Return Of The Ram Vans: Fiat Ducato, Dobl Coming To The US Next Year

Edward Niedermeyer
by Edward Niedermeyer

With Sprinter back under the Mercedes sign, Chrysler Group is looking to Europe and Fiat’s Doblò (above) and larger Ducato to expand back into the commercial van segment, starting next year. The European commercial vans are a far cry from the last Ram-branded body-on-frame vans, as the Doblò is actually based on a 108.5 inch wheelbase version of Fiat’s SCCS platform, a development of GM’s Gamma subcompact platform. As a result, the front-drive Doblò comes with engines ranging from 1.3 to 2.0 liters, and are largely powered by diesel engines. The Doblò is available in everything from a two-door chassis cab pickup, a three-, four- or five-door panel van, or a five-door passenger configuration.Because the new Ram commercial vehicles will be imported starting next year, expect only the van variants to avoid the “chicken tax.

The larger, rear-drive Ducato offers a dizzying number of body variants, with wheelbases ranging from 118.1 inches to 149.6 inches, and offers only diesel engines in displacements from 2.2 to 3.0 liters with 100-155 HP. Until we get more details, it’s impossible to know which versions of these vehicles will come to the US, and whether the diesel and (for possibly even natural gas) versions will come as well. But the real question remains the same as it was a year ago:

how will these Euro-derived efficiency-oriented urban haulers jive with the Ram brand’s overbearingly bro-magnon branding?


Edward Niedermeyer
Edward Niedermeyer

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  • Autojunkie Autojunkie on Mar 08, 2011

    CORRECTION: The Dodge B Van was not a body-on-frame design, like its competitor. It was unibody with subframe sections added to rigidity.

  • Garak Garak on Mar 08, 2011

    A slight probem in the article: Ducato is FWD, not RWD.

  • Alessio215 Alessio215 on Jul 25, 2011

    Most commonly about for the doblo will be the 1.3 litre engine with a fuel consumption of 4 litre diesel every 100 km average if drived softly (you can translated it miles per gallons) The same engine is used in the alfa Romeo Mito and Fiat punto it has 95 HP and 200Nm torque for a small 1.3L engine If the revieuw needs some car expert they are free to assume me :) pls let me know greetings

  • Jamest Jamest on Aug 16, 2011

    I quite like the look of the new Fiat Grande Punto Van, i'm going to get one for my small business once i've got the capital!

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