OREANDA-NEWS. March 28, 2011. SOLLERS, the official manufacturer of FIAT vehicles in Russia, presented new versions of FIAT Ducato commercial vehicle. New version equipped with all wheel drive system is called Ducato Profi 4x4.

All-wheel drive system for FIAT Ducato was commissioned by SOLLERS with Dangel, the world-renowned French company. Depending on their needs, buyers are offered three options of all-wheel drive system:

• base system with part-time all-wheel drive priced at 239,000 rubles;

• a system supplemented with locking rear differential priced at 264,000 rubles;

• a system with locking rear differential supplemented with underdrive priced at 349,000 rubles.

Any of these systems can be installed on any FIAT Ducato version, regardless of wheelbase length and body type. The all-wheel drive system and differential locking are electronically controlled by switches on the front panel. Downshifting is enabled by a lever located in the cab.

The main advantages of the FIAT Ducato 4?4 are a significant increase in road clearance (depending on body type: 18–21 cm front axle clearance and 26–27.7 cm rear axle clearance), confident off-road capabilities and additional handling reliability on bad roads. Retail prices for FIAT Ducato all-wheel drive versions are the lowest among comparable foreign vehicles represented on the Russian market.

Victor Zornikov, General Director of SOLLERS-Elabuga production site, said that overall in 2011 the plant expects to produce up to 1000 all-wheel drive vehicles. "Today, our vehicle is the most interesting offer in the foreign all-wheel drive LCV segment and we see the potential for this new model market. FIAT Ducato Profi 4x4 has already attracted the interest from a number of government and law enforcement agencies, banks, collection services, companies with offsite service teams and private carriers. By the end of 2011, we expect to produce up to 1000 of these vehicles", - said Mr. Zornikov.