New Fiat Fiorino van goes on sale from £7,999

The latest addition to the Fiat Professional range of Light Commercial Vehicles, the new Fiat Fiorino van, has just gone on sale in the UK.

At the end of February this year, Fiorino sales had already exceeded 14,400 units, even though in several countries the new van had only just been launched. Fiat’s new van went on sale in Italy at the close of 2007.

The new Fiorino, recently crowned the 2008 Fleet World Honours Best New Van, joins the UK Fiat Professional product line-up at a time of expansion for the brand’s LCV sales - up 8.3% in 2007.

Developed via a joint venture between Fiat and PSA, and manufactured at the Tofas plant in Bursa, Turkey, the new Fiorino occupies a unique LCV segment, being the first ultra-compact vehicle to have been specifically designed for use in busy towns and cities.

The rapid growth of e-commerce in particular has led to a substantial increase in demand for small vans to deliver goods and services ‘the last mile’ to homes and businesses. In this context, compact dimensions and outstanding manoeuvrability outweigh the need for excessive carrying capacities.

And with an overall length of only 3864 mm and a turning circle between kerbs of just 9.95 metres, allied to a load capacity of 610 kg (including the driver) and a maximum load length of almost 2.5 metres, the Fiat Fiorino sets new standards in ultra-compact urban van practicality.

Seven versions of the new Fiorino, priced from £7,999 to £9,647 + VAT, are available from launch, embracing three trim levels – Cargo Base, Cargo SX, and Combi. Two Combi variants are available; a four-seat version homologated for goods transport with a 338 kg payload, and a five-seat version homologated for the transportation of passengers plus 270 kg of goods.

Cab Interior

The modular dashboard offers ergonomic management of instrumentation, switchgear and up to 12 open and enclosed storage compartments including a document shelf, laptop computer storage and door panel compartments shaped to hold a 1-litre bottle.

Load Compartment

Customers may specify either one or two sliding side doors, each offering access 1041 mm high and from 570 mm to 644 mm wide. The doors feature an upper bearing rail and a sliding guide in the centre of the bodywork. Combined with an easy, convenient vertical ‘suitcase’ handle grip, this robust design is serviceable, effective and reliable.

Every Fiorino version boasts a 1046 mm loading width between rear wheel arches and six load securing rings compliant with the DIN 75410 standard. A side roof light connected to an automatic timer may be installed within the load compartment, and an optional removable light also serves as a torch.

The new Fiorino is fitted, as standard, with a nine-rung, steel ladder cab/load compartment partition. A solid, sound absorbent partition is also available, with or without a glazed panel, as well as a combination solid panel and grille bulkhead. All partitions meet DIN 75410 safety regulations for the protection of the driver from possible load intrusions into the cab.

Combi

Featuring a restyled front bumper with a front overhang 95mm wider than that of Cargo versions, a semi-glazed bodyshell, glazed double rear doors and hardwearing upholstery for commercial use, two Combi versions of the new Fiat LCV are available; a four-seat variant homologated for goods transport, and a five-seat variant homologated for the transportation of passengers.

The passenger version combines seating for five with a 270 kg payload. With a depth of 743 mm and a height of 592 mm to the level of the rear luggage rack, the loadspace is equipped with four floor-mounted loading rings and has a capacity of 356 litres.

This capacity may be increased to some 2500 litres through the removal of the fold-down three-seat rear bench. The luggage rack may be partially or completely folded, or unhooked and stowed in a bespoke compartment behind the rear seat.

When fitted with a transverse bulkhead separating the cab from the loadspace, goods-certified Combi versions will accommodate four passengers plus a payload of 338 kg, with a load volume of 537 litres.

Adventure

Available later this year, the Fiorino Adventure version adds numerous features designed to adapt both Cargo and Combi versions for use on rough, unsurfaced roads and construction sites.

These features include suspension raised by 20 mm, 15” tyres, an engine guard incorporated within the front bumper, additional side body protection, mud flaps, and bespoke, hardwearing and practical interior upholstery.

Model range and equipment

Including one four seat Combi version specifically homologated for goods transport, the new Fiat Fiorino is available in seven versions from launch, as follows:

• Cargo Base 1.4 8v Petrol 75 - £7,999

• Cargo Base 1.3 MultiJet Diesel 75 - £8,750

• Cargo SX 1.4 8v Petrol 75 - £8,649

• Cargo SX 1.3 MultiJet Diesel 75 -£9,400

• Combi Standard 4 Seat 1.3 MultiJet Diesel 75 - £9,647

• Combi Standard 5 Seat 1.4 8v Petrol 75 -£8,599

• Combi Standard 5 Seat 1.3 MultiJet Diesel 75 -£9,350

Equipment

The new Fiat Fiorino range is available in three trim levels – Cargo Base, Cargo SX and Combi, with hydraulic power steering, ABS with EBD, driver’s front airbag, radio/CD player, adjustable headlamps, height adjustable steering wheel and driver’s seat, and a ladder bulkhead fitted as standard even within entry level models.

Standard Cargo Base trim includes: ABS with EBD, Driver’s front airbag, Radio/CD player with four speakers, height-adjustable steering wheel, height-adjustable driver’s seat with lumbar adjustment, ladder bulkhead and spare wheel.

Optional equipment

Options include manual climate control with pollen filter, front passenger and side airbags, foglamps, reverse parking sensors, Bluetooth hands-free phone connectivity, a radio/CD/MP3 player, heated rear window with wash/wipe, Comfort Matic automatic transmission, an alarm, deadlocks, mudflaps, a diesel particulate filter, a Thatcham security pack and, available later in 2008, an Adventure pack.

In addition, the working capabilities of the new Fiorino range may be further enhanced through a second sliding door, a foldable front passenger seat, a panelled bulkhead with or without glass partition, a removable loading area light with torch function, longitudinal roof bars, and winter tyres.

Engines and transmissions

The new Fiat Fiorino goes on sale in the UK with a choice of two powerplants; the latest, 75bhp 1.3-litre MultiJet turbodiesel, and a 73bhp 1.4- litre 8-valve petrol engine, both mated to a five-speed manual gearbox while. The diesel unit can also be specified with Comfort Matic – a clutchless, electro-hydraulic, 6-speed sequential manual shift with a selectable fully automatic mode.

Combined fuel economy and emissions for the diesel and petrol respectively are 62.8mpg and 119g/km and 40.9mpg and 164 g/km.

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