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FIAT'S GOT IT ALL IN THE VAN
00:00 16 Jun 1994
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Fiat is on a roll in the UK with light commercial vehicle sales up
23% in a market that actually declined 4% in 1992 - which is pretty
small beer when you remember that Fiat is Europe's fourth largest
industrial company.
The group comprises 1,046 companies employing 300,000 people in 65 countries and builds diverse and sometimes interesting products like aeroplanes, railway systems, construction equipment, in conjunction with Hitachi, and motorcars - like Ferrari.
The way I figure it, there are only 147 more vehicles to road test before I get my hands on an F40! Over 22,000 Fiorinos have been sold in the UK since its original launch in 1978 and last year the little van took 1.33% of the market, more than doubling its previous year's volume, and the company is planning a 50% increase for this year.
Significant changes include an almost rectangular box body with 3.2m3 capacity, or 20% increase in space and 620kg payload. The body is now designed so that a standard Europallet can go through the doors and be positioned between the wheel arches. The increased space and payload is achieved by adding 210mm to both floorplan and wheelbase and 160mm between the wheel arches.
A new optional feature that will appeal to builders and the like is a lift up flap in the rear roof section. When open, loads that are longer than the body can protrude through the roof rather than carried with the rear doors tied across the load with rope.
The press release says that spreading the wheelbase has evened the load out on both axles. It is quite frightening when you drive the empty vehicle for the first time. The steering is both heavy and indirect and the thought is, if it's like this empty, it will be ten time worse manoeuvring with a load. Not true.
Contrary to all expectations, it seems to work the opposite way round, the heavier the load, the lighter and more responsive the tiller becomes.
The front end has been based around the Fiat Uno since 1988 and uses the very willing 1.7 litre naturally aspirated diesel giving out 42.75kW at 4,600rpm. The power unit conforms to the EEC emission requirements for light commercial vehicles, due to become law on 1 October this year. The power pack is married to a five-speed gearbox and smooth lightweight clutch, all of which makes city stop/start progress very easy. At motorway speeds with a full load, the noise levels are surprisingly low; near empty they remain bearable.
Being car derived, the Fiorino cabin is pretty much Uno-like inside.
There is a new dash panel with easier to read gauges, better placed switches and knobs, a decent steering wheel and, most importantly, a heater that heats. Separating the load from the people is a reassuringly solid half height steel bulkhead, topped off with a mesh panel, which still leaves enough room to push the seat back for taller than average drivers.
On the road and one third loaded, the Fiorino has no problem keeping station in the average traffic flows and out on the motorways, 70mph is an easily maintained lope. A pallet of lightweight breeze blocks, which weighed in just over the maximum payload, did nothing to dampen the Fiorino's willingness.
It took longer to build up to the desired speed, but once there it hung on. Neither cross, nor head winds have any adverse effect on handling whether empty or loaded. If Fiat can build small vans as good as this, I can't wait to get my hands on that Ferrari.
Details: enter 800 on card
A Wheelbase 2,581
B Overall Length 4,159
C Overall Height 1,915
D Overall Width
(exc mirrors) 1,622
E Front overhang 714
F Rear overhang 864
G Front track 1,322
H Rear track 1,360
J Loading height
(unladen) 507
K Rear aperture height 1,300
L Rear aperture
width - min 1,095
M Loadspace height 1,363
N Loadspace width 1,350
P Loadspace length 1,640
R Width between
wheelboxes 1,090
S Roof flap (optional)
aperture width 978
T Overall height
to top of open roof flap
( optional) 2,168
Load deck area
(floor length x max width) 2.40m2
(28.5 ft2)
Loadspace volume 3.2m3
(113.0 ft3)
The group comprises 1,046 companies employing 300,000 people in 65 countries and builds diverse and sometimes interesting products like aeroplanes, railway systems, construction equipment, in conjunction with Hitachi, and motorcars - like Ferrari.
The way I figure it, there are only 147 more vehicles to road test before I get my hands on an F40! Over 22,000 Fiorinos have been sold in the UK since its original launch in 1978 and last year the little van took 1.33% of the market, more than doubling its previous year's volume, and the company is planning a 50% increase for this year.
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Significant changes include an almost rectangular box body with 3.2m3 capacity, or 20% increase in space and 620kg payload. The body is now designed so that a standard Europallet can go through the doors and be positioned between the wheel arches. The increased space and payload is achieved by adding 210mm to both floorplan and wheelbase and 160mm between the wheel arches.
A new optional feature that will appeal to builders and the like is a lift up flap in the rear roof section. When open, loads that are longer than the body can protrude through the roof rather than carried with the rear doors tied across the load with rope.
The press release says that spreading the wheelbase has evened the load out on both axles. It is quite frightening when you drive the empty vehicle for the first time. The steering is both heavy and indirect and the thought is, if it's like this empty, it will be ten time worse manoeuvring with a load. Not true.
Contrary to all expectations, it seems to work the opposite way round, the heavier the load, the lighter and more responsive the tiller becomes.
The front end has been based around the Fiat Uno since 1988 and uses the very willing 1.7 litre naturally aspirated diesel giving out 42.75kW at 4,600rpm. The power unit conforms to the EEC emission requirements for light commercial vehicles, due to become law on 1 October this year. The power pack is married to a five-speed gearbox and smooth lightweight clutch, all of which makes city stop/start progress very easy. At motorway speeds with a full load, the noise levels are surprisingly low; near empty they remain bearable.
Being car derived, the Fiorino cabin is pretty much Uno-like inside.
There is a new dash panel with easier to read gauges, better placed switches and knobs, a decent steering wheel and, most importantly, a heater that heats. Separating the load from the people is a reassuringly solid half height steel bulkhead, topped off with a mesh panel, which still leaves enough room to push the seat back for taller than average drivers.
On the road and one third loaded, the Fiorino has no problem keeping station in the average traffic flows and out on the motorways, 70mph is an easily maintained lope. A pallet of lightweight breeze blocks, which weighed in just over the maximum payload, did nothing to dampen the Fiorino's willingness.
It took longer to build up to the desired speed, but once there it hung on. Neither cross, nor head winds have any adverse effect on handling whether empty or loaded. If Fiat can build small vans as good as this, I can't wait to get my hands on that Ferrari.
Details: enter 800 on card
A Wheelbase 2,581
B Overall Length 4,159
C Overall Height 1,915
D Overall Width
(exc mirrors) 1,622
E Front overhang 714
F Rear overhang 864
G Front track 1,322
H Rear track 1,360
J Loading height
(unladen) 507
K Rear aperture height 1,300
L Rear aperture
width - min 1,095
M Loadspace height 1,363
N Loadspace width 1,350
P Loadspace length 1,640
R Width between
wheelboxes 1,090
S Roof flap (optional)
aperture width 978
T Overall height
to top of open roof flap
( optional) 2,168
Load deck area
(floor length x max width) 2.40m2
(28.5 ft2)
Loadspace volume 3.2m3
(113.0 ft3)
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