Fiat Professional’s award-winning range has just scooped two more important accolades with its versatile Fiorino being named Best City Van and the recently introduced Doblò Work Up winning the Best Small Pick-Up award in the 2013 Trade Van Driver (TVD) Awards.
Both models beat off strong competition in securing victory in the awards, which are judged not only by an expert panel of journalists at the magazine but also by a panel of readers who use light commercial vehicles as part of their businesses.
The TVD Awards aim to give recognition to manufacturers, firms and people who, in the opinion of the judges, offer the very best to retail van buyers.
Trade Van Driver Magazine editor Matthew Eisenegger commented: “Trade Van Driver Magazine prides itself on offering a true reflection of the thoughts and feelings of its readership. Now in their second year, it is great to see some products taking the accolade for a second time, as well as new products scoring a first win. We have also introduced a number of new categories which demonstrate the diversity of interest of our specialist professional trade sector.”
Best City Van – Fiat Fiorino
“The Fiorino is a superb offering for urban-based use, with its tight turning circle, hi-cube rear end and admirable drivability,” said the TVD judges. “This van is also used as the base for the Citroen Nemo and Peugeot Bipper – but underneath it’s a Fiat and the manufacturer deserves the highest praise.”
Popular with businesses and fleets, Fiat Professional’s Fiorino has a generous specification with up to 660 kg payload and 2.5 cubic metres load volume, which may be increased to 2.8 cubic metres in conjunction with the optional, folding passenger seat. Running costs and emissions are kept to an absolute minimum, thanks to Fiat’s latest MultiJet II technology. The 75bhp 1.3-litre MultiJet II diesel has a Combined Cycle fuel consumption figure of 68.9mpg when fitted with the Comfort-matic gearbox.
Economical to run, agile in traffic, easy to park and inexpensive to repair, the Fiat Fiorino occupies a unique position in the small van segment, setting new standards of practicality, refinement and durability in the ultra-compact urban LCV market.
Best Small Pick-Up – Fiat Doblò Work Up
Commenting on the award for Doblò Work Up, the TVD judges said: “In a sector that is fast gathering popularity with builders and other outdoor trades, the Doblò Work-Up offers a rock-solid, quality-built open load area at the back and superb drivability and comfort at the front. It’s a clear winner in our book.”
Fiat Professional’s Doblò Work Up is a ‘dropside’ vehicle with compact external dimensions allowing easy use in urban areas. The external dimensions are not, however, a limit to its performance. The load box is 2.30 m long and 1.82 m wide, with 4.2 m2 of loading area which can accommodate a payload of up to 1,000kg. Additionally, the Bi-Link suspension permits a rear axle load up to 1,450kg.
The Doblò Work Up is the ideal vehicle for agriculture, construction, maintenance or city parks services sectors. It is excellent for the transport of frames and glass and can take, for example, three Euro pallets or 33 boxes of fruit.
Sebastiano Fedrigo, director, Fiat Professional UK, says: “We are delighted to receive these awards from the experts and readers at Trade Van Driver Magazine. Our Fiorino and Doblò ranges have proven to be extremely popular not only with large corporate clients but also with small business users such as plumbers, electricians, carpenters and builders.
“This is the second year in a row that Fiat Professional has secured double success in these awards and provides further endorsement of the quality and strength of the class leading products in the Fiat Professional range.”
Visitors to the CV Show in Birmingham (9-11 April, 2013) will have the opportunity to explore these award-winning vehicles on the Fiat Professional stand which will be exhibiting a Fiat Doblò Work Up 1.6 105 MultiJet, Fiorino Cargo 1.3 75 MultiJet II SX and new Fiorino Crew Van N1 1.3 75 MultiJet II Active along with other models from the range.