2020 Fiat Ducato facelift to try and bolster Europe sales

Fiat Professional has announced a forthcoming mid-generational refresh of its Ducato van. The 2020 update should bolster customer interest and hopefully rescue the plummeting sales in Europe, where the fall amounted to nearly 9% with only 59,981 units sold in 2018 compared to the year before.

The Ducato facelift comes with a revised range of MultiJet 2 diesel engines now compliant with the Euro 6d-TEMP standard. All four engines offer the same 2.3 liters of displacement room and come equipped with turbochargers, but the boost values differ. The entry-level unit produces 120 hp (90 kW) along with 320 Nm (236 lb×ft) of torque and links to a six-speed manual transmission. The second one brings 140 hp (104 kW) along with 350 Nm (258 lb×ft) of torque to the road and comes with a choice between a manual and a nine-speed hydro-mechanical automatic gearbox. The third one promises 160 hp (120 kW) along with 400 Nm (295 lb×ft) of torque and limits itself to the automatic gearbox. Finally, the range-topping diesel engine churns out 180 hp (134 kW) and can be partnered with a manual or automatic transmission. The former limits the maximum torque at 400 Nm / 295 lb×ft, while the latter unlocks the full potential of the engine at 450 Nm / 332 lb×ft.

The van will also ship with the old 3.0-liter methane-based combustion engine good for 136 hp (101 kW) and 350 Nm (258 lb×ft) of torque. Finally, major clients may place an order for a BEV (purely electric) variant of the vehicle. Its power output and battery capacity are not available to the wide public, though.

The 2020 Fiat Ducato remains completely identical to its predecessor in terms of exterior features. Inside, it gets a modern infotainment system with a 7” display, smartphone integration, and a navigation system that factors in the dimensions of the van and avoids roads that are too narrow.

The refreshed series will celebrate its premiere at a special event in Turin, Italy, in early July 2019.

Photos: Fiat Professional