Anybody checked one of these out yet? Looks like they've taken a multijet, lifted the ride height, fitted a sump guard, mud & snow tyres, different front bumper and something called "Traction+".

Fiat are also claiming improved fuel economy over the active and dynamic versions... which is bizarre given that performance and kerb weight are identical. I'd have thought the increased ride height and chunkier tyres would if anything have resulted in slightly worse fuel economy.

What I also can't work out is if "Traction+", which is described as switchable, means that there is finally a Qubo with ESP. Some press reports say Traction + with ESP, but the Fiat website makes no reference to ESP.

Anyhow, it's an intriguing package. Its still one and a half seconds slower than the slowest Panda though.. When and if Fiat ever decide to fit the Trekking, or any Qubo, with an engine that has enough grunt to move it at a respectable pace, I might even want one!

alfabarry said:

Anybody checked one of these out yet? Looks like they've taken a multijet, lifted the ride height, fitted a sump guard, mud & snow tyres, different front bumper and something called "Traction+".

Fiat are also claiming improved fuel economy over the active and dynamic versions...

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Looks interesting! I think the standard Qubo has good ground clearance already. Wonder if the sump guard will fit on my Shrekmobile? Given the state of the roads in Wiltshire I might as well be driving off-road!

Improved fuel economy eh? Wonder whether the chunky tyres make the difference, or a firmware upgrade to the engine management system?

Bet it still won't run ECORIVE though...

Cheers,

Lee

Want one. But I am still pleased with my Qubo as is, you can have ESP factory fitted but I am far too tight for that and I quite like the drive style of it as it is, even though it has the tendecy to force my out of the seat on some corners.

I am going to wait for the winter and snow to hopefully arrive and go out and book a cheeky test drive to see how it goes.

Wonder if it will get wind wobble as bad?:life:

Monkeyboot said:

Want one. But I am still pleased with my Qubo as is, you can have ESP factory fitted

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Really? No mention of it on the Fiat website. This must be another case of Fiat's online configurator being incomplete/misleading (as with Panda air con/climate ISTR when buying a Panda in 07)... I wonder if they realise that many potential buyers do not get past the websites in drawing up the shortlist and that for a lot it will be: "No ESP? scrub that one then.."

There is ESP listed as an option for the Multijet versions, just checked. There is no option listed for the petrol version. I think that Fiat shouldn't be so tight and fit them as standard given the height of the vehicle.

Monkeyboot said:

There is ESP listed as an option for the Multijet versions, just checked. There is no option listed for the petrol version. I think that Fiat shouldn't be so tight and fit them as standard given the height of the vehicle.

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Yes, I stand corrected. Wasn't there when I first checked the Qubo out though.. agree it should be standard on so high (and relatively narrow) a vehicle.

The new front bumper doesnt look very special, seems to be the standard one with a bit of silver on the bottom.

It will be interesting to see if there is a proper sump guard, these cars are fairly popular over here now and as everyone seems to be from a farming family many will end up on the tracks around fields and in the mountains.

Looks like a good addition to the model range but maybe some more plastic trim around the wheel arches and some hardwearing seat material would improve it further. There is a Peugeot Teepee I see around my village with full length plastic trim along the doors but not sure if it has a raised ride height.

BHP doesnt seem to be an issue here they seem to happily drive around at 150kph with no problem.

Just had a look, there is a Teepee Outdoor with the same skidplate and raised suspension.

The article I read said the traction system operated at above 17mph, that seems a bit quick to be going on terrain that is rough enough to need the traction system.

Have had a thought on the improved economy figures. Maybe as the alloys wheels are not an option on the Trekking then the cars were homologated on the steel wheels with the narrower tyres.

I should imagine the testing calls for the largest optional tyres to be fitted for the official fuel figures, and the 16" are an option on all the other Qubos. (Qubi??)