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The new model offers a broad and diverse range of power units so that all customers can find a Fiat Ducato with appropriate performance and fuel consumption levels. Six engines in all: three JTD turbodiesels, one petrol and two minimum environmental impact engines with dual petrol-methane or petrol-LPG fuel systems. The turbodiesel units all come with Common Rail direct injection systems and offer particularly outstanding maximum torque and power levels that are entirely consistent with the Fiat Ducato's consolidated image as a lively performer. The new Sofim 2.3 JTD 16V, making its debut on this new model, is another noteworthy addition to the range.

FIAT Ducato 4x4 versions are designed for road surfaces with poor grip and critical environmental conditions. They come with a selectable four wheel drive that consists of:

• a power take-off and a drive transmission unit from front to rear axle;
• a longitudinal propeller shaft subdivided into two sections;
• a rear drive engagement device;
• a limited slip rear differential;
• a live rear axle with suspended differential.

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The system is also fitted with a viscous coupling that distributes traction effort over both axles to improve vehicle comfort, stability and safety under all road surface conditions. The four wheel drive may be engaged even when the vehicle is running (at a speed lower than 60 km/h) by means of a switch on the facia. An optional speed reduction unit can also be ordered to increase disengagement capacity under difficult conditions.

The new Fiat Ducato 4x4 is available with 2.0 petrol or 2.8 JTD engines.

Automatic Transmission

The Fiat Ducato 2.8 JTD can be fitted with a self-adaptive automatic transmission with four speeds plus reverse to meet the needs of customers who seek an easy drive and travelling comfort. The unit can enhance the handling attributes of this engine due to its fast gear shifts.

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The automatic transmission is managed by a specific control unit that communicates with the injection/ignition and ABS control unit. It can choose the ratio (out of 16 options) that best reconciles the driver's style of driving with road profile and vehicle load (self-adaptive operation). The driver can also select manual gear shift (sequential operation) by moving the gearlever to the left and using it as a joystick). In this case, it is moved up to change up and down to change down.

The Fiat Ducato automatic transmission offers the following technological refinements:

• supplementary Winter programme that can be activated by pressing a button beside the gearbox. This is very useful when the road surface is icy. The automatic transmission cuts in to select the best possible ratio to restore grip when the road is slippery. The car is only able to set off in second gear, for example;
• the engine heating program is activated automatically when power unit temperature drops below 30°C upon start-up and raises the gear change points to achieve normal service temperature as quickly as possible;
• a safety program to safeguard against high transmission fluid temperatures comes into play automatically when the temperature reaches 120°C and inhibits automatic gear changes to promote cooling. Though it naturally allows the use of the manual program.

A display on the instrument panel keeps the driver constantly informed of transmission operation mode: in other words, it reminds drivers of the program selected and the gear engaged if in manual mode.