New Automatic Fiat Ducato

It is an eternal dilemma among campers: should we opt for an automatic gearbox or should we shift gears ourselves? Fans of the gear lever often think they can shift better themselves than an automatic can. Or there is the fear of getting stuck on wet grass. Yet a modern automatic transmission offers more benefits than you would expect. The new automatic transmission in the Fiat Ducato is living proof of this.

Fiat Automatic for more comfort and lower consumption

You couldn't call the old automatic gearbox in the Fiat Ducato really comfortable. Easy because you don't have to switch or connect yourself. However, with the new Euro 6 D-temp engines, Fiat has introduced a modern automatic gearbox. An old-fashioned automatic transmission used to cost more fuel, but nowadays they are so efficient that they actually save fuel. By upshifting at exactly the right speeds, and thus always getting the most out of the engine's torque, consumption is significantly limited. The no fewer than nine staircases also contribute to this. This way, the right gear ratio is chosen more often at the right speed.

ZF automatic gearboxes

Fiat shopped in the ZF warehouse for the new automatic transmission. This German manufacturer of gearboxes supplies Iveco, Rolls Royce and BMW, among others. It goes without saying that this brand can be called skilled. The strongest 177 hp Euro 6 engine with the new automatic transmission delivers the same 50Nm more torque than the 400Nm of the manual version.

New engines impressive

The new Euro 6d-temp engines for which the new gearbox is available come in four versions. The 120, 140, 160 and 180 hp Multijet engines deliver their highest torque from 1500 rpm. This ensures that you have all the power you need to move the camper smoothly at a low number of revolutions. The ECO mode, available on the 160 and 180 hp engines, ensures that the speed drops extra to squeeze the maximum out of every liter of diesel. For example, the fuel pump switches to half power for this. It may be tempting to choose the 120 or 140 hp version, but that is not possible in today's traffic. A good option is the 160hp Multijet when you buy a new camper. There is an eco mode when you choose the automatic. More economical when possible or more powerful when you need it.

More information: www.fiatprofessional.com