Fullback, the one-ton pickup from Fiat Professional
Tanink Ghana Limited, a member of the Tanink Group and exclusive franchisee of Italian, American luxury and utility cars in Ghana, is set to roll out the Fiat Professional Fullback by the end of this month.
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With the Fullback midsize pickup, Fiat joins Nissan and Daimler in targeting a growing market for utility vehicles.
When it hits the market, the Fullback will join an expanding array of competitors and is set to play a leading role in its segment thanks to its characteristics of robust construction and reliability.
Selected journalists from Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) were offered the opportunity to have a test drive in the vehicle on the streets of Turin, Italy.
The Fullback — a rebadged Mitsubishi L200 — takes its name from the position found in rugby, soccer and American football. Its purpose: to help Fiat break into the medium-duty pickup segment in the aforementioned EMEA market.
Fullback, as in the game of rugby, refers to the last man in the line of defense and also a defender in attack - which denotes a player who is readily capable of dealing with any situation.
It is this same winning spirit that can be found in this new Fiat Professional vehicle, that of a “player’ able to adapt to any requirement, at work or at play, hence its tag line, “Built for your work and for your life.”
Distinctive style and contents
The Fullback has sporty proportions with its forward extending cab and a reduced front overhang.
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The front has a definite touch of Italian style in line with the new stylistic mark of the brand. The sides have distinct ribs that streamline the body and the rear part is well connected to the cab.
The interiors reflect the functionality of a work vehicle as well as the comfort and elegance of a high-range SUV.
Perfectly in line with the best of the competition in terms of configuration, dimensions and engines, Fiat Professional's new pickup comprises a complete range of variants that will be adapted to the specific needs of each of the individual EMEA markets. In detail, the Fullback line-up includes three configurations (Single Cab, Double Cab and Chassis) and different trim levels.
In the Middle East and Africa, the Fullback pickup will be available with two engine options - a 2.5-litre diesel with a power output from 81kW (110hp) to 131kW (178hp) and a 2.4-litre petrol engine that delivers 97kW (132hp). Petrol engine is provided with a five-speed manual gearbox. The diesel engine offer is aligned to the best competition and can be combined, according to each market’s offer, with a manual gearbox or automatic transmission, both with five speeds.
Dimensions and load capacity
Built for facing even the most challenging missions, Fullback boasts a large load capacity and a very high degree of strength, which is mostly due to its ladder frame.
The Operations & Logistics Manager of Tanink Ghana, Mr Fred Nyame, said the addition of the pickup range of vehicles to its fleets on sale would aid the construction, mining, agriculture and oil industries, adding that clients stood to gain a lot by purchasing the Fullback.
The Chief Executive of Tanink Ghana, Mr Roger Klogo, believes the Fiat brand brings the sense of solid build and engineering, stressing that all Fiat cars launched anywhere in the world would have their own cult following and they can even swear by its handling capabilities.
“Not just that, the entire build is solid and feels grippy on the roads,” he added.