Coming to America: Fiat Doblo to Debut as a Ram in 2013

Why not the 2.0 diesel/5-speed auto combo? Acceptable HP, great torque, good fuel economy, and lately less expensive than gas, at least here in Chicago.

I continue to be mystified at the stubborn refusal to put small diesels into commercial vehicles. There is a market for small diesels in the US. The manufacturers need to stop listening to the geezers that remember the 70's distasters that were the GM diesels and the loud smelly old Mercedes sedans and Isuzu Troopers and pickups.

Today's buyers barely remember them, almost certainly never rode in one and will not be making decisions colored by their failures/failings.

That Sergio has quite a sense of humor. Is this the new Sprinter?

If there is a market, then truck makers will produce them....the Transit Connect is selling fine without a diesel option. If people were screaming for diesels then why not build them? Car makers are desperate for more market share......BUT if they cant make money on a product then they wont build it.

Oh and the Doblo looks like a love child of a Soul and a Cube........

bankerdanny, you need to buy your gas in Wisconsin if you can. I'm fortunate my job takes me north of the border, and I regularly pay at least $0.15 less per gallon of 87. My hometown in particular has exceedingly high gas prices, making the Wisconsin fuel about $0.30 cheaper. Diesel, however, is still more expensive in WI by a nickel or a dime.

I've seen Transit Connects becoming increasingly popular around my area, so this can only be a good thing. I actually like the Euro cargo-van concept, as it is more nimble, easier on fuel, and generally has the same amount of practicality for most businesses (except perhaps for the general contractors and the like, who will still need E-series size vans).

O__o

Admit it, you don't want the Qubo at all, you just want the babes!

@greenpony, I am frequently in the far south suburbs near Indiana, so on my way home I swing across the border (4 miles out of my way) and pay $0.30 per gallon less than what it costs me in the near north suburb where I live.

BB: how about the manufacturers show some courage and just bring them. There is no outcry because only a limited number of US buyers know the advantages. The commercial drivers are better informed, which is why so many buy diesel trucks and vans. Offer them, advertise them and they will sell in plenty large enough numbers to justify bringing them in. We have low sulfer diesel now, so that excuse is no more. A European built diesel will work just fine in Cleveland.

"courage"? are we talking about an army or a car company? I just think that if there was a market they would bring out more small diesels....maybe they will..but for commercial use. The Jetta is showing how underwhelming diesels can be for cars. Heavy and light duty trucks, no problem.....again, let the market decide. Some people act as if there is some kind of conspiracy about diesels in the US, there is not. That type of thinking is popular where somebody does not get their way (not saying this about you)....Europe uses diesels because they are jammed down throats, not because of superiority in all types of driving. I do react in a knee jerk fashion against anything forced on me because of tax policy or government interferance in the market, I admit.

The Fiat Doblo looks very cute and actually cool.

But I can already see the negative reviews from various American car magazines if the Fiat Doblo ever reaches our shores.

"Slow 0-60 time, pathetic top speed, poor track handling, embarrassing 1/4 mile time, bla bla bla..."

I agree with many here that there is a market for this car in the US. The Dodge/Mercedes Sprinter is selling very well here in diesel form despite being more expensive than competitors like the Ford Econoline for example. Owners of Sprinters have stated that these cars can haul a lot of weight, are very fuel efficient, perform well, are reliable and even comfortable. The Sprinter has a high buying price, but maintenance costs are quite low. Look online, there are many positive reviews on the Sprinter from owners. Businesses love them.

I enjoy how we're all experts on how different vehicles should be brought to the US. The truth is the failure rate on such experiments is pretty high. Often, it's because the vehicle just isn't that good of a fit.

I don't blame them for being a little gun shy.

"A European built diesel will work just fine in Cleveland"

Try looking up emission standards first before blindly believing that it's just so simple to "bring them here". Also the US has more gasoline refinery capacity than diesel capacity.

"Try looking up emission standards first before blindly believing that it's just so simple to "bring them here". Also the US has more gasoline refinery capacity than diesel capacity."

LOL, I've heard that before. Trust me, the tiny amount of diesel used by Fiats (even if they are runaway successes) is a drop in the bucket compared to the trucking industry, shipping industry, farming and even 3/4 ton pick ups.

So called emmision standards for diesels are far more politics then enviromental reasons. Otherwise they would have come down hard on the industries I mentioned above. In a country that burns coal for power to complain about diesel is laughable.

fw: "So called emmision standards for diesels are far more politics then enviromental reasons. Otherwise they would have come down hard on the industries I mentioned above. In a country that burns coal for power to complain about diesel is laughable."

Not only are the standards for industries you mention much cleaner than they were ten years ago, but due to economies of scale they're less polluting than automobiles for the amount of work done.

As to coal, it's infinitely cleaner than it has been in the recent past. Most of the emissions were particulates and are now captured.

Even if your generalizations were true, why would it be a reason to not restrict pollutants in consumer automobiles?

Sorry but "cleaner" does not mean clean for coal. Ships have no emmisions standards (same with farms equipment) and anyone who has ever driven behind a transport truck can see the pollution they put out.

The Europeans have emission standards on their diesels cars and what they do put out is minor compared to all other diesel users. In other words deal with the big problems first.

The transit connect is actually a failure in my opinion. It gets the same gas mileage as a Grand Caravan Cargo Van. But instead of the Dodge's 290 hp V6, it has a puny 4 banger. This should easily trump anything on the American road given Fiat's un-matched diesel know-how.

I just bought weed from that dude.

"The transit connect is actually a failure in my opinion. It gets the same gas mileage as a Grand Caravan Cargo Van. But instead of the Dodge's 290 hp V6, it has a puny 4 banger"

Of course you do...you are a Dodge dealer. The Caravan has no where near the versatility that the Transit Connect has for small business from the factory. They are selling like crazy as well.....yep....thats a big failure.

Fiat Doblo for the Italians...Opel Combo for the Germans.

For us Americans, it will be badged engineered as the...Ram Bo

I wonder what would the implications of the Chicken Tax be on light trucks made in...Turkey.

awful...simply atrocious. I expect a lot more from an Italian company.

"In a country that burns coal for power to complain about diesel is laughable."

The main difference is that coal plants are located out of sight in poor/black communities. Automotive exhaust is experienced first-hand in Manhattan, Los Angeles, DC, etc.
..
For the Chicken Tax, Ford found a cheat by installing fake seats and windows, then removing them.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125357990638429655.html

Could be worse. Look at all of the Japanese SUV offerings? Not a pretty one in the bunch. How about a murano conv.? Or a joke (juke). Honda ridgeline anyone?

All complete failures. This might have a chance as its not as fugly as any of those.

jagat101 says:

04:31 PM, 09/10/11

I wonder what would the implications of the Chicken Tax be on light trucks made in...Turkey.

The Chicken Tax (on light utility vehicles) means that the Transit Connect arrives from Turkey with side windows and a rear seat. At a facility in New York a fast-working team pulls out the side windows, replacing them with flat metal panels, and unbolts the rear set. Now you have a cargo van with no Chicken Tax issues. The economics are such that the brand-new seat and side windows are scrapped instead of being shipping back to Turkey. I suspect that the Doblo will be sold in the same way if it is to go to the cargo market. Otherwise it would be just another minivan. The Dodge/Mercedes Sprinter referred to by other posters is built in North America and thus attracts no Chicken Tax liabilities.