiat Auto (UK) line-up will be a 1.9-litre normally aspirated diesel engine version of the car-derived Punto van, along with a 2.0 JTD version of the Scudo Van, and a Scudo Taxi converted by Jubilee Automotive Group.

In terms of commercial vehicle sales, Fiat Auto is currently number two in Europe, a result that is being achieved via an award-winning range of products which are present in every sector of the LCV market. Fiat Auto (UK) intends to capitalise on these products, especially in the medium to large fleet sector, where a full range offering is particularly advantageous to customers.

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For further information please contact:

PETER NEWTON Public Relations Director

or

Puneet Joshi Press Officer

Fiat Auto (UK) Limited

Tel: 01753 511431 Fax: 01753 516871

E-mail addresses: peter.newton@fiat.com/puneet.joshi@fiat.com

This press release is also available on www.newspress.co.uk

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