On display for the first time at the FTMTA show was a selection of cars and commercial vehicles from Toyota, Mitsubishi, Volkswagen and Fiat. It was the first time that many people got a look at the new Volkswagen Amarok and Fiat’s new aptly named Fullback crewcab. There was also an interesting holidaying option from Volkswagen with the updated VW Camper, although it did resemble something I have seen on Peppa Pig recently.The new Fiat Fullback (above)
On display for the first time at the FTMTA show was a selection of cars and commercial vehicles from Toyota, Mitsubishi, Volkswagen and Fiat. It was the first time that many people got a look at the new Volkswagen Amarok and Fiat’s new aptly named Fullback crewcab. There was also an interesting holidaying option from Volkswagen with the updated VW Camper, although it did resemble something I have seen on Peppa Pig recently.
The new Fiat Fullback (above)
For Fiat, this is a clever way of entering this market segment by using essentially Mitsubishi’s L200. Fiat has added a few more comforts and it hopes they will appeal to the business driver who is looking for lower BIK rates at 5% and taxation at €333 per annum.
The higher LX spec on display gives 178bhp from Mitsubishi’s 2.4-litre engine. The transmission choices are six-speed manual or five-speed automatic. You also get luxuries like electrically adjusted and heated leather seats, privacy glass, dual-zone climate control, bi-xenon headlamps, a 6in touchscreen with satnav, lane departure warning and a softer suspension setup that’s designed to add a little extra comfort.
The automatic LX also brings an upgraded 7in touchscreen and paddle gear shifters. From a practical point of view, the Fiat Fullback is powered by a Mitsubishi 2.4-litre turbo-diesel engine, with 150hp or 180hp outputs.
It comes with four-wheel drive as standard, combined with the option of a new six-speed manual gearbox or a five-speed automatic transmission with sports mode, both of which will be combined with full four-wheel drive systems.
Measuring 1,780mm in height, 1,815mm in width and 5,285mm in length, with a wheelbase of 3,000mm, the new Fiat Professional Fullback will offer a payload up to 1,045kg and a towing rating of 3.1t.
Toyota Land Cruiser business
edition
The Toyota Land Cruiser is Ireland’s favourite 4x4, with 27% of the market in 2016, and it has been top of the pile for some time now. Now on the go for over 60 years, the current Land Cruiser is modern and bigger than ever.
Toyota has developed new diesel-engine technology for the Land Cruiser that claims good economy and retains the solid driving features of the previous model.
The new 2.8-litre engine is smaller than the one that it replaces. The engine power has dropped from 190bhp to 174bhp, while Toyota claims that the engine torque, the muscle behind its trailer-pulling power, has risen to 450Nm, a 25% increase.
Toyota is using AdBlue additive in the engine, along with a more efficient combustion process to achieve better fuel economy. Toyota claims that this new Land Cruiser is more economical.
On display at the show was the new business class Land Cruiser, which comes with the Toyota Touch 2 system, Toyota Touch 2 with Go multimedia and an easy-to-use navigation system, plus a useful reversing camera included.
This model also comes with new technology features for handling, safety and driver guidance, including rear cross traffic alert, blind spot monitor, trailer stability control, pre-collision system and adaptive cruise control.
The new Land Cruiser business version comes with five passenger seats and is taxed at the commercial rate of €333 per annum. The entry price for the business version is €57,495 or £37,705 in Northern Ireland, including VAT. For business users with a VAT number, the N1 tax status of the vehicle makes it more attractive. The entry level commercial starts €40,000 including VAT.
Volkswagen Amarok
The new 3.0-litre V6 Amarok from Volkswagen comes with three specification options. The Trendline variant is the entry level, with a 163hp engine and a price tag of €37,450 including VAT. Comfortline comes with 17in alloy wheels, rain-sensing wipers, automatic headlights, cruise control and also front and rear parking sensors over and above the Trendline variant.
Top of the range is the Highline pushing out 224hp and an eight-speed automatic gearbox, with a list price of €52,240 including VAT. The Highline specification includes 18in alloy wheels, front and rear parking sensors with an integrated reversing camera.
From the outside, the looks have improved, with a gloss radiator grill and a partially chrome-plated bumper and mirrors, tinted LED taillights coupled with an LED number plate light. Leather seats come as standard on this model, coupled with a tyre pressure monitoring system. A key benefit of this model is also an improved overall towing capacity.
Fitted with four-wheel drive, top-spec models will be capable of pulling 3.5t, up from 3.2t on the existing version, matching the Navara and beating the L200. VW is now also offering Servotronic variable-ratio steering on the Amarok that supposedly makes it more precise, while larger brakes ensure a reduced stopping distance.
Volkswagen’s infotainment system dominates the centre of the dash and comes with DAB digital radio as standard. An interesting addition comes in the form of digital voice enhancement, which uses the microphone to pick up on what front passengers are saying and relays it to the rear seats.
This means passengers in the rear can hear what the driver or front passenger is saying. Volkswagen offers comprehensive finance packages for all commercial vehicles.
Mitsubishi Pajero SWB commercial
A long-time favourite in Ireland, in the 1990s almost all farmers in the market for a 4x4 chose a Mitsubishi Pajero. Mitsubishi is offering a €3,000 trade-in allowance on this model only. The SWB version has 3t towing capacity.
The latest-generation Pajero uses what is now a proven 3.2-litre turbo-diesel engine. The engine power is rated at 200bhp, with more engine torque than most of the competition.
The Pajero comes with Mitsubishi’s Super Select 4 II transmission, which offers four driving modes; 2H rear-wheel drive, 4H full-time four-wheel drive, 4HLc that locks up the centre differential, and 4LLC for extreme low-ratio off-road work.
With a new drive system, the 2H mode can deliver up 3% more in fuel economy compared with the older models.
The overall level of equipment for the current generation Pajero is the highest ever and it offers impressive value with the entry price of €28,450 excluding VAT.
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