How lo-ong has this been goin' on?

[The Beard]

I don't know whether this should go in the non-FIAT section because it concerns Vauxhalls or the FIAT section because it's, well, a FIAT.

I was browsing through a newspaper today, the Telegraph ekshly, don'cha know when I saw an advert for Vauxhall vans. It was the usual one with all the Vauxhall Commercial range, all in red, arranged in a fan shape. I think we've probably all seen the ads. Vauxhall have been into co-operative ventures for years; there's the FIAT engine arrangement of course but there's also the fact that they've been making and/or selling Renault vans under their own name.....and Nissans of course.

But in this nice full colour advert, tucked away on the right hand side is a new Combo van.....aka the FIAT Doblo.

So, How long has this been going on?

 

[Venters]

Vauxhall.co.uk is showing the combo as a Corsa C van.

 

[RuSZ]

Vauxhall.co.uk is showing the combo as a Corsa C van.

because its not out yet, new Vauxhall Combo is due out mid this year. Its brining it into line with the new Vauxhall Styling

As for partnership, Vuaxhall have used Fiats MJ Diesels for quite a while now, as long as the MJ engines have been around really.

Its cost cutting I guess. Its the tie with GM i guess... the Corsa is a Punto underneath. the Signum is a Croma. The new Astra is apparently based on the upcoming Bravo replacement and the Guilietta.

 

[The Beard]

Aye Venters Lad. I looked on Vauxhall's website and I got the Corsa C as well, but have a look in tomorrow's papers, probably more chance of finding it in a tabloid, there's bound to be a VX van ad in there somewhere. If so, look carefully and you'll see it there, possibly on the far right hand side.

Eh-up? Russ. I'll have the FIAT diesels in Vauxhalls and Saabs and I know the Ford KA is a 500 underneath, but the Corsa is based on the Punto? Really? You sure?

As for the Astra being based on the upcoming Bravo/Giulietta, logic would suggest it might be the other way round seeing as the Astra has been out for, what, 12 months now? Surely the Bravo can't be due for a change for another year can it? And as for the Giulietta, surely a replacement must be two or three years away.....mustn't it?

 

[PuntoHowTo]

In the early 90s ford spent $1bn on designing the from scratch for markets accross the world
20 years later I dread to think what it costs to launch a new model, as it's all about having a market presence I am sure gm currently can't devote huge budgets to something like a small van, fiat however being better placed for R&D most likely do very well out of the deal

Companies have collaborating on. Vans for years so a vauxhall doblo doesn't really surprise anyone that much does it?

 

[Caravadossi]

... How long has this been going on?

I guess you’ve not visited planet Earth for some time.

Car manufacturers `manufacture’ now’t – they’re assembly plants.

The Opel-FIAT SCCS co-op was argued to save 30% on the cost of parts.
This may go some way to explain why when you go to buy a spare for your GP (or Croma) the partsman plonks a GM boxed part on the counter - & then adds 30% to the GM price to your invoice.

I didn’t know until it was mentioned (telegraph/motoring) that the Nissan Qashqai came with a Renault 1.6D engine.

Anyone recall the ARNA? (AlfaRomeoNissanAuto)

I believe that anything new (Bravo?) from FIAT Group will now flow from the Compact platform (e.g. Giulietta/Giulia).

120202

 

[dave]

all the bits that break or fall off a croma have GM stamped on them

 

[Hellcat]

all the bits that break or fall off a croma have GM stamped on them

I can vouch for that one!

As for Punto/Corsa. I believe the Grande Punto is based on the Corsa - which is why it has the 4x100 PCD wheels instead of traditional Fiat 4x98.

The new Astra was out just after the Bravo, and I don't think the Giulietta floorpan was available then.

 

[Caravadossi]

The Corsa-D followed on from the GP - I had a 56 GP when the Corsa-D was released.

 

[The Beard]

Perhaps I didn't explain the original post well enough. I know about collaborations; I used to work for a FIAT-Citroen-Lancia dealer and had a Croma in one showroom and a Thema in another. At the same time a friend of mine sold the Saab 9000.

With the exception of the Astras, the VX Vivaro and Movano are basically Renault Traffic and Master so I'm not entirely surprised to see that the Combo is from another manufacturer. It's just that this is the first time I'd actually seen it.

As for the Quashqai, well Renault do own Nissan and the Japanese weren't really well renowned for their diesels so it makes sense for Renault to supply them. That's also why the Vivaro/Trafic and Movano/Master also have Nissan versions.

Renault sold their truck division to Volvo, which since Volvo sold their car arm to Ford gave them the money to make the aquisition, and Renault truck cabs (and probably other components as well) are starting to appear on Volvo wagons. This is nothing new since in the '70s there was the "Cab of Four" which saw Renault, Saviem, Volvo and MAN all used the same cab. At around the same time Ford marketed a heavy truck called the Transcontinental which used the cab from Berliet, another French truck maker.

I don't suppose we can forget the 500/Ford KA either