Diesel Citroen With Brembo Brakes Debuts At Chicago Auto Show

by Derek Kreindler

Published: February 7th, 2013

diesel citroen with brembo brakes debuts at chicago auto show

Behold, the Citroen Jumper…err, the Fiat Ducato. Ok, it’s the Ram Promaster. Instead of the Mercedes-based Sprinter, this is the new commercial van from Chrysler. It can be equipped with a Pentastar V6 or a 3.0L diesel four-cylinder. It has two-piston Brembo brakes and, horror of horrors, it’s front-drive. I’m not sure that really makes a difference, but somebody will doubtlessly criticize Ram for importing a “wrong-wheel-drive” commercial van.

#2013ChicagoAutoShow #ChicagoAutoShow #Ducato #Fiat #Ram

Derek Kreindler

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14 of 39 comments

Grzydj on Feb 07, 2013

I saw one of these doing hot weather testing near Death Valley last year. Hooray for me. Also, I think the 3.0 diesel is a V6, not a 4 popper.

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- Jz78817 on Feb 07, 2013
  
  no, the diesel is an inline. might be a 5-cylinder, though. 3 liters is a bit big for a 4-banger, but not unheard of.
  
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- PCP on Feb 07, 2013
  
  @jz78817 As far as I know, it's a 4 cylinder. Strange though they still sell the 3 liter, cause there's a new 2.3 liter with higher CR pressure and probably better turbine that's just as powerful but delivers way better MPG... Oh, apparently the 3 liter got a HP raise too, that would explain why it's still being used.
  
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- Grzydj on Feb 07, 2013
  
  @jz78817 V.M Motori says that it is a V6. http://www.vmmotori.it/en/01/00/01/dettaglio.jsp?id=9
  
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- PCP on Feb 07, 2013
  
  @jz78817 Well the line-up is quite complicated: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JTD_engine As far as I know, the Vans and Campers have the Inline-4. Which is either the 3.0, itself derived from the previous, IVECO, 2.8. Or the 2.3 which is also an IVECO engine, apparently. Then there is the V6/3l that get's used in Cherokees and Co, which clearly comes from VM. There's also the Inline5/2.4l as well as an Inline4/2 and 2.2l, which comes from Peugeot/Citroen. This engine also served as base engine in Diesel Jags, and in Fords, as far as I remember. At the same time, ze Germans produce one block fits all Diesel engines and are making money by the ton...
  
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Grzydj on Feb 07, 2013

EDIT: It might actually be a four cylinder. This is confusing as there are about 10 different engine variants used world wide.

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- PCP on Feb 07, 2013
  
  Well the line-up is quite complicated: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JTD_engine As far as I know, the Vans and Campers have the Inline-4. Which is either the 3.0, itself derived from the previous, IVECO, 2.8. Or the 2.3 which is also an IVECO engine, apparently. Then there is the V6/3l that get’s used in Cherokees and Co, which clearly comes from VM. There’s also the Inline5/2.4l as well as an Inline4/2 and 2.2l, which comes from Peugeot/Citroen. This engine also served as base engine in Diesel Jags, and in Fords, as far as I remember. At the same time, ze Germans produce one block fits all Diesel engines and are making money by the ton…
  
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Hank on Feb 07, 2013

It'll only be wrong-wheel-drive in the Sunbelt. In the Snowbelt, it should be a boon if marketed well.

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- Scoutdude on Feb 07, 2013
  
  Until you actually use it as intended and put a ton of tools/supplies/packages in it and then you'd be wishing you had RWD.
  
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- Hank on Feb 07, 2013
  
  @Scoutdude Lived there, done that, commented from experience.
  
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- Scoutdude on Feb 07, 2013
  
  @Scoutdude So you have experience with FWD vans loaded to, or beyond, capacity climbing steep hills in the snow? I have and RWD works much much better. Now of course this was minivan vs minivan since this is the first FWD van in the US. But yeah I've been there and done that with company vans back in the day and the RWD Astro was much better than the FWD Caravan. Now if all you are using it for is as a "free candy van" then yeah FWD all the way.
  
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Slow_Joe_Crow on Feb 07, 2013

If it's well screwed together and cheaper than a Sprinter I'll look at it. I need a box on wheels to haul my family and our bicycle collection. I don't really care what it looks like, just how well it hauls.

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- Redmondjp on Feb 07, 2013
  
  You nailed it! Most vans are for commercial applications and looks are not a primary consideration. I'm concerned that in this country we are seeing fewer full-size van options available in the market. A 10' long roll of carpeting is not shrinking down along with the sizes of new vans available!
  
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- Scoutdude on Feb 07, 2013
  
  @redmondjp The new Transit will be available in larger sizes than the Econoline it is replacing. We are getting more choices as we will still have the Sprinter, though available at the Merc store now, Nissan has the NV, which is more a panel truck but still serves a similar market, and now Dodge will be back in the game with this.
  
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