Punto with a backpack - 2009 Fiat Fiorino
Fiat's new car-derived utility truck, the Fiorino Mk IV, has been revealed in all its Chiclet-colored glory. These small car-based working vehicles are just right for businesses that don't need the heft of the ubiquitous pickup-based cargo van here in the states, or larger Continental vehicles like the Sprinter. Horsepower will be around 75 whether buyers choose the 1.4 liter gasoline or 1.3 liter turbodiesel, plenty to haul all those tiny die-cast Eiffel towers down from port to the Champs Élysées. Continuing on the French tip, it's worth noting that the Fiorino was co-developed with PSA, which means there's also Peugeot and Citroen variants of the little van. If you don't want people to laugh at you when you tell them what you drive, you'd be best to stick with the new Fiat, though. The Citroen is named Nemo, ever so cute. Peugeot picked a moniker that sounds possibly lewd: Bipper. Call it whatever, the Fiorino blends utility, more style than you'd expect in a commercial vehicle, and a comfortable interior with carlike dynamics. Coming soon on the heels of the Fiorino will be the announcement of the "Adventure" package, which will outfit the small wagon for duty on less-improved roads in rural areas. The closest thing we've got to this in the States is the HHR Panel, cool in its own right, but alas, no feisty Italian.
[Source: Jalopnik]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
brockway 11:08AM (9/09/2008)
What is the mpg of these vehicles?
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Mattias 1:11PM (11/29/2007)
It's actually Turkish, not Italian.
And, be prepared American friends: You may soon get the Ford Transit Connect or maybe a Nissan badged Renault Kangoo.
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djhamel2 1:15PM (11/29/2007)
Well, that wouldn't be such a bad thing, would it?
Guenther 2:31PM (11/29/2007)
I think the reference was to Fiat, not its point of assembly.
Quattrofan 2:10PM (11/29/2007)
Agreed. I bet there is ton of small business owners who'd welcome a small panel van instead of their Astro.
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Xcountryflyer 2:11PM (11/29/2007)
What a cool urban delivery vehicle.
MikeSS 2:39PM (11/29/2007)
The Chevy HHR Panel is availble now. Not quite as small, but a step in the right direction.
Bancho 2:20PM (11/29/2007)
I'll be happy when something like this is available in the US. I think they would do well enough to justify their existence. Not everyone needs a fullsize cargo van or gigantic pickup to get work done.
Now I patiently await the inevitable xenophobic kneejerk reaction along with anecdotal evidence that *all* the big giant vans and trucks are used to their full potential for all the people who use them (because, you know, my unclebrother uses the hell out of his) and a vehicle of the type mentioned in the article is useless.
Sarcasm aside, more variety in this area would be welcome.
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Guenther 2:44PM (11/29/2007)
No knee-jerking. Although they are not QUITE as small, mid-size trucks with four-cylinders and commercial bodies work quite well for light delivery. Chevrolet even has a closed body for the Colorado called the Astro. Its marketed so directly at the little vans replacement that they even compare the inside size.
http://www.gmfleet.com/pdf/Astro_Body_Hero_Card.pdf
Bancho 4:35PM (11/29/2007)
That's a fair step, but I own a '06 Nissan Frontier 4cyl which is similar in size to the Colorado (save for the fact that I was forced to live with an extended cab rather than a regular cab as I would have preferred) and it feels *huge* compared to my old Nissan Hardbody. It's smaller than a fullsize but there is a hole now where compact trucks *used* to live where a vehicle like these little vans can thrive.
Don't get me wrong, its nice that GM offers that particular option, but look at trucks 10 or 20 years ago and look at what we have now. Safety equipment arguments aside, do they all really *need* to be that big? (I'm not arguing for all trucks/vans to be shrunk to this size, I'd just like one available to suit *my* needs).
RWD fan 2:15PM (11/29/2007)
Now Honda just needs to do a panel van version of the Fit and this would be relegated to absolute non-US bound status.
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Perry 2:48PM (11/29/2007)
I have see these little movers in person (the older ones of course) and they are a hoot to drive. In the narrow European streets an Econoline or F-150 would not be able to turn let alone deliver any payload. These small vans are amazing. And, trust me, these "little" engines can surely go over 120-140klm, so there is no problem on the highway.
There are many cars in Europe that would do great over here in NA. Its a shame they never get a chance.
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Throwback 3:23PM (11/29/2007)
If the HHR Panel takes off I would expect to see Ford offer their small European van here as well.
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Bancho 6:42PM (11/29/2007)
One problem with desiring these things right now is the weak dollar relative to the euro. They be priced beyond their value if they did happen to make the journey at all.
One way around that though would be for the manufacturers to take advantage of the weak dollar and have the cars *built* here. Then at least it'd make buying one here more realistic (and not just some fantasy like getting one of the new 500's sometime before I die).
Brett 5:00PM (11/29/2007)
It would be awesome to have these here in the states, at the size of a tall Yaris it would be the perfect size for someone like me and many others. Also, there is a windowed version with rear seats. With a wee bit more power (not much), it would do very well here.
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Jruhi4 12:14PM (11/30/2007)
A car for Carly?
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SPG 10:47PM (12/02/2007)
Damn I love this van as well as it's Peugeot and Citroen versions.
And yes, a perfect replacement for business owners who's Astro's are sucking too much gas.
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