McK
Arkansas
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I will have to think hard about keeping my Sprinter. The Ducato would go well with my Alfa Romeo Spider and Lancia Scorpion.
From the ROTV website:
ROTV News
David Elshoff, Head of Ram Truck Media Relations at Chrysler Group LLC, provided confirmation that the Fiat Doblo van platform is coming to the USA. The Doblo, which was named 2011 "International Van of the Year" will be badged as a Ram truck and will compete against Ford's Transit Van Connect in the US small van market.
But the real news is - if industry scuttlebutt is to be believed- is that Fiat's popular Ducato platform may soon follow the smaller Doblo to North America. Actually, it's rumored that a number of potential manufacturing and assembly locations are under consideration, including existing Chrysler facilities in Mexico and the 3.31 million square foot manufacturing plant in Warren, Michigan.
The Ducato chassis - built at Fiat's Sevel in Val di Sangro, Italy and launched back in 2006 is currently utilized in 2 out of every 3 motorhomes and campers manufactured in the UK and Europe. This achievement is akin to Provost's dominance of the heavy duty coach market in North America.
The Ducato platform, designed and developed in conjunction with a number of specialist European coachbuilders, includes a reinforced chassis that comes in four wheelbases, 5 lengths and over 200 versions.
There are a number of factors that make the Ducato platform the top pick amongst European coachbuilders like the vehicle's durable suspension, wide track, and a choice of 3 fuel efficient four-cylinder turbocharged diesel Multijet engines (130hp.148hp and 177hp) coupled to the six-speed, Comfort-Matic gearbox. (an automatic manual transmission).
The Ducato has provided the base platform for a number of excellent European motorhomes in recent years including the British built Auro-Trails Frontier Comanche, a 4-cylinder, 157 bhp unit on an extended Ducato chassis with twin rear axles.
Here's another article on the topic:
Fiat Vans to be Ram vans: Ducato, Doblo, Iveco Daily
Robert
2006 Sportsmobile Sprinter
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My Roadtrek
Tucson, AZ.
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Ducato Specs.
Visit My Roadtrek
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applegater
Oregon
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Last Fiat I rode in burst into flames on the interstate and I lost a briefcase and umbrella, haven't been in one since!
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fordsooperdooty
Southern California
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Jayco has had Motorhomes on the Ducato Chassis for years in Australia! Diesel, compact, terrific mileage and fairly roomy!
My posts shouldn't be taken for factual data. They are purely fictional, for entertainment purposes and should not be constituted as actually related to scientific, technical, engineering, legal, spiritual or practical advice. Amen. 
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RobertRyan
Australia
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FordSooperDuty wrote:Jayco has had Motorhomes on the Ducato Chassis for years in Australia! Diesel, compact, terrific mileage and fairly roomy!
Not just Jayco but everyone else here. They are good as Class B/C's
Sunliner Pinto Class B
AVAN Class C
A 27 ft Class C with slideout from Sunliner
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My Roadtrek
Tucson, AZ.
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Those are all Class C"s. How about posting some Class B"s since this is the Class B forum.
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RobertRyan
Australia
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My Roadtrek wrote:Those are all Class C"s. How about posting some Class B"s since this is the Class B forum
Trakka Torino
Interior
* This post was
edited 01/26/12 02:36am by RobertRyan *
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RobertRyan
Australia
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McK
Arkansas
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RobertRyan: Thanks for the B photos. Very interesting design philosophy as compared to US builders.
Here's a rear bed model from the same manufacturer: Trakka Torino Xtra
And a four person sleeper: Trakka Jabiru
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RobertRyan
Australia
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A Few More Local B's built on the Ducato
Winnebago Escape.
Sunliner Vista
* This post was
edited 01/28/12 10:32pm by RobertRyan *
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