Not long ago, Ford realized there was a market for commercial vans smaller and more efficient than the big E-Series, and in response began selling the Transit Connect in the U.S. this summer. With sales off to a strong start, other automakers have taken notice and Chrysler's new Ram brand looks to be the next to enter the fray.
Multiple outlets are reporting that Chrysler will begin importing and selling the Fiat Doblo compact commercial van in 2012. The Doblo has been sold in Europe by Chrysler's parent company Fiat since 2001 and the Ram-badged U.S.-spec model will likely be imported from Fiat's factory in Turkey, much as the Transit Connect is. Ram could, however, source it from Fiat's Brazilian operation, which builds it for the South American market. There are no plans to produce the Doblo in the U.S.
Fiat boasts that the Doblo is the segment leader in Europe in terms of interior space and emissions, and like the Ford, it's offered as a passenger van or a cargo van. With seating for seven as a passenger van, it can out-haul the Transit Connect, which has five seats. Depending on configuration, it can offer either 120 cu-ft or 148 cu-ft of cargo space, compared to the Transit Connect's 138 cu-ft. It's in payload where the Doblo really outshines the Ford, offering either 1,650 lbs or 2,200 lbs payload capacity to the Ford's 1,600 lbs. The Fiat doesn't, however, currently offer a business-friendly high-tech options package like Ford's Work Solutions, but Ford doesn't offer numerous body styles and configurations like the Fiat does, though it's not yet known how many variations will come to the U.S.Currently, the Doblo is offered with four four-cylinder engine choices in Europe, one gas and three diesel. The gasoline engine makes 95 hp while the Multijet diesels offer 90 hp, 105 hp and 135 hp. All four are currently available only with manual transmissions, but a Dualogic automatic gearbox will be mated to an additional diesel engine option in the future. Fiat is also working on a natural gas engine and a dual-fuel gasoline and methane engine. European models also come with a standard stop-start system that shuts down the engine when the vehicle is stopped, such as at traffic lights, to improve fuel economy. Ram has not yet said what engine or engines, transmission or transmissions will be offered in the U.S., nor has it said if the stop-start system will be offered. The Transit Connect is powered by a 136-hp four-cylinder gasoline engine and both are FWD.
The Doblo will be joined at the Ram brand with a new large commercial van also sourced from Fiat that will replace the Mercedes-Benz-sourced Sprinter, likely the Fiat Ducato. Fiat/Chrysler hopes that the new vans, along with the recent updates to both the light- and heavy-duty Ram trucks, will give the Ram brand sales a big boost. So far this year, Ram brand vehicles have sold 170,725 copies, off 31% from last year. The new brand hopes to sell 280,000 vehicles next year (slightly higher than 2008 sales) and increase sales to 415,000 by 2014 following the Doblo's introduction in 2012 and the new large van's introduction somewhere in that timeframe.
Of course, it won't be a cakewalk. The Ford Transit Connect has been on sale since July of this year and has already sold 5,677 copies so far, nearly catching the Ram Sprinter, which has been on sale for years and has only sold 5,849 copies this year, though Sprinter sales are off 52% from last year. Meanwhile, the Ford E-Series vans have sold 72,474 copies so far this year and they're off 34%, so the Ram brand is going up against stiff competition. That's not even taking into account truck sales, where the Ram pickups lag severely behind the Fords. Ford has sold 334,922 F-Series trucks so far this year to Ram's 155,467, making Fiat/Chrysler's push for 415,000 sales by 2014 that much more difficult.
Thanks to: Motor Trend
