Will Chrysler get Fiat Ducato or Iveco Daily to replace departing Sprinter?
by Dan Roth (RSS feed) on Sep 8th 2009 at 8:59AM
Fiat may replace the Dodge Sprinter with its own Ducato or Iveco Daily
Fiat Ducato – Click above for high-res image gallery
Easy come, easy go – that's apparently Chrysler's luck with repurposed European-market work trucks. For the last few years, Chrysler has offered the German-designed Sprinter van under the Dodge nameplate. Mercedes-Benz wants its rig back, so it's taking the well-regarded work vehicle out of Pentastar dealerships and anointing about 120 of its own dealerships as Sprinter outlets. Consider it more terms of Chrysler's divorce from its one-time masters.
Now that Chrysler's ownership has moved south to Italy's Fiat, the Euro-work-truck hole in the showroom may be filled by something from the new management's portfolio. The Iveco Daily from Fiat's work truck division might easily fill the Sprinter's void. About the same size as the full-length Sprinter, the Daily might be a little too much for buyers considering the shorter versions of the captive Daimler. Fiat's Ducato might be a better fit, offering the tall format that Sprinter buyers have found useful without being quite as large at the Iveco.
If either truck heads this way to fill the void, it will not be badged as a Fiat. Gualberto Ranieri, Chrysler's Senior Vice President of Communications, has asserted that “the only Fiat vehicle in North America will be the Fiat 500. Period.”
Gallery: Fiat Ducato and Iveco Daily
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[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req'd]
Filed under: Minivan/Van, Work, Chrysler, Dodge, Mercedes-Benz, Fiat, Specialty
Tags: chrysler fiat, chrysler sprinter, ChryslerFiat, ChryslerSprinter, daily sprinter, DailySprinter, daimler sprinter, DaimlerSprinter, dodge sprinter, DodgeSprinter, ducato sprinter, DucatoSprinter, fiat chrysler, fiat ducato, FiatChrysler, FiatDucato, iveco daily, iveco daily sprinter, IvecoDaily, IvecoDailySprinter, mercedes sprinter,
via Will Chrysler get Fiat Ducato or Iveco Daily to replace departing Sprinter? — Autoblog.
