Ram News: Is There A Passenger Version Of The Ram Doblo Coming?

[William Maley]

We know that Ram is getting a version of the Fiat Doblo in the coming future, as a panel van. But that leaves a gaping hole in the lineup for a passenger version. Well that could be changing.

Automotive News is reporting the Ram team is thinking about adding a passenger van version of the Doblo.

"We are studying that as a possibility. It could have passenger car applications," said Fred Diaz, President of the Ram brand.

The Doblo arrives onto Ram dealers in 2013.

Source: Automotive News (Subscription Required)

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[ocnblu]

It's so ugly it's cute and I think it will find its niche in both iterations. The Transit Connect could use the competition.

[Drew Dowdell]

I do hope it gets a facelift.

[balthazar]

Yikes and double yikes!

[67impss]

With ya most of the Euro Vans just suck and look slab sided cheap. We need new or updated designs for our market. Why do we get Euro leftovers all the time We and or China are the largest markets not Europe hell Brazil probably has better designs.

[§carlet §wordfish]

Slab-sided and cheap compared to what? They're vans for Pete's sake. It's not like American vans look like sports cars by comparison.

[Intrepidation]

Yeah exactly, our vans are bricks on wheels, and hardly modern.

[SAmadei]

Our vans have slight curves to them... but they are obviously too subtle for the interior fanatics to pick up on. The Euro vans really are boxes... almost perfectly flat with 90 degree folds... except the fronts get some plasticy psuedo-aerodynamic things with a big fish mouth and/or headlights that stretch up onto the A-pillar.

As for sporty, well, yeah, I think the E-series and Express look sporty compared to the Eurovans. Of course, the idea of 'sporty' in the eye of the common person has been watered down so far to every microcar, sedan, CUV and riding lawnmower that it no longer looks sporty to me... so to me, 'sporty' is a different look... a more in-your-face not-so-aerodynamic look. Yeah... I think a '86 Chevy/Grumman StepVan looks sportier that nearly everything on the road today (exceptions being the pony cars, Vette, CTS coupe, LX Chryslers).

[ocnblu]

I built the smallest Sprinter available with a few options... it was like $37k. It comes in a wide range of interesting colors and would really stand out parked down by the river.

On the Doblo (goofy name that will not translate well), when will we see the NA version? Any word?

Edited December 24, 2011 by ocnblu