Thanks to the on-going collaboration between Fiat Veicoli Commerciali and Ducati Corse a new project has been realised through the creation a special service vehicle for the transport and assistance of motorcycles. The new Ducato Van range, recently presented to the international press, has great versatile qualities that made it a very easy job to carry out this transformation. The new 'Ducato for Ducati' was presented at the 'Mad for Motors' extravaganza which was held at the Misano circuit.

The new Ducato van's load area is uniform and very spacious, the accessibility is great thanks to the way in which the rear doors open, and the fact that the bottom of the Van is not too high from the ground. Meanwhile these features are all complimented by the fact that its driving aspects are that of normal car, thanks to its front wheel drive that gives the van an excellent manoeuvrable character, as well as the precise nature of the steering and flexible acceleration of the engines.

The powerful, stylish looks of the Ducati 'bike' range are in perfect harmony with the strong and aggressive front design of the new Ducato van. One can't of course miss the thick white stripe running over the full length of the red van which represents this famous Italian motorcycle brand. This is complemented by the tradition Ducati Corse triangular logo. Inside, the interior has been realised by outfitters Sortimo Italia, and its a great ambiance for everyone who loves two wheeled machines. Perforated aluminium-finished side panels allow for implements be securely fixed while removable storage units (on small wheels) allow for carrying all kinds of loose materials. Other equipment associated with motorbikes have dedicated storage points, such as tyres (which are mounted in racks located under the roof) as well as jerry cans, jacks and compressors.There is also a hydraulic aluminium-plate lift ramp fitted at the rear of the van to allow a quick and easy action in moving the bikes in and out of the vehicle, which incorporates a system that then keeps the bikes firmly secured in place whilst the van is in motion.
 

Inside the new Ducato there is room enough to for mechanics to work flexibly. The back of the van has a volume space of 13m3, a length of more then 3.7m, and the internal height is 1930mm. There is always light available thanks to an internal 220 volt power supply and an efficient lightning system. The Ducato's engines, all fully Euro 4 compliant, also neatly fit the Ducati image: The newest version of the Turbo Diesel Common Rail assures great performances coupled to low consumption and excellent comfort. The most powerful one in range is the 3.0 MJet 16V Euro 4 with power of 157 CV and 400 Nm of torque.

The new Ducato for Ducati is thus an innovative and well thought out solution for all those who could find ample use for such vehicle and is expected to carve out a respectable niche market. This highly equipped special Ducato model will go on sale across Italy by the autumn for anyone who is looking for the best and safest way to transport their motorcycles.

The Ducato for Ducati van made its public debut at the “Mad for Motors” extravaganza held on 9,10,11 June. "Mad for Motors" is the dramatic and highly popular result of the co-operation between leading Italian motorcycle maker Ducati, carmaker Fiat Auto, and the Santamonica di Misano Adriatico race circuit. Ducati, with close support from Fiat, managed many exciting activities around the paddock and on the smaller practice tracks, spread over the three days. Also in action next to the 'Ducato for Ducati' was the new Fiat Panda Monster, a limited edition small SUV that was inspired by the Ducati Monster 695 motorbike from which is gets its name.

by Mattia Mariani