Fiat Auto has taken the wraps off its new Fiat Ducato at the Madrid International Motor Show, (25th May – 6th June 2006), and has also revealed the Truckster, a concept which takes the new Ducato to extremes, and demonstrates just how flexible the Ducato is for converters.

The Truckster is generously proportioned – 6.48 metres long, 2.55 metres high and 2.49 metres wide – and has a modern, exuberant style which accentuates the concept of sporting performance applied to a commercial vehicle. The Truckster features 28 inch wheels, LED headlights, hydraulically controlled gullwing doors, smoked glass windows and an aerodynamic spoiler. The interior has also been given the same sporty feel, emphasising its ‘road racer’ personality.

Developed by the Fiat Style Centre in collaboration with Bosch SpA, Behr GmbH, SEWS CABIND SpA (Sumitomo Group) and Denso Thermal System SpA, this concept vehicle has a large range of possible uses: purely as a show exhibit, as an ‘adventure’ vehicle for transporting race cars or motorbikes, or even as a mobile catwalk for fashion shows.

This capacity for transformation has always been a feature of the Ducato, the camper van version of which is amongst the leaders in its field, with two out of three campers in Europe built on a Ducato chassis, all thanks to the technical characteristics of a vehicle designed for body converters.

The new Ducato takes over from its forerunner of 25 years’ standing – a model with sales of over 1.7 million since 1981.

Australian availability of the new Ducato will be announced later in the year. With the new Ford Transit and the outstanding Volkswagen Crafter expected in Australia in early 2007, there is little doubt that Fiat will feel some pressure in 2007!

Fiat Truckster Concept Truck

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