Fiat Ducato
The Fiat Ducato is a light commercial vehicle jointly developed by FCA Italy and PSA Group, and mainly manufactured by Sevel, a joint venture between the two companies since 1981. It has also been sold as the Citroën C25, Peugeot J5, Alfa Romeo AR6, Talbot Express, and later as the Fiat Ducato, Citroën Jumper, and Peugeot Boxer, from 1994 onwards. It entered the North American market as the Ram ProMaster in May 2014 as a 2014 model.
In Europe, it is produced at the Sevel Sud factory, in Atessa, Italy. It has also been produced at the Iveco factory in Sete Lagoas, Brazil, at the Karsan factory in Akçalar, Turkey, at the Fiat Chrysler Automobiles Saltillo Van Assembly Plant in Saltillo, Mexico, and at the Fiat-Sollers factory in Elabuga, Russia. Since 1981, more than 3.5 million Fiat Ducatos have been produced. The name "Ducato" is a reference to the ducat; after the Fiorino, this was the second Fiat light commercial vehicle to be named after ancient coinage.
In July 2019, the electric version of the Ducato developed by FCA Italy was presented, and sales commenced in 2020; a refreshed model debuted for 2024. An electric version for the North American market, the Ram ProMaster EV, was unveiled in early 2024.
In addition to the RAM ProMaster launched in 2014, starting with the 2022 model year, the Ducato has also been rebadged as the Opel/Vauxhall Movano, replacing the previous one, which from 1998 until 2021 had been based on the Renault Master. As well as the Toyota Proace Max from 2023 onwards.
4WD versions are available to order, which are converted by the French company Dangel using a central viscous coupling.
The Ducato is the most common motorhome base used in Europe; with around two-thirds of motorhomes using the Ducato base.
First generation (1981)
The Ducato was first launched in 1981, and was the result of Fiat's collaboration with PSA Peugeot Citroën, that resulted in the vehicle's development starting in 1978. The vehicles were manufactured at the Sevel Val di Sangro plant in Atessa, in central Italy, and at the Sevel Campania plant in Pomigliano d'Arco, Naples, together with the similar Alfa Romeo AR6, Citroën C25, and Peugeot J5 versions. The Peugeot J5 was sold as the Talbot Express in the United Kingdom. The collaboration of Fiat and PSA had earlier produced the Fiat 242 and Citroën C35 from 1974.For the Fiat, engines were 2.0 litre 4-cylinder petrol or 1.9 litre diesel. Trim levels were base, S, and SX. Model variants were named according to carrying capacity: Ducato 10, Ducato 13, Ducato 14, and Ducato Maxi 18. The Ducato Mk1 was very popular as a basis for campervan conversions. Starting in 1990, Fiat offered the campervan manufacturers a platform developed especially for this purpose.
In August 1992, some Fiat Ducatos were built with the T29C electric DC motor from Leroy-Somer, named as the Ducato Elettra powered by 28 six-volt valve regulated lead–acid gel cell batteries, producing 168 volts DC and 160 amperes, in a wooden box weighing 868 kg. This 4765 × 1965 × 2100 mm transporter had a vehicle payload of 750 kg and a range up to 70 kilometers.
Fiat Talento
The Fiat Talento is a light commercial vehicle produced by the Italian automaker Fiat, first sold in 1981 as a short-wheelbase version of the Ducato. In 1994, the first generation Talento was discontinued.It has been offered in two non-consecutive generations, as the nameplate made its return as a rebadged Renault Trafic in 2016. The name continues Fiat's practice of naming their commercial vehicles after old currencies, with "talento" referring to the talent, a unit of measurement often used for precious metals.
Alfa Romeo AR6
The Alfa Romeo AR6 was a badge-engineered Ducato sold by Alfa Romeo on the Italian market only, as a replacement for the Alfa Romeo Romeo. It was available in two different wheelbase lengths, and as a passenger van, commercial van, or pick-up truck. It was also the final commercial vehicle sold by Alfa Romeo. The Alfa Romeo AR6 was produced in the Sevel Campania plant of Pomigliano d'Arco, Naples, until 1 January 1986, when Alfa Romeo dropped out of the commercial vehicle business entirely. Production of the Fiat Ducato continued in the same plant until 1994 when it was closed.Citroën C25
The Citroën C25 was a 2.5 tonne capacity van produced from October 1981 until 1993. The C25 succeeded the dated corrugated Citroën Type H post war one tonne van. The C25's engines are transversely mounted; the petrol one is a Peugeot 504 unit whilst the diesel one is from the Citroën CX diesel. Both units are coupled to a Citroën gearbox.In February 1982, the range was extended to include a pick-up truck and a minibus. In 1991, the C25 series 2 was launched with an enlarged grille. In 1994, the C25 was replaced by the Jumper.
Peugeot J5
The Peugeot J5 was a 2.5 tonne capacity van, also produced from October 1981 until 1993. Its powertrains are as per the Citroën C25. In 1991, the J5 series 2 was launched with a new front grille and headlights. It was replaced in 1994 by the Peugeot Boxer, which was based on the second generation Fiat Ducato.It sold reasonably well in France but enjoyed little commercial success outside France, being overshadowed in much of Europe by the Fiat Ducato, which was supported by stronger commercial vehicle dealership networks in key markets.
Talbot Express
The Talbot Express van, sold solely in the United Kingdom, was the last Talbot-badged motor vehicle to be produced, quietly succeeding the outdated Dodge Spacevan modeline. Production of this badge-engineered version for the United Kingdom began in 1982 and continued until 1994, nearly eight years after the last Talbot badged passenger car had been withdrawn.Its Citroën/Peugeot petrol and diesel engines were transversely mounted driving the front wheels. A 4×4 option was also available, although is now very rare today.
In 1991, the series 2 Express was launched with an enlarged grille. Production was discontinued in 1994, when Peugeot finally discarded the Talbot marque.
This van was popular in the United Kingdom, for new conversions to camper vans or motorhomes by coach builders. Provided they are well-maintained and not too rusty, they can still command prices of many thousands of pounds even though they are over thirty years old. This is in marked contrast to the values of the commercial van versions.
Engines
Second generation (1993)
The second-generation Ducato arrived in 1993 and was still produced by Sevel. Peugeot changed the name from J5 to Boxer while Citroën rebranded the C25 as Jumper. One engine option was a Fiat 2.5 L diesel, which was replaced with 2.8 L Iveco/Sofim engine in 1998.The Ducato Goods Transport has a payload of 12 m3 and comes with a choice of four engines: the 2.0 petrol, 2.0 JTD, 2.3 JTD 16V, or 2.8 JTD. All of these conformed to the Euro 3 standards and offered programmed maintenance management. The range included two types of gearbox: a mechanical box with a five-speed manual plus reverse and an automatic transmission with four speeds plus reverse.
The Ducato Passenger Transport has a carrying capacity of six to nine people and comes with the 2.3 litre JTD 16v engine, which again is Euro 3 compliant and delivers 110 bhp.
The Ducato Combi is a mixture of the Goods Transport and the Passenger Transport. It is ideal for the transport of people and goods alike, and it can accommodate up to nine occupants. Model designations were Ducato 10, Ducato 14, and Ducato Maxi 18.
2002 facelift
The second series was restyled in February 2002, with the addition of rear and side bump mouldings and revised front grille. The engine range was: 2.0 JTD, 2.3 JTD 16v and 2.8 JTD, 2.5 diesel was dropped. Model designations were changed to reflect maximum gross weight: Ducato 29, Ducato 30, Ducato 33 and Ducato Maxi 35.On 15 December 2005, the three-millionth vehicle was produced, which resulted in the rate of production increasing to nine vehicles per day. This generation was also produced at the Fiat Auto Poland Tychy plant in complete knock down, at the Iveco plant in Sete Lagoas, at the Karsan plant in Alkaçar, Turkey, since 2000, and since 2006 in Elabuga, Russia.
The Ducato, Jumper, and Boxer were also produced in Brazil until December 2016.
Engines
1993–1999
Only for Fiat DucatoOnly for Citroën Jumper and Peugeot Boxer
2000–2001
Only for Citroën Jumper and Peugeot BoxerOnly for Fiat Ducato
2002–2006
Only for Citroën Jumper and Peugeot BoxerOnly for Fiat Ducato