Ducato wins MotorHome Base Vehicle award for third straight year April 24, 2009, 10:20:39 pm Yahoo Message Number: 2530Ducato wins MotorHome Base Vehicle award for third straight year leftleftleftleftleftleftleftleftleftleftleftlefthttps://www.supercrvgroup.com/Check out Gizmag's new site The Mobiler - a guide to all things mobilehttp://www.gizmag.com/New solar technology tests the waters with promises of cheaper energy2025 Sunbeam Tiger electric car conceptThe Airnimal folding bike suitcase that becomes a bike trailerUS$70,000 pedal-powered submarine for two Ducati Desmosedici GP9 carbon fibre frameDucato wins MotorHome Base Vehicle award for third straight year from Holiday Destinations (77 articles)UK Motorhome/RV RentalLow cost hire for UK & Europe Additional discount for 2 weeks +www. LincolnMotorhomeHire.co.ukLazydays RV SupercenterProviding the best value in the RV industry for 33 years!www.lazydays.com/MotorhomesCanadian RV InsuranceFree RV Insurance Quotes in 5 Min. or Less Online! Fast, Free, Easy.Canada. Kanetix.ca/RV-InsuranceElectric Car ConversionGuides Reviewed. Learn How To Convert Your Gas Car To Electric.ElectricCarConversionReviews.comAds by GoogleTrakka Trakkaway 830 is one of the latest motorhomes to be based on the Fiat Ducato base vehicleImage Gallery ( 5 images )April 13, 2009 Boosted by the performance of its six-speed automated manual MTA gearbox, the Fiat Ducato has just taken the coveted Which Motorcaravan Base Vehicle winner's accolade for the third year running. Along with the awards, the success of the design is reflected in the marketplace - two out of every three motorhomes in Europe are built on the Fiat Ducato base and there are more than 400,000 Fiat Ducato motorhomes on the road in Europe alone.Fiat's DucatoFiat's Ducato began life as a commercial vehicle in 1981 and is now in its third generation. It was developed jointly between Citroen, Peugeot and Fiat and is also sold as the Citroën Jumper and the Peugeot Boxer - indeed, all the three trucks come out of the same factories in Italy and Brazil. Long the motorhome market leader in Europe, the Fiat Ducato has also transferred its success to Australia, providing vehicles for the eight Australian motorhome companies Jayco, A'van, Winnebago, Sunliner, Horizon, Suncamper, Paradise Motorhomes and Trakka.The Fiat Ducato base vehicle was designed specifically for the motorhome market and this year's award presented by the UK's Which Motorcaravan magazine recognizes the added benefits offered by Fiat's six-speed automated manual MTA gearbox which it says provides the economy and performance of a manual gearbox and the ease of use of an automatic gearbox. Coupled to the 115.5 kW Fiat Ducato 3.0 litre MultiJet powerplant, judge Michael Le Caplain says "the MTA is the best yet of these automated transmissions, selecting exactly the right gear at exactly the right time and making the most of the 3.0 litre Turbo Diesel engine's prodigious torque."The chassis versions come in a range of lengths and heights with different axles and construction materials to suit a range of designs. The entire drivetrain is contained to the front of the vehicle with the fuel tank ahead of the load area. This means equipment that has to be inside other conversions can be placed under the floor, freeing up living space, and that floor is lower, improving ease of access.As part of the development of the new MTA gearbox Fiat built a fleet of motorhome 'mule' test vehicles that duplicated all the operating conditions of a motorhome. This was so that the gearbox's software could be designed to meet the needs of a motorhome, says Fiat. This includes running near full load most of the time, having more weight higher up in the vehicle than a normal commercial vehicle and the demands of a slippery camp site on traction control.The new natural gas modelFiat has just released the new Ducato 140 Natural Power natural gas model, a 3-litre engine, developing EC maximum 136 HP (100 kW), with 2,750-3,500 rpm, and maximum torque of 350 Nm at 1,500 rpm. The Maxi Van - Medium Wheelbase - High Roof configuration can hit a top speed of 155km/h, with acceleration of 0-100 km/h in 13.9 seconds, and pick-up of 60-100 km/h (in fifth gear) in 10.1 seconds, says Fiat. It is also able to negotiate a 21.5% gradient when fully loaded. Fiat goes on to say that this new vehicle boasts reduced fuel consumption (8.8 kg of natural gas per 100 km in the combined cycle) and lower CO2 emissions (239 g/km).The vehicle is configured to default to natural gas. Petrol supply is provided automatically only when the natural gas is about to run out: the petrol tank holds 15 litres in recovery mode to assure 100 km driving distance to reach the nearest natural gas station.The Fiat Ducato recently achieved a major milestone as its production total rose to two million units since the launch of the first version in 1981. For information visit Fiatcamper.David GreigFind a Fuel Efficient CarFuel Consumption Ratings Prices, Specs, Photos & Opinionswww. CanadianDriver.comAds by GoogleTags» Caravan» Fiat» Motorhomes» VehiclesPost a CommentleftleftGallery ImagesShare this articlevote nowBuzz up!Subscribe to gizmagRSS FeedEmail NewsletterRelated ArticlesFiat Adventure Concept Car changes colourFiat Truckster ConceptFiat Bugster Concept CarFiat unveils a juiced-up 135hp Abarth performance version of its 500 towncarFiat's Oltre to debut in London at Viva ItaliaFIAT shows new macho off-roader concept based on military vehicleSubscribe to GizmagSubscribe to our RSS FeedWhat is RSS ?Subscribe to our Email NewsletterleftleftRecent popular articles in Holiday Destinations1.Ducato wins MotorHome Base Vehicle award for third straight year 2.The World's first flying hotel - The Hotelicopter3.From oil rig to luxury eco-resort4.Atlantis Dubai: the luxury resort that's home to 65,000 marine animals5.Location, location, location: could this hotel be in the world's most beautiful?6.The Volkner car-swallowing ultra-luxury motorhome7.The US$55,000 Port-a-bach relocatable home (in a shipping container)8.Plans unveiled for another architectural marvel in Dubai9.One kilometer high Nakheel Tower to become world's tallest building10.World's largest LED screen to be built in (where else) Dubai11.Lifestyles of the rich, famous and incredibly fast: the Ascari Race Resort12.Thirty-eight people make reservations for space hotel13.The luxury motor coach with its own private balcony14.Palm Jumeirah to feature Dubai's most expensive penthouse15.Going underground: the world's subterranean holiday destinations16.Google co-founder joins space tourism club17.Silver Rapids: waterpark meets ski resort18.Sustainable holidays: renewable energy and solar-powered houseboats on the Mississippi19.Pocket Guidebook personalized travel guides20.The world's largest man-made island21.The world's biggest racetrack22.Beijing's gargantuan Capital International Airport23.More man-made designer realty - Reef Island24.Extreme swimming pools: the biggest and deepest dips on the planet25.America's largest Ferris wheelleftleftApple's Chief Operating Officer Tim Cook slams the netbook marketThe Kindle 2 and the iPod shuffle perform a scene from Blade RunnerDell Mini 10 now available with 6-cell batteryApp Store serves one billionth downloadNepal Telecom to install cell tower at Mt EverestSprint launches Sierra Wireless AirCard 402 with ExpressCard and PCMCIA interfaceAU (KDDI) and Sharp announce world's first waterproof, solar powered cell phoneCricket to provide wireless service in Chicago subwaysCriminals will pay €25,000 for a Nokia 1100Rumor: Foxconn bidding to manufacture Apple netbook Quote Selected