Will Chrysler get Fiat Ducato or Iveco Daily to replace departing Sprinter?
Fiat Ducato - Click above for high-res image gallery
Easy come, easy go – that's apparently Chrysler's luck with repurposed European-market work trucks. For the last few years, Chrysler has offered the German-designed Sprinter van under the Dodge nameplate. Mercedes-Benz wants its rig back, so it's taking the well-regarded work vehicle out of Pentastar dealerships and anointing about 120 of its own dealerships as Sprinter outlets. Consider it more terms of Chrysler's divorce from its one-time masters.
Now that Chrysler's ownership has moved south to Italy's Fiat, the Euro-work-truck hole in the showroom may be filled by something from the new management's portfolio. The Iveco Daily from Fiat's work truck division might easily fill the Sprinter's void. About the same size as the full-length Sprinter, the Daily might be a little too much for buyers considering the shorter versions of the captive Daimler. Fiat's Ducato might be a better fit, offering the tall format that Sprinter buyers have found useful without being quite as large at the Iveco.
If either truck heads this way to fill the void, it will not be badged as a Fiat. Gualberto Ranieri, Chrysler's Senior Vice President of Communications, has asserted that "the only Fiat vehicle in North America will be the Fiat 500. Period."
Gallery: Fiat Ducato and Iveco Daily
[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req'd]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Murad 9:07AM (9/08/2009)
A Ducato to transport your Ducati.
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massib5 9:08AM (9/08/2009)
i've a fiat scudo a it's sooo nice!
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Mirko 9:09AM (9/08/2009)
"About the same size as the full-length Sprinter, the Daily might be a little too much for buyers considering the shorter versions of the captive Daimler."
The Ivecoo Daily is available in a wide range of wheelbases and roof heights, just like the Sprinter.
What's not available is an automatic transmission - only an automated manual transmission.
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Mirko 9:13AM (9/08/2009)
Check out this awesome brochure for the AWD Daily ;)
http://www.iveco.com/Germany/Products/Documents/Daily/Daily4x4.pdf
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Swede 9:14AM (9/08/2009)
"the only Fiat vehicle in North America will be the Fiat 500. Period"
That's a rash statement.
The Fiat/PSA Ducato/Jumper/Boxer is a nice van.
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Murad 10:12AM (9/08/2009)
Fiat-branded
Motor_Yakuza 9:23AM (9/08/2009)
That Ducato kinda looks like Dodge.
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tanooki2003 12:05PM (9/08/2009)
Actually a lot of vans in Europe and Asia have very similar profiles when compared to the Sprinter. It's mostly N/A that has the full size vans such as the Econoline, which eventually will become a dying platform once the Sprinter sized vans prove to be more efficient as well as productive.
Diego3336 9:26AM (9/08/2009)
Wider and with a lower floor than Sprinter. The only thing which could be a problem is the fact of Ducato is FWD. And a Fiat :P
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Rick C. 10:23AM (9/08/2009)
The Ford Transit is FWD also. And yes, thankfully it is a FIAT. Time for a new way of thinking and some soul...
William 11:06AM (9/08/2009)
...Fiat to supply engines to Daimler unit...
http://www.drive.com.au/Editorial/ArticleDetail.aspx?ArticleID=41037&vf=24
El Paco 3:56PM (9/08/2009)
I have a 166hp Ducato Maxi, and it's a delight to drive (for a van). Easy and comfortable. And I had the former model, too, and it lasted with me 500,000 miles without a problem before I returned the lease. So, I don't know much about this bad Fiats people keep talking about.
Mirko 7:19AM (9/10/2009)
The Ford Transit is available in FWD, RWD and AWD versions.
Steve Lopez 9:48AM (9/08/2009)
Good idea.
Dodge needs this truck.
Good start.
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JMF 10:31AM (9/08/2009)
The Sprinter passenger van showed great promise on paper, but when we looked at its towing capacity for a trailer that actually fit a family of 6 was maxed out at only 5000 lbs, it was a deal breaker.
Sure there are some smaller hybrid trailers and pop up trailers out there under that weight but once you load them up with a weekends worth of water, groceries and bikes, you are over 5000lbs.
Just put a real engine (preferably turbo diesel greater than 3L) in it so that it can carry passengers, tow a mid size trailer and make it up a hill at the same time because I am not buying 2 vehicles to do the job of one.
Your competition makes them.
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dal20402 10:49AM (9/08/2009)
You're not the target market. You'd do better with an old-style American van. But few van buyers need the kind of capability you do.
The vast majority of these vans are used for urban hauling by delivery people and tradespeople. For those uses, American vans' packaging is horrible and American V8 engines are severe overkill. The European vans, with their better fuel economy and much higher volume, are much better suited to the bulk of the van market.
Greg 10:45AM (9/08/2009)
The Sprinter proved that the high roof/high capacity configuration had a market in America, even extending to Fed Ex and UPS. Ford and GM still use the same basic van configurations that have been the American standard for 30 years, so the market is open to new players.
I think Fiat/Chrysler should role the dice, and bring both vans to the US. With the Daily and Ducato they will be able to compete with both the Sprinter and the new Transit Connect from Ford. If the vans prove economically viable, Chrysler has plenty of unused production capacity to begin producing them here.
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RowFive 10:52AM (9/08/2009)
That Ducato is so ugly it's cool. Put some side windows in it and I'd enjoy hauling the kids around. It reminds me of the old COEs from the 40s and 50s.
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Swede 10:59AM (9/08/2009)
http://www.autonet.hr/userdocsimages/Premijere/Fiat%20Ducato/Fiat-Ducato-1280x1024.jpg
RowFive 11:50AM (9/08/2009)
That'd be it, thanks Swede. Perhaps a slightly shorter one, paint it a bold color (the orange is nice), and I'd love it. My wife would abhor it too, which would be good for comedy.