The next generation, seven seater Fiat Doblo has been released, and here is a look at the Punto-inspired interior. The Fiat Doblo has always been known as a large, multipurpose people mover-come-trade van in Italy, and now Fiat says that it is larger than ever with more passenger and baggage space. The first Fiat Doblo was presented back in 2000, and since, Fiat has sold about one million models.

The 2010 Doblo update is not just about size, but also style and a new set of engines. It won’t feature the new Fiat Multiair engine, at least initially, but will have a petrol motor with 94 hp, and a Multijet diesel range with 89, 104 and 133 hp. A “Natural Power” petrol-methane version will be available in the future, and a diesel Dualogic, and Fiat is guaranteeing low emissions and fuel consumption figures. The 1.3 Multijet, for example, will produce 129 g/km of CO2 and an average fuel consumption of 4.8 litres per 100 km.

The Cargo van version will be available from launch, which has a rear capacity of 3.4 to 4.2 cubic metres and a weight capacity of 750 to 1000 kg. The van version comes in various kits, including combined seating and van space, or just the front cabin and rear van space. The standard, people carrier version has plenty of comfort features with air conditioning, cruise control, Blue&Me multimedia technology and parking sensors.

Continue reading: Fiat Doblo interior pics

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Fiat has celebrated the production of one million Grande Punto cars, which is not a bad figure for a vehicle released on the market in 2005 as the heir to the first Punto (itself making 3,500,000 examples between 1993 and 1999) and the second series (reaching 3,000,000 cars from 1999 to today).

The more surprising detail however, is in the market request for methane cars: 24 percent of the new Grande Punto represents the Natural Power version, showing that perhaps the world really is on its way to adopting alternative fuels. Of production, 25 percent is made up of the Sport and Racing models, with some personalisation options (14 percent of customers opting for the stickers) and the Blue&Me system present in 30 percent of the vehicles produced.

The millionth Grande Punto is destined for the UK with a 1.4 litre T-Jet engine and the Rosso Passionale, or red passion, colour.

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Fiat Automobiles has officially confirmed the arrival of the new Grande Punto Natural Power. The new version introduces double petrol-methane fuel and arrives in a moment when alternative fuels are experiencing a huge request.

The strong points of the Grande Punto methane are definitely the automony of 310 km, through two 84 litre gas tanks, CO2 emissions of the 1.4 litre engine are Euro 5 ready at 115 g/km.

The Grande Punto Natural Power is also cost effective, thanks to state incentives for cars that have less than 120 g/km of CO2 emissions. This means the car will cost about 12,300 euros (less 2,800 from the state grants), and although we can’t expect grand performance with its 70hp and 104Nm of torque at 3000 rpm, you can at least drive around knowing you’ve made a relatively environmentally friendly choice. Maximum speed is 156 km/hr and acceleration to 100 km/hr is achieved in 16.9 seconds.

Continue reading: Fiat presents Grande Punto Natural Power: cars with alternative fuels

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At the international show of methane and gas vehicles, Richard Kolodziej, President of the IANGV (International Association of Natural Gas Vehicles), revealed just how confident he is in the future of these cars. “We have never had so much faith in the market,” he has said, believing that all the conditions are right to see a complete turn-around in the car market in two years.

Turin has been chosen as the city for the fair given Italy’s leadership in the alternative fuel sector. “We can and we must grow,” Kolodziej has said, “We can and we must increase market penetration, extending the distribution network and involving politics. We can take the South American example where Argentina and Brasil have 10-15 percent of circulating cars running on methane. Even Peru and Venezuela are demonstrating consolidation.”

Continue reading: Methane and hydrogen car show conferences - part two

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It seems that the world still hasn’t quite got the wake up call of pollution problems, climate change and dependence on the planet’s oil reserves. The automobile sector has still been a bit lethargic in its development of alternative cars and its push into new versions - while there’s petrol, there’s hope, and while there’s hope there will still be sedans at 580hp and SUVs at 500hp.

The point of no return however, has been the increase in prices where no amount of global warming will ever justify 1.50 euro a litre. It seems the wake-up call, as usual, has hit the pockets of consumers, and manufacturers are now seriously looking at alternatives. Our colleagues at autoblog.it have decided to take a look at the second international trade show of methane and hydrogen vehicles (September 25 to 27).

The fair, dedicated to sustainable vehicles, is taking place in Turin, and not by chance: in 2006 more than 40,582 methane vehicles were sold here, with Fiat gaining a monopoly of 86 percent of these sales. These figures come from a process of gradual affirmation, such as to lead to an increase in 30 percent in 2008.

Continue reading: Second international methane and hydrogen car show - part one

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