[staff]

Chrysler to fight Ford compact van with Fiat Doblo


Ford Transit Connect Forum - Chrysler Group's new Ram brand will sell a version of the new Fiat Doblo compact van in the United States.

The Fiat-sourced Ram van will go up against Ford Motor Co.'s Transit Connect, which Ford started selling in the U.S. in July.

Chrysler is separating the Ram pickup range from the Dodge brand and adding Ram-badged vans.

The Doblo will join a large Fiat-based van to be sold in the U.S. by the new Ram truck brand, along with a restyled chassis cab model and light and heavy duty Ram vehicles.

With the new range, Chrysler expects to boost Ram sales to 415,000 by 2014, up from 280,000 in 2010.

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[madlock]

Bah!

This was announced during Marchione's 8-hour extravaganza detailing the FIATization of Chrysler.

Apart from being uglier than sin, the Doblo's a decided "also ran" in the EU. With the Transit Connect having a full 2-year head-start in defining the segment with a vehicle that's already in its 3rd iteration of refinement, the Doblo won't have a chance, especially once the TC has insinuated itself into North American fleets and Ford develops some sort of local production capability. The Doblo just won't be able to compete. It's going to be the ugly girl at the dance, who's arrived 2 years after everyone went home.

It will be very interesting, however, to see what, if any, response the market has to the Doblo. I personally just don't see it. The Transit Connect "looks the part". It's relevantly-styled and something people can immediately identify for what it is and how they can use it. On the other hand, the Doblo looks like a Multipla got sandwiched between a Mini Clubman and Nissan Cube, with no survivors. All of the aesthetic passion behind Alfa must be directly transfused from every FIAT vehicle (save the 500).

With 2 years of market segment exclusivity, I just can't see the Transit Connect being challenged by a square peg being offered by wounded duck, especially given the fact that it's become so fashionable to own a Ford nowadays.

[PetrosA]

I can possibly see the Fiat doing better than the Ford among families, but not for work vans. The French have some nice trucks, as does VW, but I don't think we'll be seeing them here any time soon.

[madlock]

PetrosA, on 18 November 2009 - 10:21 PM, said:

I can possibly see the Fiat doing better than the Ford among families, but not for work vans. The French have some nice trucks, as does VW, but I don't think we'll be seeing them here any time soon.

About the only real shot FIAT may have with the Doblo for fleet success is if they happen to pursue aggressively the small diesel market that everyone else is overlooking.

On the other hand, it's far more passenger-friendly than the TC, something that's reflected in the Doblo having sold 1M examples to the TC's 600K, (although the Doblo's had a 2-3 year headstart). It's interior is derived from the Punto, and they've gone the extra step of including a 3rd passenger row to make it a true 7-8 seater, something the TC just isn't and won't be. Getting hold of an extra 2-seat bench to stick in the back of the TC would be a real boon for its passenger-carrying credentials; but in truth, Ford already serves that market with the C-Max and Grand C-Max (which is also coming to America soon).