Fiat to provide next Dodge vans

[haven]

http://wardsauto.com/ar/iveco_daily_ram_110708/

Wards Automotive had a chat with Rob Hegbloom, head of marketing for the RAM division, about coming products. Hegbloom said they were looking at two vans from Fiat, and possibly one from Fiat's truck company, Iveco. The Fiats are the Doblo (similar to Ford Transit Connect) and the Ducato (think Mercedes Sprinter 2500). The Ducato and Doblo are front wheel drive and powered by small diesel engines. It's possible that Dodge would want to substitute one of Fiat's Multi-Air gas engines, since these are scheduled for use in Dodge's new Fiat-based cars.

It's less certain if Dodge will import the Iveco Daily, a larger truck with rear wheel drive and a 4x4 option. The Daily would make a nice platform for an ExPo camper. Maybe some day!

 

[Squatchout]

Dodge=Fix it again Tony!

Poor Chrysler the bastard step-child of the auto industry. Owned by all, well managed by none.

 

[Stoney126]

First the sprinter now this:Wow1:

 

[cwsqbm]

The Iveco Daily would be nice if offered in 4x4 form. Otherwise, don't care about the rest. A large FWD van doesn't interest me. Imagine trying to climb a moderate hill, on anything other than pavement, with most of your weight on the rear, non-driven tires.

Given that Sprinter 4x4s have been rumored forever, I won't hold my breath. The rule seems to be, if I want it, it won't get imported.

 

[wyojoe]

The Iveco Daily would be nice if offered in 4x4 form. Otherwise, don't care about the rest. A large FWD van doesn't interest me. Imagine trying to climb a moderate hill, on anything other than pavement, with most of your weight on the rear, non-driven tires.

Given that Sprinter 4x4s have been rumored forever, I won't hold my breath. The rule seems to be, if I want it, it won't get imported.

Same goes for me. I'd love to have a compact diesel pickup, such as the Chevy Colorado or Isuzu D-Max that are sold in other parts of the world. I currently have a Colorado and think it's just about the right size vehicle for me, but I wish I could get it with a diesel.

The Iveco Daily 4x4 would be a pretty neat vehicle to see here, but like you, I doubt it will happen. Some of the other 4x4 vehicles that are available in other parts of the world are pretty neat vehicles, so we'll probably never see them here!

 

[dare2go]

Somehow weird company policies, that in the US you can't get 4x4 vehicles available elsewhere in the world. Once one considers the huge population of North America (US & Canada combined), the harsh weather conditions in the north of both countries, then you think there should be enough people to make it worthwhile to sell almost every model in 4WD, once it has been engineered for mass production! Even if they sell only several dozen in each state/province, that'll add up to more than the entire vehicle market here in Australia... Or is this decision only to protect the US-made pick-up-trucks?
The Sprinter is now being sold in 4x4 here in OZ - and right hand versions of many popular models are hard to come by (the FJ Cruiser only arrived this year).

BTW: the Ducato is a very capable van, and hugely popular in Europe, specially for camper conversions. Some of these C-Class vehicles have long overhangs in the back, and are still doing o.k. on the road (but don't take them onto wet grass).

 

[cwsqbm]

Or is this decision only to protect the US-made pick-up-trucks?

The problem is most definitely our government.

Its known unofficially as the "chicken-tax". Besides the 25% tax, the certification costs (from multiple crash tests to mileage tests to emission tests) are insane. For example, BMW only sells the 335d and X5 diesel because that way they only had to certify one diesel engine. The cost of certifying another diesel (like the 2.0L that I'd want) isn't worth the incremental sales. Same with Mercedes and VW - they each only have one diesel engine for sale in the US across various models.

 

[CV1073]

we have just lost some prototipization work for Iveco but we have made some of the automatic welding system (with robot) that put togheter the current edition of the Daily..
I just hope this is only a rumor.. I just hope Dodhe/Chrisler remain independent from FIAT because it is long time since FIAT lost any interest in making good car.. I can tell you this as an insider and as an Italian and I am not proud of this situation.. but it is the truth.. a sad one but non the less true..

I just hope this new company, born from the merger of Chrysler and Fiat will be better then the two previous entity taken alone.. we will see

 

[upcruiser]

I have spent a Ron of time behind the wheel of Ducato's in Europe. They are great driving vans with huge payload, great handling for their size, and can cruise on the highway effortlessly while returning good economy. Versus a rwd sprinter or their smaller rwd van who's name escapes me at the moment, the Ducato provides much better traction when climbin steep, snowy passes in the Alps. My favorite Euro van though is VW's Caravelle with the all red lettered TDI and synchro. The addition of the rear diff lock really makes them Billy goats. Too bad we can't get those here instead of a rebadged Caravan.