Manufacturers sometimes retire old product names for good reason – they have somehow become outdated, or, more likely the model wasn’t one of their strongest and a clean break of image was needed with the launch of its successor.
Fiat, unusually, has brought back 2 names which, although originally applied to cars and vans that weren’t altogether bad, they weren’t necessarily class leading either.
Fiat has announced the return of the Scudo (van, last produced in 2012) and Ulysse (MPV, withdrawn from sale in 2002). They’re both based on the same modular platform and, if you think they look familiar on the official teaser image then you’ll be right. As Fiat are now part of the Stellantis group who also own Peugeot, Citroen and Vauxhall, the Scudo / Ulysse are essentially rebadged versions of the Peugeot Expert and Traveller, the Citroen Dispatch and Space Tourer, and the Vauxhall Vivaro.
Fiat’s medium van offering to date has been the now ageing Talento, a rebadged old shape Vauxhall Vivaro and Renault Trafic which we expect will shortly be discontinued.
That big difference? You’ll be able to order the Scudo and Ulysse as a fully electric vehicle as well as a conventional diesel engined van or car. Whilst the manufacturer has yet to release any technical details, we can be quietly confident that the powertrains will be identical to those fitted to their Stellantis siblings, meaning that a 75kwh battery will offer up to 205 miles of range.
Scudo will be offered in van, Combi and platform cab configuration, and Ulysse will be available in 6 to 9 seat format. Both are due to go on sale early in 2022.
