Chrysler's Ram is going to get a new small van

Fiat plans to import is little Doblo van to the U.S. Here it's seen in a passenger version. It will sell as an addition to the Ram line.

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By Fiat

On the heels of Ford's success with its Transit Connect truck-car, Fiat is going to import its own little van to sell as a Ram.

In Europe, it's known as the Fiat Doblo, and it has a lot of the same qualities that are making the Transit Connect a success. It is a little van that looks like the back of a truck grafted to an economy car. The type of vehicle has been popular in Europe and other regions of the world, but not in the U.S.
Ford hawks Transit Connects to flower deliverers, plumbers and even converts them to passenger use for taxicabs. Nissan has also introduced similar vehicles.
Doblo is made in Turkey, just like the Transit Connect.
Fiat says it has signed a letter of intent with its Turkish joint-venture partner, Tofas, for Doblos that can be sold in the U.S. and Canada. Tofas is going invest $160 million in the venture. They start arriving in early 2013.