23 2 3
Chassis components and anchor points
were upgraded. Homologation of the
vehicle required strengthening the
unibody structure in order to meet crash
requirements in the U.S. (Cairns points
out that no matter how close the U.S.
and European Union regulations may
seem, there are still diferences that
require changes to the way vehicles
that are available in both markets are
assembled.)
And speaking of the structure, the
vehicle features an integrated steel
ladder H-frame with single-piece
longitudinal frame rails.
The engine box and front track were
widened to accommodate the 2.4-liter
Tigershark four-cylinder engine and
the nine-speed automatic transmission
that are standard in the ProMaster
City. While the Doblò is available with
several engine options (including a
2.0-liter diesel), there is no engine as
large (or as powerful @ 178 hp) as
the Trenton (Michigan) Engine Plant-
produced Tigershark available in that
van. (And while on the subject of the
powertrain, it is worth noting that the
nine-speed automatic is produced at
the FCA US plant in Kokomo, Indiana
(under license from ZF).
As mentioned, the ProMaster City has a
steel, unibody design. It has a two-box
confguration, which provides 131.7-ft
3
of cargo volume. (It can handle a pay-
load of 1,883 lb.) There are sliding doors
on each side that provide a 26-in. open-
ing. At the rear there are 60/40 split
doors that initially open 90° each, but
can open 180° by depressing a latch.
The foor is 87.2 in. long and 60.4 in.
wide, with a 48.4-in. span between
the rear wheel wells. The interior roof
height is 51.8 in.
It is about capacity and capability.
p Back in 1964, this is what cargo vans looked like.
t This is the passenger confguration
for the ProMaster City. It provides two
rows of seating, with capacious cargo
room behind the second row. (Why
not three rows? Well, there are those
minivans ofered by sister divisions
Dodge and Chrysler.)