The Fiat Ducato van range has proven to be a success in Australia, with sales up 62 per cent so far this year and 80 per cent in October alone, and Fiat plan to build on this success in the large van sector with the addition a new short wheelbase version (SWB) of the Fiat Ducato which, at a recommended retail price of just $35,990, makes Ducato more affordable than ever before and takes it into a whole sector of the market.

"The new short wheelbase Ducato retains everything that has made Ducato a success and delivers it in a new smaller, more affordable size," says Chris Swann, General Manager for Fiat Commercial Vehicles in Australia. "This means it is comfortable, fully equipped, easy to drive, quick to load, economical and very durable. The new 2.3 litre JTD Turbo diesel suits this size of vehicle perfectly, with the ideal blend of performance and economy that this market sector demands. The new Ducato SWB delivers the goods, both to customers and the company accountant."

The key figures for the Ducato - 2.3 litre 81 kW advanced turbo diesel engine, a 1.5 tonne payload and 6.7 cubic metres of space accessible through rear barn doors and side sliding doors on BOTH sides - indicate that the new Ducato SWB clearly starts of ahead of the pack.

But this is just part of the story. First of all, it is very well equipped, boasting an interior clearly designed for work and all the features required on the road, such as air conditioning, remote central locking for both load area and passenger doors, Radio/CD player, electric remote control door mirrors, twin mirrors on both sides for extra safety and a driver's air bag. Secondly the drivetrain is much more than the advanced turbo diesel engine. The Ducato has a chassis that makes the Ducato comfortable and easy to drive, regardless of the load in the back. This reduces driver fatigue, boosts safety and improves productivity.

The arrival of the new Ducato SWB expands the Fiat Ducato range to include three vans, the new SWB with a 6.7 cubic metre load area, the medium van with 8.1 cubic metres and the high roof, long wheel base with 12 cubic metres of load space. All vans have a 1.5 tonne payload, adding to their flexibility and versatility. The medium and high roof vans, as befits their larger size, are powered by the 2.8 litre 93.5 kW JTD engine. In addition, there is a range of cab chassis versions of the Ducato, available to special order, and the High Roof/Long Wheel Base Ducato is also available fully glazed for motor home and minibus conversions.

"The Fiat Ducato now offers versions and variants to cover the vast majority of light commercial applications and it is priced and equipped to beat its rivals," says Chris Swann. "I am sure there can be little doubt that the outstanding success that the Ducato has already enjoyed in Australia is just the beginning and the new Ducato SWB will take our sales to new levels!"

Peugeot Welcomes UK Bio-Fuel Iniative
13th November, 2005
Peugeot is keen to make customers aware that their HDi diesel cars are already capable of operating on this environmentally friendly fuel ..... more

Ford Drives UK Transport Secretary
13th November, 2005
The Ford Focus Flex Fuel Vehicle was the UK's Transport Secretary's chosen car to travel to the Environment Friendly Vehicle Conference, ..... more

UK Requires 5% Renewable Fuel By 2010
13th November, 2005
The UK's Transport Secretary has announced new measures to make transport fuels 'greener' by requiring 5% of all fuel sold on UK forecourts to come from a renewable source by 2010 ..... more

UK Crackdown On The Uninsured
11th November, 2005
In the UK, tough new enforcement action to crackdown on uninsured drivers has been unveiled. From yesterday, police forces across the UK can use automatic number plate recognition cameras to spot and ultimately seize and destroy cars being driven without insurance ..... more

Audi: Sweaty Overalls Off, Italian Fashion On
11th November, 2005
Following a gruelling season of the German Touring Car Masters series (DTM), Audi drivers swapped their sweaty racing overalls for renowned Italian fashion label, René Lezard ..... more

Award For Fiat Punto Grande
11th November, 2005
The Fiat Punto Grande has won a “2005 Golden Steering Wheel”, one of Germany’s most prestigious automotive prizes ..... more

Duke of York Visits Bentley Motors
11th November, 2005
Bentley Motors welcomed HRH Duke of York to their factory yesterday, in his capacity as Special Representative for UK Trade and Investment ..... more

Mitsubishi Upgrades Outlander & Pajero
11th November, 2005
Two of Mitsubishi’s popular models – Outlander and Pajero – have received upgrades to enhance their popularity ..... more

Europe's VW Touareg W12 Sport Edition
10th November, 2005
A sporting look and dynamic performance with outstanding comfort. The Touareg W12 Sport Edition with an extensive package of equipment is available now in Europe ..... more

Mazda Roadster Wins Japan Car of The Year
9th November, 2005
Mazda announced today that the Mazda Roadster, known as the MX-5 in overseas markets, has won the Japan Car of the Year Award for 2005-2006 ..... more

Twenty Four Million Golfs
9th November, 2005
The world’s 24 millionth Golf was produced yesterday at Volkswagen in Wolfsburg. The anniversary model is a 2.0 litre TDI, 103 kW Golf Comfortline in tornado red ..... more

Fiat and Ford Sign Small Cars Agreement
8th November, 2005
Fiat and Ford announced yesterday that they have signed a definitive agreement to cooperate on the joint development and production of vehicles in the European small car (sub-B) segment ..... more

Mitsubishi 380 ‘On Track’
7th November, 2005
Mitsubishi’s all-new 380 sedan is ‘on track’ after its release at Sydney's Motor Show. Although it was only a couple of weeks since the car’s release 2,186 cars have been wholesaled in that time ..... more

Holden Barina Ushers in New Era
7th November, 2005
Holden is set to shift the balance in Australia ’s light car market with a new Barina starting below $13,000 with air conditioning as standard ..... more

Volkswagen California and California 4MOTION
7th November, 2005
The Volkswagen California has been synonymous with freedom and leisure since the late fifties. Many other car manufacturers have tried to copy the original, but none have succeeded in capturing the true essence of the ‘VW Bus’, nor its derivative, the all inclusive, kitchen sink as standard, Volkswagen Camper ..... more

Volkswagen Kombi Beach
7th November, 2005
Volkswagen’s new Kombi Beach will strike a familiar note with Volkswagen enthusiasts. This four-seater, based on Volkswagen’s T5 Multivan, quickly converts to a day-trip or overnight camper ..... more

Volkswagen Caddy Life + Weekender Package
7th November, 2005
Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles is presenting a new concept in leisure travel - the Weekender Package ..... more

Industry Gears Up For End Of Year Sales Push
6th November, 2005
Australian motor vehicle sales dropped slightly in October, interrupting a run of record monthly results that have pushed the market to new heights this year ..... more

Peugeot’s Carbon Sink in the Amazon Forest
5th November, 2005
The CEO of PSA and the Director of France’s Office National des Forêts (ONF), traveled to the São Nicolau tree farm in Brazil for a review of their experimental carbon sink project ..... more

The Last Rover
5th November, 2005
The British Motor Industry Heritage Trust has discovered the mystery surrounding the very last car built at the MG Rover Longbridge plant in Birmingham ..... more

China Will Be World's No.1
5th November, 2005
Dr. Feng Fei, an economist at the Development Research Centre of China’s State Council, has forecast that China will become the world's largest vehicle manufacturer by 2020 ..... more

Volkswagen At SEMA 2005
4th November, 2005
Volkswagen of America Inc. has hosted its first display in the 42-year history of the Specialty Equipment Market Association’s (SEMA) annual exhibition ..... more

2006 Fiat Punto Grande
3rd November, 2005
Fiat has long been renowned for lifting small cars above the mundane, turning basic transport into something special, into virtual works of art ..... more

GM Moves to Speed Pontiac Solstice Production
3rd November, 2005
General Motors has announced that it plans to add a third shift at its Wilmington, Delaware (USA), car assembly plant which currently manufacturers the Pontiac Solstice roadster ..... more

Mitsubishi 380 Most Secure Local Car
3rd November, 2005
Mitsubishi’s all-new large car, the 380, has been announced as the most secure locally manufactured car by NRMA Insurance in its 2005 Car Theft Ratings just released ..... more

Sales of Daewoo-Sourced Vehicles Rise 41%
2nd November, 2005
GM Daewoo Auto & Technology (GM Daewoo) announced yesterday that 112,631 of the Incheon-based car maker's vehicles were sold globally in October ..... more

Hummer To Sponsor Team Dakar USA
2nd November, 2005
Hummer and Robby Gordon Motorsports have joined together to take on the Dakar Rally, widely considered to be the most grueling off-road race in the world ..... more

GM'S 2005 SEMA Showcase
2nd November, 2005
GM will make a big impact at this year's Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show, proving that with the right combination of technology, great products and accessories, it's possible to pack performance, style and fuel economy into one exciting package ..... more

Europe's New SEAT Leon 2.0 TFSI
1st November, 2005
SEAT is bolstering its reputation for offering attainable performance cars with the European launch of the new Leon 2.0 TFSI ..... more

Fiat Croma Gets Euro NCAP 5-Star Rating
1st November, 2005
The Fiat Croma has been awarded the maximum five-star rating in the European New Car Assessment Programme crash safety ..... more

Alfa Romeo 159 Arrives Mid-2006
1st November, 2005
Due to arrive in Australia next year, the Alfa Romeo 159 is the latest in a long line of cars produced by Alfa Romeo that have stirred the soul ..... more

Bentley Celebrates The Blue Train Race
1st November, 2005
Some 75 years since the adventurer and Le Mans winner Woolf Barnato raced and beat the famous Blue Train on its journey across France ..... more

VW Touareg Tow Ball Down Weight Now 350kg
31st October, 2005
Volkswagen has now increased the tow ball down weight of the Touareg from 140 kilogrammes to 350 kilogrammes ..... more

Ferrari Completes 25,000 km Tour Of China
31st October, 2005
Ferrari has completed its 25,000 km tour of China, taking two Ferrari 612 Scagliettis to places that rarely see a car ..... more

Smart Signs Up For Mitsubishi Engine
30th October, 2005
Mitsubishi and Smart have signed an agreement on engine supply ..... more

Volkswagen EcoRacer Concept Car
28th October, 2005
Its basic data: average fuel consumption of 3.4 litres per 100 km, a top speed of 230 km/h. Its name: EcoRacer ..... more

Škoda Sales Success
28th October, 2005
Škoda continues its positive sales trend. A total of 369,652 customers bought Škoda Fabia, Octavia and Superb cars over the first nine months of 2005 ..... more

GM's Global Growth Continues
27th October, 2005
General Motors reported calendar year-to-date sales (January - September) of 7,066,774 vehicles around the world – a 3.7 percent increase over 2004 ..... more

4MOTION For New Volkswagen Passat
27th October, 2005
The new generation Passat can now be ordered with permanent 4MOTION four-wheel drive in Europe ..... more

GM Opens Russian R&D Science Office
26th October, 2005
General Motors will open a new R&D science office in Moscow in order to leverage Russian science institutes and universities on a broad array of technologies ..... more

Mastering Germany's Nurburgring In An MX-5
26th October, 2005
Mazda developers fine-tuned the new Mazda MX-5’s chassis systems at Germany’s legendary Nürburgring Nordschleife, pushing components like brakes, tyres and dampers to their limits ..... more

Volkswagen Multivan Business
26th October, 2005
The Volkswagen Multivan Business, now available to order, made its Australian debut at Sydney's 2005 Australian International Motor Show ..... more

Caterham Dominates Monte Carlo 2005
26th October, 2005
One of the ultimate tests of endurance and reliability, the Monte Carlo Sports Car Challenge, has been dominated by the legendary Caterham Seven ..... more

Scottish Sports Car Of The Year
24th October, 2005
The Association of Scottish Motoring Writers has voted the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX as Sports Car of the Year 2005 ..... more

Volkswagen's Latest Hot Hatch
21st October, 2005
Volkswagen Group Australia introduces the latest "Hot Hatch" to the Volkswagen range and confirms that Australia will be the first country in the world to sell the new Polo GTI ..... more

New Volkswagen Polo
21st October, 2005
The new generation Volkswagen Polo has received a fresh and dynamic re-design, reflecting a more modern appearance and building upon the Polo’s vivacious and unique shape ..... more

Audi Shooting Brake Concept For Tokyo
20th October, 2005
An Audi sports car of the future may possibly have just started the journey from drawing board to driveway in the shape of the Audi Shooting Brake Concept, a convention-challenging, technology-laden design study destined for the 2005 Tokyo Motor Show ..... more

Volkswagen Wins Grand Challenge 2005
20th October, 2005
Volkswagen won the American Grand Challenge 2005 with a Touareg TDI ..... more

Mazda at the 39th Tokyo Motor Show
20th October, 2005
Mazda Motor Corporation will showcase the world premiere of the Mazda SENKU concept vehicle, as well as the Japanese debut of the Mazda MX-Crossport concept ..... more

Citroen DS Is 50 Years Young
19th October, 2005
Classic car enthusiasts were blowing out the candles last weekend at a special party to celebrate the 50th birthday of one of the world’s most famous cars, the iconic Citroën DS ..... more

The New Audi S8
19th October, 2005
Distinct sports appeal and supreme comfort – these are the two defining characteristics of the Audi A8. At the time of its market launch three years ago, this large saloon shot straight to the top of the luxury segment thanks to its dynamic qualities. The brand with the four-ring emblem is now unveiling a sporty top model of the very highest calibre in the luxury segment: the new Audi S8 ..... more

Japan's Mazda RX-8 'Sport Prestige Limited II'
19th October, 2005
Mazda Motor Corporation has announced the launch of two upgraded versions of its RX-8 sports car in the Japanese market ..... more

Start Of Building For New Porsche Museum
19th October, 2005
With the installation of an unusual construction site sign, Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, Stuttgart, started construction of its new museum ..... more

Toyota Infringement Of Antonov Patents Update
19th October, 2005
Update: The case received its preliminary hearing on 22nd September 2005 having previously been postponed by the company to allow further negotiations with Toyota ..... more

Avanti Takes A Big Step With New V-6
18th October, 2005
Georgia (USA) based independent car maker, Avanti Motor Corporation, is introducing the first Avanti built with a 210 horsepower V-6 engine ..... more

FPV Shifts into Top Gear with New BF Range
18th October, 2005
Ford Performance Vehicles unveiled its bold new range of high-performance vehicles at Sydney's 2005 Australian International Motor Show ..... more

Alfa Romeo Brera at Sydney's Motor Show
18th October, 2005
Alfa Romeo has provided a preview of the Alfa Romeo Brera, at Sydney's 2005 Australian International Motor Show ..... more

New VW Jetta Visits Sydney's Motor Show
17th October, 2005
The new Volkswagen Jetta has just been launched in Europe. Jetta is a sporty but elegant compact sedan and will be a great value proposition, suiting the Australian market ..... more

New Focus XR5 Turbo to Join Ford Line Up
17th October, 2005
Ford has revealed its latest performance vehicle – the five cylinder Focus XR5 Turbo, equipped with a six-speed manual gearbox ..... more

New Baby quattro for Audi
16th October, 2005
The 2005 Australian International Motor Show (AIMS) marks the local introduction of Audi's smallest quattro model – the A3 Sportback 2.0 TFSI quattro ..... more

S3X From Daewoo For Holden
16th October, 2005
Holden is showing the striking S3X concept SUV at Sydney's Australian International Motor Show, as the preview for a Daewoo-sourced seven-seater Holden destined for Australia next year ..... more

Mazda's Diesel Car Push
16th October, 2005
Mazda announced at the Australian International Motor Show, in Sydney, that they plan to launch a diesel Mazda 6 next year ..... more

Nissan Previews 2006 350Z Roadster in Sydney
14th October, 2005
Nissan's iconic 36-year-old flagship sports car, the 350Z, goes on show at the Australian Motor Show with new features ..... more

New Peugeot 307 Debuts In Sydney
14th October, 2005
A new look and new features for the new Peugeot 307, which has been launched at the 2005 Australian International Motor Show ..... more

Mitsubishi's Completely New Look for Motor Show
14th October, 2005
Mitsubishi Motors’ stand has a completely new look for this year’s 2005 Australian International Motor Show, and it is not only due to the newly released and exciting Mitsubishi 380 ..... more

New Volkswagen Beetle Face Lift and TDI
14th October, 2005
The New Beetle receives a subtle re-styling in both the hardtop and the cabriolet models for summer. In addition New Beetle also receives the option of a TDI (diesel) engine for the first time ..... more

The New Volkswagen Caddy Life
14th October, 2005
With up to seven seats and two sliding doors, the Volkswagen Caddy Life opens up a whole new world of practical and exciting people moving innovation in the compact van class ..... more

Holden's Wild Hot Rod Brings FJ Back to Life
13th October, 2005
A wild 21st Century hot rod reinventing one of Australia ’s most famous cars, the FJ Holden, was unveiled today at the Australian International Motor Show in Sydney ..... more

New Audi A4 2.0 TDI Now Available
13th October, 2005
The 2005 Australian International Motor Show will mark the Australian launch of Audi's latest hi-tech turbo diesel engine for the best-selling A4 ..... more

New Audi S4 Makes Its Australian Premiere
13th October, 2005
Audi's new S4 will be unveiled for the first time in Australia at the Australian International Motor Show, ahead of its mid-November 2005 launch ..... more

New Volkswagen Polo GTI To Debut In Tokyo
12th October, 2005
VW will introduce the Polo GTI during a world premiere at the Tokyo Motor Show next week. With 110 kW/150 hp it is the strongest Polo since the series was first introduced 30 years ago ..... more

Historical Brazilian Truck's Driving Odyssey
12th October, 2005
An intrepid group of eight passionate Brazilian adventurers traveled nearly 19,312 kms (12,000 miles), crossing two continents, eleven countries and the Amazon River ..... more

Maserati Quattroporte GTs For Sydney
12th October, 2005
Maserati has announced that two new versions of the Maserati Quattroporte, the Sport GT and the Executive GT, will be displayed at Sydney's Motor Show ..... more

New World Blind Land Speed Record
12th October, 2005
England's Mike Newman and his Speed of Sight team have rewritten the Guinness Book of World Records, again! ..... more

Mitsubishi Grandis Gets Luxury Treatment
12th October, 2005
Mitsubishi’s Grandis people-mover has had a luxury make-over as part of a model upgrade, and now offers even better value for money in its new guise ..... more

Suzuki Jimny Receives Minor Upgrade
11th October, 2005
Suzuki’s popular 4WD, the Jimny JLX, will receive a minor upgrade, further enhancing the vehicle's appearance ..... more

Aston Martin wins 2005 Luxury Briefing Award
11th October, 2005
Aston Martin was recognised in the annual Luxury Briefing Awards with the 2005 ‘Award for Excellence’ in the luxury arena ..... more

Porsche Secures Stake In Volkswagen
11th October, 2005
After already purchasing 10.26 per cent of VW’s common stock, Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, Stuttgart, has now secured another 8.27 per cent of the common stock of Volkswagen AG ..... more

Record Month As Small Car Sales Boom
10th October, 2005
The Australian motor vehicle market continues to head towards a new annual record, driven by a big increase in demand for smaller cars and light trucks ..... more

Mitsubishi Announce 380 Pricing
10th October, 2005
MMAL has announced the pricing for its new 380 range, and to compliment the stylish 380’s extensive range of features and industry leading 5/10 warranty, Mitsubishi is adding another industry first to the 380 range – the provision of 5 years' roadside assistance as standard with all 380 models ..... more

Viva is Holden's Big News
10th October, 2005
Holden has launched Viva – a new nameplate, for the Holden brand ..... more

America's Avanti For 2006
10th October, 2005
The legendary and resilient Avanti Motors will make its mark this month with the redefined and redesigned coupe and convertible models ..... more

Subaru and GM Walk Away From Each Other
7th October, 2005
Fuji Heavy Industries, the maker of Subaru cars, released its plan of their alliance changes ..... more

Peugeot at Sydney's Motor Show
6th October, 2005
The 2005 Australian International Motor Show will prove to be one of the biggest ever shows for the Peugeot brand in Australia ..... more