The new Fiat 500 Cabrio introduces American customers to open-air driving excitement with beautiful Italian styling, timeless functionality, efficient design and innovative technology. The new 2012 Fiat 500c features a premium dual-layer power-operated cloth top that is designed to deliver all-season driving pleasure with the top up or down. With just the push of a button, the Fiat 500c’s power-operated cloth top retracts up to the rear spoiler during speeds up to 60 mph.

The Fiat 500c offers comfort for four passengers, three exterior soft-top colors, 14 exterior colors, 12 unique seat colors and material combinations plus a choice of two interior environments to allow customers to personalize “their own” Fiat 500c.

The Fiat Freemont will have front wheel drive with turbo diesel power units (140 HP or 170 HP 2.0 MultiJet) combined with a manual gearbox. Later, the vehicle will also be available in 4×4 versions with 170 HP 2.0 MultiJet and 276 HP 3.6 petrol V6 engines, both with automatic transmissions. With the exception of the powerful 3.6 litre unit from the Chrysler Group Pentastar family and its automatic transmission, all power units are produced and developed by FPT- Fiat PowerTrain.

The Fiat Freemont’s very individual design includes muscular, decisive lines that are expressed in a front end with brand new bumpers and grille. The rear end has been redesigned with the adoption of a new bumper and LED tail lights.

The all-new passenger compartment features an up-to-date design and soft touch materials. Features include a wrap-around dashboard with chrome elements, a brand-new instrument panel, a strikingly good-looking central console and an innovative infotainment system with a large colour touchscreen.

To simplify the selection and purchase process, only two outfits will be provided that are aimed at different customer types. The equipment level for both outfits is extremely comprehensive and all the main content items comply with the ‘Fiat fair price’ strategy.

Both outfits will offer 7 seats, triple-zone automatic climate control system, keyless entry system, cruise control, advanced trip computer, tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS), fog lights and touchscreen radio with colour screen and controls on the steering wheel. The more metropolitan version will include 17″ alloys, touchscreen radio with 8.4″ screen, SD card and DVD reader, Bluetooth system, rear parking sensors, fold-down door mirrors, automatic headlight activation, darkened rear windows and roof bars.

The Fiat Freemont will have front wheel drive with turbo diesel power units (140 HP or 170 HP 2.0 MultiJet) combined with a manual gearbox. Later, the vehicle will also be available in 4×4 versions with 170 HP 2.0 MultiJet and 276 HP 3.6 petrol V6 engines, both with automatic transmissions. With the exception of the powerful 3.6 litre unit from the Chrysler Group Pentastar family and its automatic transmission, all power units are produced and developed by FPT- Fiat PowerTrain.

The Fiat Freemont’s very individual design includes muscular, decisive lines that are expressed in a front end with brand new bumpers and grille. The rear end has been redesigned with the adoption of a new bumper and LED tail lights.

The all-new passenger compartment features an up-to-date design and soft touch materials. Features include a wrap-around dashboard with chrome elements, a brand-new instrument panel, a strikingly good-looking central console and an innovative infotainment system with a large colour touchscreen.

To simplify the selection and purchase process, only two outfits will be provided that are aimed at different customer types. The equipment level for both outfits is extremely comprehensive and all the main content items comply with the ‘Fiat fair price’ strategy.

Both outfits will offer 7 seats, triple-zone automatic climate control system, keyless entry system, cruise control, advanced trip computer, tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS), fog lights and touchscreen radio with colour screen and controls on the steering wheel. The more metropolitan version will include 17″ alloys, touchscreen radio with 8.4″ screen, SD card and DVD reader, Bluetooth system, rear parking sensors, fold-down door mirrors, automatic headlight activation, darkened rear windows and roof bars.

If you’ve been dying to own a Ferrari but have no financial means of getting one, we may have found just the car for you. While the Fiat Abarth 695 Tributo Ferrari isn’t exactly a prancing horse in disguise, the car, which is a limited-edition Fiat 500 in real life, does pay tribute to its supercar brethren.

As we’ve said, the car isn’t brimming with horsepower underneath its hood but the Abarth 695 Tributo does pack quite a mean punch, relative to its size, of course. It’s 1.4-liter turbocharged T-Jet engine is more than what its counterpart the Toyota IQ-inspired Aston Martin Cygnet can boast of. Likewise, Abarth and Ferrari technicians joined forces in making the car and strengthening its suspension and braking system to make it sturdier and as a result of the added power. The car has also been outfitted with performance-enhanced and Ferrari-designed 17-inch alloy wheels. This special-edition vehicle also comes with unique features including carbon fiber door mirrors and Xenon headlights, which, if you’re curious to know, are three times brighter than its halogen counterparts.

It hardly comes as a surprise to us that Fiat would release a Ferrari edition of the Abarth. After all, they do own the Prancing Horse, yes? But more than that, the joint venture came as a result of acollaboration between two brands that share a common passion for performance and style, done the Italian way. The car is expected to be unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show although there’s still no timetable set as to when the car will be rolled out of production but we’re optimistic that once it does, it should become a hot item among cash-strapped Ferrari enthusiasts.

The Fiat Punto Evo, the evolution of the Grande Punto, will make its debut at the next Frankfurt Motor Show. It is destined to repeat the success of its predecessor and become the new pacesetter for innovation, safety and style, thanks to its many innovative features.

The epithet “Evo” identifies a level of car design that is capable of satisfying even the most demanding customers in terms of technology, driving pleasure and respect for the environment.

The Punto Evo expresses its technical excellence first and foremost through a wide choice of Euro 5 engines, including a 1.3 second generation Multijet diesel and a 1.4 petrol engine with the revolutionary MultiAir technology developed by Fiat Powertrain Technologies and eventually to be incorporated in all Fiat Group engines. Fiat’s innovative and conventional powerplants are also joined by dual-fuel methane and petrol units to create the most complete and ecological range of engines in the segment. With reduced consumption and emissions in mind, the new Punto Evo also offers Start&Stop, the system that switches off and restarts the engine in stop-and-go traffic. Start&Stop is being introduced as standard on all Euro5 petrol and diesel engines. Another system making its first appearance on the Punto Evo is “Blue&Me–TomTom”, the new portable satellite navigation unit that lets you manage telephone, navigation and information functions on a practical colour touch-screen.

In the area of safety, the Punto Evo sets new standards thanks to 7 airbags, including a driver knee airbag. The Punto Evo is one of very few cars in its segment with a driver knee airbag fitted as standard on all versions. Other innovative safety systems are also available, including Hill-Holder to help with hill starts, adaptive ’cornering’ front fog lights that switch on automatically with dipped headlights according to the angle of steering, and Fiat’s tried and tested ABS, EBD (Electronic Brake force Distribution) and ESP (Electronic Stability Program) systems.

Finally, the new Punto Evo is even more attractive thanks to the work of Fiat’s Centro Stile. The interiors (fascia, seats and instrumentation) have been completely renewed to become even more prestigious and elegant, and the outside has been given a thoroughly restyled look too.

The Fiat Punto Evo goes on sale in the second half of October with the precise objective of consolidating its role as one of Europe’s market leaders in the highly important compact segment.

Technical innovation

The Punto Evo expresses its technical excellence first and foremost through a wide choice of engines Euro 5, including petrol units equipped with the revolutionary MultiAir system and second generation Multijet diesels.

Developed and patented by FPT – Fiat Powertrain Technologies – MultiAir technology will gradually be adopted by all engines fitted to Fiat Group cars. The heart of MultiAir is a new electrohydraulic valve management system that reduces fuel consumption by controlling air directly via the inlet valves (without using the throttle). MultiAir reduces emissions (thanks to improved combustion control) and also improves performance by boosting both power and torque.

Similar results have been achieved in diesel versions thanks to the adoption of second generation Multijet units across the range. These engines incorporate new common rail injectors that, thanks to a balanced hydraulic servo-valve, control the quantity of fuel injected into the combustion chamber with improved precision, and in a faster and more flexible sequence than in the past.

The choice of engines available for the Punto Evo is the most complete and ecological in this market segment, and even includes two alternative fuel engines, a methane and an LPG unit.

The new Punto Evo is even equipped with the latest version of the Blue&Me system. “Blue&Me–TomTom” is a fully integrated infotainment system that lets you manage telephone, navigation and information functions on a practical colour touch-screen. The system is the result of a partnership between Fiat Group Automobiles and TomTom, European leader in portable navigation systems, and integrates with the car’s other systems thanks to the Blue&Me system developed in conjunction with Magneti Marelli. The new system also incorporates “eco:Drive Info” for real time information on your driving style and useful suggestions for reducing environmental impact and optimising consumption by changing gear and using the accelerator to suit the nature of the route.

Respect for the environment

At Fiat, innovation means greater respect for the environment too. In fact, the environment is one of the main issues driving product development, and ensures that the Fiat range is the greenest in Europe. The Punto Evo is no exception to this rule.

The new MultiAir engines prove the point. Compared to a conventional petrol engine of the same size, a MultiAir engine develops more power (up to 10%) and torque (up to 15%), while consuming significantly less (up to 10%) and emitting less CO2 (up to 10%), less particulates (up to 40%) and less NOx (up to 60%).

In the same way the second generation of Multijet diesel engines also offers more accurate combustion, with benefits for consumption, emissions, NVH and drivability. This has been achieved through a new common rail injector that modulates fuel injection into the combustion chamber and gives, for the Euro 5 engines, an improvement of around 2% in consumption and CO2 emissions on the homologation cycle, and a reduction in NOx emissions of up to 30%.

Still with reduced consumption and emissions in mind, the new Punto Evo will also offer Start&Stop, the system that switches off the engine when you stop and restarts it for you to move off again (at traffic lights for example). Start&Stop will be standard on all Euro5 petrol and diesel engines.

The methane-fuelled engine is not only the most ecological dual fuel engine in segment B, producing only 115 g/km of CO2, but is also the most economical thanks to record running costs of under 4 Euros per 100 km. Among other advantages, methane-fuelled engines benefit from the highest government incentives in Italy: 5,000 Euros if combined with a contribution for scrapping your old car.

Then there is the LPG-fuelled version, developed using Fiat’s longstanding experience in alternative fuels to respond to the extraordinary growth seen in this market. The Punto Evo GPL boasts record autonomy of 1,500 km in the extra-urban cycle, and running costs up to 50% lower than a petrol equivalent.

Safety

The Punto Evo is designed and built to achieve the highest levels of safety. The model boasts a large number of safety systems (standard or optional depending on market and version) starting from those dedicated to passive safety: 2 front airbags, 2 front side airbags, 2 window bags and a driver knee airbag (the Punto Evo is one of the few cars in this segment on which this device is standard on all versions).

The Punto Evo is also one of the few cars in its class equipped with adaptive ’cornering’ front fog lights that switch on automatically with dipped headlights according to the angle of steering. And don’t forget that the new Punto Evo also guarantees constant and reliable road holding thanks to electronic dynamic control systems for braking and steering. The ABS system that is available across the complete engine range incorporates EBD (Electronic Brake force Distribution), ESP (Electronic Stability Program) and Hill-holder to help with hill-starts.

Style and comfort

The Punto Evo is more stunning than ever thanks to the work of Fiat’s Centro Stile. In particular, the interiors of the new model have been completely redesigned to represent the most evolved expression of Italian style, with top quality materials and superb attention to detail. The result is a bright and elegant cabin with completely renewed fascia, seats, storage compartments and instrumentation.

On the outside, both the front and the rear have been thoroughly restyled, as shown by the attractive lines of the new bumpers and the incorporation of innovative and original headlights and taillights. The latest design has also “stretched” the car to a total length of 406 centimetres, so that its winning characteristics of driver and passenger comfort remain unchanged. The other external dimensions remain the same, with a width of 169 cm, a height of 149 cm and a wheelbase of 251 cm.

A combination of beauty and functionality, shape and content, exclusive Italian style matched with technological innovation: this is the special edition Bravo MSN Edition, the latest addition to the Fiat medium-sized car family which has proven extremely popular among the public in Italy and marks a further chapter in the collaboration between two industrial leader like Microsoft and Fiat Group Automobiles. Over the last few years, this collaboration has led to the launch of Blue&Me (a device which allows you to listen to music on several types of MP3 players, to phone hands free, to scroll down names in your phonebook and receive text messages, all with Bluetooth without ever taking your hands off the wheel or your eyes off the road) as well as Eco:Drive, which analyses your driving style to improve it and reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. From today – with the contribution of Magneti Marelli, another company that excels in automotive technology – the Bravo MSN Edition is also available with the new on-board Instant Nav which combines a satellite navigator with maps on SD Card, a radio, a CD player and an Mp3 player, integrated with Blue&Me, in a single device (exact and quickly updated) built into the dashboard.

The Bravo MSN Edition is presented to the public with an original and innovative initiative, reflecting the original and innovative nature of the entire car. Crews comprising of both people who regularly use MSN and opinion leaders will be leaving on board a handful of Bravo MSN Edition cars from the capitals of the various European countries where the car will be on sale (Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, the United Kingdom and Spain) on 26th June. With the help of Eco:Drive installed standard on Bravo MSN Edition cars, the driving style of the various crews will be “monitored”. At the end of this European tour, which will be finishing at the Fiat Group Automobiles Test Centre in Balocco (VC), everyone will be given a cash prize and the team with the best eco index will be awarded a larger prize. All the money will go to charitable causes in the various countries. In Italy, it will be used to take part in the construction of a nursery school in Abruzzo.

You can follow the various stages of the journey as well as the conclusive ceremony to be held on 29th June in Balocco on the MSN website (which will feature exclusive footage and photos). What’s more, you can also book a test drive in the car on internet, to be taken at any Fiat dealer: the greater the number of test drives taken, the larger the contribution Fiat will make to the construction of the nursery school.

The Bravo MSN Edition is recognisable at first glance thanks to the MSN logo on the rear steering knuckles and the colour of the specific bodywork: Maranello Red, Maserati Blue and the new Tempesta Grey. Available with the last generation 1.6 Multijet 16v 120HP diesel engine equipped with a particulate filter that complies with the emission limits of the Euro 5 regulation, the new special edition offers those who get on board a world of technology to stay in touch with everyone all the time, even when you’re on the move. In addition to the Instant Nav radionavigation device and to the Blue&Me technology, the built-in TMC Premium function makes it possible to know the latest traffic information in real time as well as to find out alternative routes to reach the desired destination, making the Bravo MSN Edition a genuine “concentration” of digital technology.

What’s more, thanks to a special customised version “Bravo MSN Limited Edition” of the K770i Cyber-Shot mobile phone sold by Sony Ericsson, you merely need to press one key to enter the Microsoft instant messaging client Windows Life Messenger, currently the most popular instant messaging service in the world, allowing immediate contract between groups of people. Extremely popular among young people, it allows you to converse in real time with friends in the four corners of the globe, send files, share folders on your computer and work, just as though you were in the same room or office.

Bravo MSN Edition is the latest version of a very successful model – in Italy alone over 100 thousand have been sold since it was launched and it continues to be at the top of sales.

Fiat 500 makes headlines once more, as befits an authentic Made in Italy icon. This time it’s an original Fiat 500 show car dedicated to the most famous fashion doll ever: Barbie®. This exceptional vehicle, created by a partnership between the Fiat Centro Stile and Mattel, will be given officially to Barbie® on 9 March next, at her fiftieth birthday celebrations in Milan.

It’s a fashionista car but quite tongue-in-cheek and with lots of charm: just like Barbie® herself. The gleaming paintwork resembles varnish and definitely makes for a shock effect, achieved with deep lacquered colour using ultra fine aluminium plunged in deep, up-to-the-minute pink. The seating is upholstered in strikingly soft fabrics: silver laminated Alcantara® is not only trendy but plush to the touch and its glimmer bounces as far as the roof panel. Then there are mats enhanced with natural silk yarn and sleek viscose, not to mention lip glosses in brilliant colours stored in the glove compartment, plus a LED-decked vanity mirror to ensure perfect application. And there’s more. The car has more features than a crown has jewels! Crystals sparkle on interior bezels, hubcaps, outer window mouldings and antenna and even outline the doll’s famed silhouette on the pillars. Lastly, this Fiat 500 show car also has its own glossy cover, featuring the distinctive Sixties version of the Fiat 500 and a Barbie® autograph.

The latest Fiat 500 show car will appear in public for the first time on Monday 9 March, from 6.30pm onwards, when it will race through the quintessential streets of Milan’s fashion district. Barbie® will be aboard and she’ll have her own special driver: Ken, of course. On arriving at the entrance to La Rinascente department store, in Piazza Duomo, Barbie® will leave the car and walk the unique pink carpet created just for her. The band Nena will be playing live in the background, reviving some of the most famous pop songs from the fifty years of the legendary fashion doll’s existence.

Roberto Giolito, creator of the Fiat 500, had this to say about the Mattel-Fiat partnership scheme: “All-American Ms Barbie® already has a number of ‘transport solutions’ available, like thundering GTs and motor homes with endless accessories. So if she’s spotted a 500 and wants one as a gift for this landmark birthday, it’s a signal typical of modern times that there’s a renewed need for dreaming the simple things in life, which give so much, allow us to lighten up, thrill who’s born beautiful or just feels beautiful, but doesn’t have to prove anything. After all, Barbie® already has everything. Sleek Barbie® is a looker, smart enough to listen to everyone, a universal ambassador opting for a car that never divides but frees everyone from having to declare their social status. The new 2009 version celebrates her birthday with a model that offers a better view of the sun and the stars, all the better for continuing to dream, especially daydreams.”

Fiat proudly presents the Grande Punto Natural Power, a new dual fuel (petrol/methane) version that confirms the brand’s commitment to the field of environmental protection. This substantial commitment is reflected by Fiat’s indisputable leadership in the field of cars with methane engines as original equipment (OEM): during the period January-August 2008 some 43,000 methane-driven Fiat vehicles were sold in Italy compared with 33,000 during the same period in 2007.

We should not forget that Fiat is the first and only manufacturer to offer, in its “Natural Power” range, a wide array of vehicles with methane-petrol dual fuel systems able to meet the mobility requirement of an extensive category of users: Multipla Natural Power, Punto Natural Power, Panda Panda Natural Power, Panda Panda Climbing Natural Power and Doblò Natural Power. Now comes the turn of the Grande Punto Natural Power, a new dual fuel car that sets standards of absolute excellence in several areas.

Firstly, a methane-driven Grande Punto proves itself to be a valid financial alternative to cars that run on conventional fuels (diesel and petrol) that are increasingly subject to rising prices. Suffice it to say that in Italy, for example, EUR 12 buys a full tank of natural gas and it costs just EUR 3.8 to cover 100 km.

Another virtue of the new model is its extraordinary range: when running on methane, it is able to cover 310 km with the tank filled to its full capacity of 84 litres. This record-breaking figure is increased by the 45 litre petrol tank capacity: this means that the Grande Punto Natural Power can be driven for more than 1000 kilometres without refuelling. So once you have a full tank you can drive with peace of mind, and in any case it is increasingly easier to refuel with natural gas because the network of service stations is extensive and continuously expanding (the number of service stations in Italy currently stands at 630).

The new model also offers a 1.4 8v Fire unit that is already compliant with the EURO5 directive and offers low CO2 emissions (just 115 g/km) that allow customers access to the maximum state incentives (EUR 2800 and 3 years of car tax if scrapped). The promotional launch price will start from EUR 12,300, complemented by 6 years of interest-free finance (offer valid to 31 December 2009).

Because Grande Punto Natural Power marks an important step forward in dual fuel cars technology, we have decided to introduce it at an original event that reflects Fiat Automobiles all-round commitment to the environment. The press presentation has been designed in accordance with the principles of “Impatto Zero®”, an innovative project by LifeGate (an eco-cultural platform that is the chosen partner of companies who are serious about sustainable development) that is putting the aims of the Kyoto Protocol into action for the first time in Italy: reducing carbon dioxide emissions and compensating for them by planting new forests.

In detail, Impatto Zero® quantifies the environmental impact of businesses, companies, products and individuals, calculating emissions of carbon dioxide and greenhouses gases and the equivalent amounts in Kg of CO2. It then compensates for the emissions by reforestation and the protection of woodland areas in Italy and throughout the world. Since 2002, more than 450 companies have chosen to sign up to the LifeGate scheme in Italy and they have now been joined by Fiat Automobiles, which has calculated the environmental impact of the Grande Punto Natural Power launch event and compensated for it by planting 6,668 m2 of forest in the Ticino Natural Park.

On 28 September, Singapore will host the first ever night-time Grand Prix event in the history of Formula 1. As a taster to the exceptional event, a “500 Drive” will take place on 27 September, before the GP qualifying rounds. This will involve 12 Fiat 500 “F1TM Limited Edition” cars being driven round the same track by celebrities.

The drivers on board the special cars will complete a few laps of the brand-new circuit, a 5.067km stretch along the floodlit roads of Singapore.

Lorenzo Sistino, Managing Director of Fiat Automobiles had this to say: «The Fiat 500 is now sold in 57 countries and has won more than 250,000 orders since its launch last year. Not to mention the fact that 50% of its customers chose it without considering other models.

In recent months, we finished launching the Fiat 500 also in Australia, Hong Kong and Japan, where we picked up more than a thousand advance orders and the car has become a veritable craze. Now it is about to hit Singapore as well».

We marked the occasion by building 12 unique cars in a Fiat 500 “F1TM Limited Edition that have been pre-booked by selected customers from Singapore. These cars offer special custom features and are enhanced by chrome motifs in addition to the exclusive “F1TM Limited Edition” livery. The cars are equipped with the same lively 1.4 16v engine available on the rest of the range, that develops a maximum power of 100 bhp (73.5 Kw) at 6000 rpm and a maximum torque of 131 Nm (13.4 Kgm) at 4250 rpm. Its performance figures are outstanding: the car can reach a top speed of 182 km/h and accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 10.5 seconds.

The Paris show hosts the world premiere of the new PUR-O2 line that will be available on the 500, Croma and Bravo from November. This select group of versions is at the cutting edge of the international automotive scenario due to their high-tech content, low fuel consumption and low CO2 emission levels. The result has been achieved by the introduction of special systems and devices such as the innovative Eco Drive, the new ‘Start&Stop’ device developed by Bosch and special Eco Packs that include green tyres, low-viscosity fluids, aerodynamic packages and gearboxes with modified ratios.

The new PUR-O2 line confirms Fiat’s wish to develop more and more new products as part of its quest for innovative solutions to contain polluting emissions and CO2 levels. Fiat is incidentally one of the motoring brands providing the best response to the need to limit the impact of transport on the environment. The company JATO – world leader in automotive research and consulting, set up in 1984 and present in more than 40 countries – recently announced that, out of the ten biggest selling automobile brands in Europe, Fiat Automobiles is the brand that achieved the lowest average CO2 emissions value for the cars it sold in 2007, i.e 134.6 g/km. And more, again in 2007, the CO2 emissions of no fewer than 23% of the cars sold by Fiat were lower than 120 g/km and 67% of Fiat cars achieved a level of less than or equal to 140 g/km.

Heartened by this result and irrespective of what will be decided in Europe, Fiat Automobiles is aiming to achieve the lowest average adjusted level of CO2 emissions for its cars by 2012. Fiat intends to pursue its goal by introducing a targeted campaign on its engines, transmission and cars and also the structural use of the Start&Stop system.

The Stop&Start system was developed in conjunction with FPT – Fiat Powertrain Technologies and includes a special reinforced starter motor produced by Bosch in addition to a particularly advanced control strategy that analyses a host of engine, gearbox and climate control parameters to reduce fuel consumption and emissions while upholding the Fiat 500’s high handling and reliability standards.

Fiat 500 PUR-O2

The PUR-O2 version, built on the basis of a Fiat 500 Lounge, is fitted with the tried and tested 1.2 petrol engine and equipped with the Start&Stop system, a device that turns the engine off temporarily and restarts it during periods when the engine would be idling with the car at a standstill. In these situations, typical of congested traffic in urban areas and while waiting at traffic lights, and when control strategies permit it, the system automatically turns off the engine to allow a significant saving in fuel (more than 10% reduction in fuel consumption over an urban cycle). As soon as the brake pedal is released or a gear engaged, the system then quickly restarts the engine to ensure the user an immediate response to controls. The Start&Stop also offers further advantages in terms of passenger compartment comfort due to the lack of vibrations and noise. The system therefore represents a high-tech and smart solution to the requirement for low environmental impact cars with good fuel economy.

The PUR-O2 version of the 500 can boast the lowest emissions in the petrol range (CO2 emissions: 115 g/km), and is also equipped with the Eco Drive system.

From January 2009, it will also be possible to combine the system with a Dualogic gearbox that allows optimum management of gear shifts and offers high mechanical efficiency. In detail, the automated transmission offers a basis for smart management of engine on/off status, shaving even more off fuel consumption figures and guaranteeing CO2 emission levels even lower than 115 g/km. By controlling the clutch, the system can disengage the engine from the transmission whenever drive is not required and the engine can be turned off.

Qubo is the name of the new vehicle being sold by the FIAT sales network. An original name that plays on the idea of “cube”, which may not always be complimentary in all contexts, but in any case clearly evokes the strong points of this model: reliability and sturdiness, as well as unique and versatile functions. Not to mention the originality of changing the C of cube to Q to tell us that this vehicle is no ordinary cube, but rather a cube with a twist.

The Qubo is targeted at a Client who is a non-conformist oriented towards substance rather than show, a strong personality who is emanates confidence of his or her own well-informed choices.

Qubo goes well beyond the concept of the MPV to venture as a pioneer into the concept of a “free space” vehicle, capable of satisfying a variety of needs for mobility. In fact, it is a highly functional vehicle with two sliding rear side doors, flexible interiors capable of offering up to sixteen different solutions. If so desired, it is also available with a front passenger seat that can be folded into a table and then flush with the boot level, making it possible to load objects measuring nearly 2.5 metres (a true record for a vehicle that measure only 3.9 metres).

So this is the vehicle that lets you do anything you like, just as one would expect from a multipurpose vehicle, because it is as easy to handle as a city car and as spacious and comfortable as a MPV. But when compared to an MPV, the price is better for the same versatility and more compact dimensions (3959 mm long and 1684 mm wide, this boasts the best maximum capacity boot among all the vehicles in its class). Moreover, Qubo fits in anywhere (urban and suburban), ensuring notable fuel savings -thanks to the 1.3 Multijet 75 hp engine, also available with the robotized “Dual Logic” six-speed transmission – which all translates into 1000 km of autonomy and reduced operating costs (30,000 km for the first service check).

All in all, this vehicle is also about as green as can be, reducing CO2 emissions to 119 g/km with the 1.3 Multijet engine and offering an optional particulate filter.

But that’s not all; Qubo manages to offer all this and at a highly competitive price, in keeping with other segment B vehicles, while including an integrated Blue&Me communications system (hands free, vocal and steering wheel commands, on-board text messaging, and a USB port).

Sales began in France in June and will continue over the summer months in Austria and Hungary. Italy, Poland, Switzerland, and Spain were next, while an October arrival is slated for Germany, Holland, Ireland, and November for Belgium and Greece (next year, Great Britain and Denmark should conclude the cycle).

Topolino (the Italian translation for Mickey Mouse – “Little Mouse”) was the world’s smallest car when it was launched back in 1937. For almost twenty years, the little car helped Fiat weather some stormy times. And now that all good automotive designs must come back, just like the 500, the Topolino is reborn. Spy photographer already caught it on testing, and now here’s a TopSpeed rendering of the car.

The little Topolino will be placed bellow the current 500 with whom it will share the platform, but shortened to 3150mm in length (35 cm shorter than its brother 500). If this is true, this may contradict rumors about the car sharing a platform with a revival of the BMW Isetta. Unlike the original, the Topolino will will seat four people. This is scheduled for production in 2010 when will compete with models like Toyota IQ, and future Volkswagen Up!

The Topolino will be powered by Fiat’s forthcoming 900cc two-cylinder gas engine, which will first debut in the 500 later this year. For the Topolino Fiat will offer a normally aspirated unit that will deliver 65 hp. This is mated to a Volkswagen DSG-style twin-clutch gearbox, while the car is also equipped with a stop-start sys­tem, which can switch off the engine when it’s not needed in traffic. As a result, the Topolino should return fuel economy of more than 80mpg and emit less than 90g/km of CO2.

Topolino will be built in the former Zastava plant in Serbia. U.S. consumers know Zastava as the company that made the Yugo in the late 80s and early 90s.

The Blue&MeTM Nav offers on-line services developed in partnership with Telecom Italia (SOS Emergency, Info Service and Drive Me and on-line Insurance Services) that may be activated with complete freedom by the customer. In particular, due to the satellite location system and agreements with most of the insurance companies, it will be possible to benefit from discounts on insurance of up to 50%.

With the aim of confirming its leading role in this strategic market band, the Grande Punto MY 2008 will be playing the same card as on the previous model, which proved to be a winner: listening to customers and allowing the product to grow in accordance with their wishes. This is why today the new 2008 range – and the “SportLife” family in particular – is aimed more deliberately at a younger audience: people who wish, for example, to personalise their car with original stickers and different coloured door mirrors. Other features exclusive to the Fun and Sport versions include burnished headlights and two new alloy wheel trims: the first 16″ in Chrome Shadow, the second 17″ with a striking diamond pattern.

Actions to support the launch of the Grande Punto MY 2008 include original web campaigns, agreements with street art exhibitions, viral marketing campaigns and a TV advertising spot with great iconic impact : to sum up, the new model sets out to claim its rightful place in the world of the young as a benchmark in terms of content and image. To sum up, as the advertising slogan has it: “ALWAYS IN THE LEAD. PUNTO”.

The South American division of Fiat, called Fiat Automoevis unveiled its latest creation: the Fiat Punto Turbo. What you see is in fact the Punto Abarth, but under another name.

Powered by a 155 hp T-jet engine from Abarth, the car comes with a new suspension kit, upgraded brakes, new body kit containing new front lip spoiler, side skirts, re-designed rear bumper and rear roof spoiler, but also a set of 17” alloy wheels. The car is set to enter production by the end of the year and will be available exclusively on the Brazilian automarket.

At this year’s Geneva Motor Show, Fiat will go green. The first green model to be revealed will be the Concept car 500 Aria, truly “ecological manifestos” that confirm the will of Fiat to study continuous changes in the field of researching innovative solutions for the containment of polluting emissions and CO2 levels.

The 500 Aria will be powered by a 1,2 litre petrol propulsion engine combined with the robotic shift Dualogic.

These commercial results are even more interesting if we consider that the sales mix in Europe is made up of the more luxurious versions of the car: 35% of customers opted for top of the range models (Emotion and Sport), 60% chose the Dynamic version, while 55% of customers went for the lively 1.9 Multijet engine (120 bhp).

In short, the Fiat Bravo has not only reached the ambitious targets set – it has exceeded them. Its customers are younger than the average age for this segment – dynamic, style-conscious and looking for the performance that only an Italian car can provide, without losing out on the functionality offered by the large boot and spacious interior. When interviewed several months after their purchase, the customers also stated that they were extremely satisfied with the vehicle’s quality: a result that confirms the excellent trend in internal quality markers, on a par with those for the Fiat Panda.

But the success of a car must face the harshest of all tests: time. This is why a series of important new features have been implemented to meet customers’ new demands. For example? Last July saw the introduction of a new series of “downsized” 1.4 T-Jet engines (150 and 120 bhp). These engines use a new generation turbo compressor combined with a lower displacement engine which generates a performance equal to or even superior to higher displacement engines, yet with lower consumption and emissions.

Today, the Fiat Bravo is continuing the theme of constant renewal with the new 1.6 Multijet 16v engine. Multijet and multivalve – a latest-generation turbo diesel power plant that confirms Fiat’s outstanding technological capabilities when it comes to designing and developing diesel engines.
Available in two power versions (105 or 120 bhp, the first on sale in January and the second from March), the brand-new 1.6 l completes the range of engines from FPT – Fiat Powertrain Technologies – which includes cylinder capacities of 1.3, 1.9 and 2.4 litres. The new engine is the ultimate combination of the successful Multijet turbo diesel and the many benefits (including tax breaks) of the “downsizing” philosophy. The ideal solution, if you want to strike the right balance between respect for the environment and low running costs without giving up on power and elasticity, for true driving pleasure.

Compared to the well-known 1.9 Multijet 120 bhp, the 1.6 Multijet series represents an important step forward, with considerable advantages:

• torque improved by almost 25% (300 Nm at 1500 rpm) and consumption reduced by 8% measured on the NEDC cycle);
• acceleration from 0-100 kph in just 10.5 seconds, while pick-up from 80-120 km/h in 5th gear is almost 4 seconds lower;
• enhanced acoustic comfort with noise values improved by 5%.
• What’s more, thanks to the new 1.6 Multijet, the Fiat Bravo has notched up some remarkable records in its category:
• it is the first Euro5-compliant car, well ahead of the legal deadline, and has the lowest HCNOx emissions in its category.
• it is one of the few cars in this power segment with a 6-speed manual gearbox (in both the 105 and 120 bhp versions);
• it has the highest specific torque (i.e. in relation to the displacement), in the power categories up to 200 bhp;
• maximum torque is delivered at lowest revs: just 1500 rpm for an availability of 290 Nm and 300 Nm generated respectively by the 105 bhp and 120 bhp versions;
• this is borne out by the acceleration values, the best among all engines up to 120 bhp;
• it is the only car with 35,000 km service intervals, reducing ordinary maintenance costs by 25% (calculated on distances travelled of 90,000 or 100,000 km, the most frequently used distances in long-term leasing agreements).

In short, the new 1.6 Multijet 16v adds that something extra to a winning model that has once again confirmed Fiat’s global leadership in the field of diesel engines. It must be remembered that the engine has been developed by FPT – Fiat Powertrain Technologies, a new division of the Fiat Group responsible for developing, researching, designing and producing engines and gearboxes for all applications: cars, industrial vehicles, boats and agricultural vehicles.

With around 19,000 employees, 16 plants and 11 research centres in eight different countries, this division is one of the largest engine manufacturers in the world. Approximately 3000 highly specialised technicians at FPT work exclusively on developing and engineering innovative technologies. More than 40 patents deposited each year are proof of the quality and dedication that make Fiat Powertrain Technologies a centre of technological excellence and non-stop innovation.

Overview

Designed by the Fiat Style Centre, the Bravo has a sleek, aggressive line, yet is elegant and compact at the same time. It is 434 cm long, 179 wide and 149 high, with a wheelbase of 260 cm and a load capacity of 400 l, among the best in its class. An embodiment of the great Italian car making tradition, the vehicle’s interior is extremely comfortable, the available space has been used to best effect, and the materials and colour schemes exude quality. All in all, the Fiat Bravo is a beautiful Italian car, both inside and out. It will surprise even the most discerning European customer, and has all the substance of a car that offers outstanding safety, reliability and driving pleasure.

An example? The award of the 5 star Euro NCAP rating, the top score in the passive and active safety tests – thanks to the ultra-resistant body shell, 7 airbags, 3-point seatbelts with pre-tensioners and load limiters, and front head rests with anti-whiplash function. Not forgetting that the new model also uses the most sophisticated electronic control systems such as ABS with EBD, advanced ESP with hill holder, and an anti-slip ASR system. The wide range of engines available makes the Fiat Bravo an even more substantial offer: apart from the new series of petrol T-Jets (1.4 engine, 120 or 150 bhp), there is also a lively 1.4 16v (90 bhp) and turbo diesel common rail Multijet (the brand new 105 or 120 bhp 1.6, and the well-known 1.9 version, 120 or 150 bhp).

Not only safe and fun to drive, the Fiat Bravo also carries the latest technology to ensure onboard comfort and wellbeing. For example, the new-generation “Blue&Me” system – “Blue&Me Nav”, the dual-zone automatic climate control system, two car radios with specific hi-fi systems, well-sized panoramic sunroof, cruise control, rain sensor, parking aid with front and rear sensors, and fog-lights with self-adapting cornering function.

The Fiat Bravo range is extensive and varied, with the 12 elegant liveries and 4 trim levels (Active, Dynamic, Emotion and Sport). Various solutions are available for different markets, all of them offering great value and designed to reflect the many ways of interpreting and using a car. Last but not least, Fiat Bravos sold in Italy come with a 5-year warranty included in the list price: 2 years’ contractual warranty plus 3 years or 120,000 km additional manufacturer’s warranty.

The Nuova Croma is a benchmark for its segment, with an amazingly roomy interior, and an excellent level of ‘well-being on board’ however long your journey is, thanks to equipment worthy of a flagship that is now the standard outfit, and above all for the original ‘styling’ formula inherited from the previous model – the ‘Comfort Wagon’ concept – that makes it, once more, the roomiest car in its segment.

With its even more dynamic look, the Nuova Croma immediately communicates a new approach to the car. It was designed to meet the needs of European society, where there is a growing trend among ‘new families’ (young families with children) to pay more attention to substance, and to demand safety and reliability from the family car: all at an accessible price. Which is why the new model is ideal for people who need space, practicality and low running costs during the week for professional reasons, and demand a good-looking, comfortable, safe station wagon for their free time, to that they can travel with the whole family in complete peace of mind.

Revamped dynamic exterior styling

With its elegant, distinctive styling, the Nuova Croma is even more dynamic thanks to a number of styling changes introduced by the Fiat Style Centre. To start with, consistent with the Fiat ‘family feeling’ introduced with the Grande Punto and reiterated on the Bravo, the front of the Nuova Croma features original drop-shaped headlights with distinctive Italian styling, highlighted by a stylish burnished finish; the design of the front air inlet and the grille with its wide links and Crome Shadow painting, is also new.

There is a new rear bumper, very similar to an air extractor, which gives the car a sportier look, and the same dynamism conveyed in the side view by the new light clusters, together with the wings, rear spoiler and new sideskirts. Last but not least, the model’s elegant look is underlined by the combination of polished black pillars with new chrome detailing on the window frames and rubbing strips.

The interior of the car has also received a number of styling changes that underline the typically Italian refinement (new cloth or leather upholstery for the seats and an original Wenghe-effect treatment of the mouldings) as well as a new steering wheel and a richer, more elegant instrument panel.

Class-beating access and roominess

The Nuova Croma is available with one bodywork version, which is one of the roomiest in its class; 478 centimetres long, 177 wide, 160 tall, and with a wheelbase of 270 cm, measurements that translate into an extraordinary amount of space inside.

The model’s distinguishing features are the generous amount of headroom for passengers, and the space between the seats (the best in its category), while the raised driving position guarantees excellent control over the road and better exterior visibility, even for rear passengers.

Thanks to the flat floor and the raised front and rear H points, it is extremely easy to get in and out of the car. What is more, the new model has one of the largest glazed areas in its market bracket (3.254 m2), and guarantees excellent acoustic and vibrational comfort, thanks to painstaking analysis of the passenger compartment and specific suspension calibration.

Another strong point of the Nuova Croma is the modular luggage compartment with its loading volume of 500 litres that becomes 1,610 litres up to the roof with the rear seats folded down. The luggage compartment is fitted with a practical Cargo box system that exploits all the available space: a removable shelf the same size as the luggage compartment that creates a continuous floor, level with the bumper ledge, to simplify loading and unloading. It also acts as a cover for a lower storage area 16 centimetres high, where fragile or valuable items can be stowed away from prying eyes. The lid of the cargo box can also be stored on the bottom of the well to increase loading capacity.

Exclusive equipment and solutions to travel in maximum comfort

The raised driving position and ergonomic controls make travelling in the Nuova Croma particularly enjoyable. And there are numerous exclusive accoutrements to choose from: a brand new DVD player, the Blue&Me™ system (also available in the NAV version), the ‘Interscope Sound System’ Hi-Fi and CONNECT Nav Plus. The Nuova Croma also proposes the best the market can offer in terms of automatic devices that help to reduce the fatigue of driving, for example Cruise Control, a rain sensor, parking sensor, tyre pressure sensor and Follow-me-home headlights that stay on for a few seconds. We should also mention the ‘adaptive cornering’ function of the front foglights, that are activated automatically with the dipped beams on the basis of the steering angle.

And finally, to raise the level of comfort even higher, the Nuova Croma adopts a reliable, tried and tested suspension system, with MacPherson struts at the front and Multilink suspension at the rear, tyres designed specifically to enhance comfort and safety, and electro-hydraulic power steering that makes all manoeuvres more comfortable.

Powerful, elastic engines that respect the environment

Original outside, spacious and quiet inside. The Nuova Croma is the Station Wagon from Fiat, designed for people with very different needs, taste and life styles, but who all share one thing: they want their car to be comfortable. And for people who also want exciting performance, the Croma offers the powerful 200 bhp 2.4 Multijet engine (combined with a 6-speed automatic sequential gearbox), which tops its class for specific power: 83 bhp/litre.

The Nuova Croma comes with two sparkling petrol engines (140 bhp 1.8 16v and 147 bhp 2.2 16v, the latter not available in Italy) and three Multijet turbodiesels (120 or 150 bhp 1.9 and 200 bhp 2.4) which reiterate Fiat Group Automobiles’ superiority in the field of diesel engines. All the engines meet EU Stage 4 emission standards, and the diesel units are fitted with particulate filters. They are offered with 5 different gearboxes that exploit the engine performance in full; all the petrol engines are combined with 5-speed transmissions, with the option of sequential automatic transmission on the 2.2 16v, and all the diesel engines have 6-speed gearboxes (the sequential automatic unit is offered as an alternative on the 150 bhp 1.9 Multijet, and as the standard unit on the powerful 200 bhp 2.4 Multijet 20v).

Class-beating safety

The Nuova Croma was designed and built to achieve the highest safety standards, and has been awarded the prestigious five-star NCAP rating that puts it at the top of its class, thanks to an array of sophisticated devices that are standard equipment on the model, starting from passive safety features such as: 2 ‘dual stage’ frontal airbags, 2 side airbags at the front, 2 curtain-bags and a knee-bag for the driver (rear sidebags are available on request).

The new Fiat Station Wagon behaves predictably at all times, thanks to the sophisticated electronic devices it incorporates to control dynamic behaviour: from braking to drive. They include ABS with EBD (Electronic Brake force Distribution) and, above all, ESP (Electronic Stability Program) which is standard throughout the range. The ESP on the Nuova Croma incorporates a number of additional features: ASR (Anti Slip Regulation) which limits drive wheel slippage when road grip is poor; MSR (Motor Schleppmoment Regelung) which intervenes if the driver changes down too abruptly, to return torque to the engine and prevent excessive dragging of the drive wheels; HBA (Hydraulic Brake Assistance), electro-hydraulic brake assistance, which automatically intervenes during panic braking; and finally, the Hill-holder that helps the driver on hill starts.

A broad, comprehensive range for a car of ‘substance’

The Nuova Croma is a car of substance that comes in an extremely comprehensive range. Different solutions are offered on different markets, but they all offer the same value for money. In Italy, for example, the range includes a choice of 4 engines (the 2.2 petrol engine is not available), 5 outfits (Classic, Active, Dynamic, Emotion and Must), 10 bodywork colours, and 4 interior environments, available in a choice of cloth, Castiglio and two types of leather.
We must not forget that the Nuova Croma range offers every customer, no matter how demanding, a choice between different options and accessories which may underline the model’s practicality and versatility, or cater for the customer’s practical and emotional demands. The Nuova Croma is perfect not only for the modern family, but also for businesses and professionals. And as a result, Fiat Automobiles Financial Services proposes a range of purchasing solutions and use formulae aimed specifically at these customers.

The 500 Abarth will be a fast and affordable city cars offering giant-killing performance. Compared to the standard 500, the Abarth version will have a more muscular look featuring lower side skirts, inspired by the classic 595 Abarth. The Fiat logo will be replaced by the Abarth badge on both front and rear.

The front bumper will be specially designed and houses the main beam headlights set in a black surround, while the larger air intakes, adapted to cater for the new engine’s cooling requirements, will be enhanced with an exclusive Abarth design. The skirts, the wheel arch rims and black plastic underbody complete the fairing on the lower section, profiled to boost aerodynamic performance and extending as far as the tapered rear bumper.

But most of the Abarth treatment will be related to it’s performance. The 500 Abarth will be powered by a 1.4-litre turbocharged engine delivering around 150 hp. The 0 to 60 mph sprint will be made in about 8 seconds.

Inside the driver will also feel the Abarth touch. The charismatic figure of the scorpion will be found on one side of the dashboard, the instrument panel has a sporty design, with the same look for the steering wheel and gear stick, finished in black leather with red stitching.

The 500 Abarth will also get a SS version, more powerful and sporty. The 1.4 liter turbocharged will have an output of 180 hp, the same power as in it’s bigger brother Grande Punto. The 500 Abarth SS will compete with Mini Cooper S.

Fitted with a normally aspirated 2000 cc engine (270 hp) and 4-wheel drive, the new Grande Punto Abarth S2000 is the successor to the car which won the European and Intercontinental Rally Challenge in 2006, with Giandomenico Basso and Mitia Dotta, and also triumphed with 7 wins in the 2006 Italian Rally Championship.

It should be remembered that the cars produced to date, approximately 25, have been ordered by various racing teams both in Europe and further afield, to compete in international and national rallies. On the strength of this advanced technology, the new Grande Punto Abarth S2000 is leading the two championships with the same determination.

Claudio Berro, the director of Racing Operations at Abarth & C. Spa, can rely on personnel with extensive motor-racing experience, and a prestigious team of drivers.

The Grande Punto Abarth is fitted with a 1.4 turbo petrol engine, delivering 155 hp. Combined with a 6-speed manual gearbox, the engine gives the car a top speed of 208 km/h, accelerating from 0-100 km/h in just 8.2 seconds. The Grande Punto Abarth is not just a high performing little car – it is also safe, and environmentally friendly. Safe because the tuning is not limited to the engine and the aerodynamics: the car’s brakes and set-up have also been redesigned to cope with the improved performance. It is also eco-friendly because, despite having far more horsepower than the model on which it is based, it complies with the same legislation on noise and emissions (Euro 4 approved engine).

Developed by Abarth’s designers along with the technicians who produced the Grande Punto Fiat (one of Europe’s most successful cars), the Grande Punto Abarth is factory-built, and is subject to all the regulations and checks applied to standard models.

The raw power and elegance of the Grande Punto Abarth are instantly visible. Compared to a standard Punto, the track has been widened by 6 mm, it has 17” alloy wheels and red stripes bearing the Abarth name along each side. The front bumper is specially designed and houses the main beam headlights set in a black surround, while the larger air intakes, adapted to cater for the new engine’s cooling requirements, are enhanced with an exclusive Abarth design. Finally, the skirts, the wheel arch rims and black plastic underbody complete the fairing on the lower section, profiled to boost aerodynamic performance and extending as far as the tapered rear bumper. The Abarth badge is of course clearly visible, positioned in the centre of the front grille, the rear hatch and even on both sides, at door handle height.

However, most of the Abarth treatment relates to performance: the engine, brakes and set up. The 4-cylinder 16v engine (1368 cc supercharged with an IHI fixed geometry turbocharger) delivers 155 hp at 5500 rpm with a maximum torque of 206 Nm at 5000 rpm. When “power boost” mode is activated, the maximum torque increases to 230 Nm at 3000 rpm (a good 10% more), and the electric power-assisted steering modifies the setting to give a sportier feel. There are disc brakes on all wheels, and the front brakes are ventilated with a Brembo fixed dual-piston caliper.

The suspension is based on the tried and tested set up of the Fiat Grande Punto (McPherson strut and anti-roll bar, torsion bar suspension at the rear), suitably modified: the anti-roll bar has been widened (diameter 19 mm), the front springs are 20% firmer, and the set up has been lowered by 10 mm. After this treatment, the vehicle will provide impeccable road holding while maintaining a high standard of comfort. Evidence of the importance given to safety when the car was designed (especially for younger drivers), is that the ESP comes as standard and cannot be deactivated.

The Abarth touch is equally apparent inside the car: the charismatic figure of the scorpion on one side of the dashboard, for example, while the “carbon effect” central console is decorated with a textured cube motif. That’s not all: the instrument panel has a sporty design, with the same look for the steering wheel and gear stick, finished in black leather with red stitching. Last but not least, the seats have also been beautifully designed with built-in headrest, lumbar support and two wings providing lateral thigh support (on request, the seats and central dashboard section can be finished in full grain leather).

The concept car combines an innovative powertrain architecture – represented by the new SGE 900 cc Turbo twin-cylinder engine, equipped with the Multiair® system for dual petrol/methane-hydrogen fuel management, MTA gearbox and Stop&Start device – with the adoption of eco-compatible materials (recycled, recyclable or of natural origin) both outside and inside. The interior is upholstered with natural fibres (cotton and linen), woven coconut fibre and biodegradable elements, while the exterior panelling is made of semi-transparent eco-resin and the structure is treated with opaque ‘totouch’ paint.

It is all made even more interesting by the minimisation of the energy absorbed by the auxiliary units on the vehicle and engine (for example the low consumption climate control unit), by a reduction in the vehicle’s weight (downsizing of the engine, the use of new generation, high tensile steel, methane storage cylinders made of high performance steel and carbon fibre) and the adoption of experimental Pirelli ‘ultra-green’ tyres with new compounds and new AOF (Aromatic Oil Free) textile weaves which guarantee limited drag but do not detract from dynamic safety performance (stopping distances and good handling on wet and dry roads).

And finally, the Panda Aria is fitted with a telematic system, based on the Blue&Me architecture, that is wired to adapt to new infomobility services. It also incorporates original software which allows the consumption and emissions of each trip to be recorded on a USB pen drive, through the USB port of the Blue&Me system, so that the customer’s driving style can later be analysed on a computer, and he can learn how to make his driving more ‘eco-friendly’.

The Panda Aria is equipped with the new twin-cylinder 80 bhp turbo engine from the SGE family, in this version with Multiair® petrol-methane fuel supply system. This sophisticated fuel management system is already designed to operate with a mixture of methane (70%) and hydrogen (30%). The twin-cylinder engine is combined with a Stop&Start device and the innovative MTA (Manual Transmission Automated) gearbox.

The innovative twin-cylinder engine developed by Fiat Powertrain Technologies is the outcome of a philosophy that focused on reducing fuel consumption and, as a consequence, CO2 emissions, in respect of future Euro 5 and Euro 6 emissions standard, with the same performance as a large engine.

The concept behind this new engine is the downsizing from a conventional 4-cylinder engine to a 2-cylinder turbocharged engine that incorporates the innovative Multiair® electronic inlet valve control system. In addition to advantages in terms of consumption, the twin-cylinder engine also results in a 20% reduction in weight and 25% in volume inside the engine bay compared to a 4-cylinder engine with the same power output.

The maximum output achievable by the new twin-cylinder engine, in the Mono Fuel petrol version is 105 bhp (a 65 bhp aspirated version, also equipped with the Multiair® system, is now under development). The SGE engine family adopts a crankshaft balancing system that significantly reduces vibration and noise levels compared to other two and three cylinder engines.

The innovative Multiair® system controls the air in controlled-ignition petrol engines without the usual throttle valve, and therefore with a greater degree of flexibility than mechanical timing systems.

This electrohydraulic valve activation technology is based on the insertion, between the camshaft and the engine inlet valve, of an amount of oil (high pressure chamber) that can be varied by a valve, which in turn is controlled by a specific electronic control unit.

This allows the raising profile of the valve to be modified in response to the request for air from the engine and to the running speed. Different strategies can be employed (Early inlet valve closing – EIVC, Late inlet valve opening – LIVO, or Multi-Lift) to optimise combustion efficiency, with considerable benefits in terms of power output, torque, consumption and emissions. Another advantage of this system is the fact that the air pressure upstream of the valves is always constant. This characteristic, combined with the high system activation dynamics (from partial load to full load in one engine cycle) allows the torque response of the engine to be increased without any delay, on both an aspirated and a turbocharged engine, increasing the ‘fun to drive’ factor.

Even if Fiat hasn’t decided the final configuration of the 500 convertible, it is said that the company is considering a pillar-less version. Also Fiat may limit the weight increase and reduce investment costs by keeping the side pillars and cross members and offering only a canvas roof that opens.

But is for sure that the 500 Convertible will keep the trademark styling cues and will use a hood that maintains the cute, curvy profile.

Under the hood we will see the same engines used in the Coupe version: a 75 bhp 1.3 16v Multijet turbodiesel unit and two petrol engines, the 69 bhp 1.2 8v and the 100 bhp 1.4 16v, all of which will be available with five or six speed mechanical gearboxes.

Next to this three choices of engines, Fiat will also offer a new range, including a 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol with upwards of 120bhp and a new 1.6-litre turbodiesel that will arrive in 2009. The engines will be available with both manual and automatic transmission.

The 500 Convertible will feature a complex electric folding metal roof. Being an exclusive two-seater, the new 500 Convertible will have room behind the cockpit for the folding roof and a useful luggage area. It will feature a metal-coloured dash with a large central speedo and leather trim on top-of-the-range models.

Like the newly launched 500, the Convertible will be offered with a large choices of colors and options. Sales will begin in 2008.

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History

1957 Fiat 500

The 500 is a small economy-car produced by the Fiat company of Italy between 1957 and 1975 and when relaunched in 2007.

The car was a successor to the Topolino model. (Topolino means ’mouse’). The designer was named Dante Giacosa, an individual who would later become an automotive legend for his contributions to the industry.

Measuring less than 3 m (10 ft) long, and powered by a tiny 479 cc two-cylinder (economical and hard wearing, so long as you can resist the temptation to drive flat-out all the time), aircooled engine, the 500 redefined the term “microcar”.With 13 horsepower the 500 never set any land speed records. It had a top speed of 85 km/h.

The Fiat 500 became an icon of the times, and it was a model with which Fiat completed a revival that had begun immediately after the Second World War.

In summer the huge fabric sunroof provides excellent ventilation and great views, if you dare to drive in winter then make sure the heating system is working – it relies on ’wafting’ cooling air from around the engine up the central floor-tunnel to vents in the dashboard.

From 1958 through 1960, Fiat offered a Sport version. These Sport versions offered a 21 horsepower engine, and a one piece roof. The standard 500 version had a fold-back sunroof.

In 1965, the 500F lost its suicide doors in favor of the more popular hinged doors. The horsepower rating was once again improved and now offered 19. The top speed was 95 km/h.

From 1969 through 1975, a Lux version was offered. This featured full carpeting and plastic revised dashboards.

In 1975 production of the Fiat 500 ended. 3.6 million examples had been produced during its life span.

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Competitors

Mini Cooper Convertible

The 2007 Mini Convertible has been launched at Geneva Motor Show. It is a new model that combines the distinctive pleasure of driving an open car with the unique enjoyment you can only feel at the wheel of a genuine MINI.

For the design features and proportions so characteristic of the MINI have been consistently carried over to the MINI Convertible: The steeply raked windscreen and the optimum seating position enjoyed by the driver ensure an unforgettable open-air experience also when driving with the roof down. So the new model version leaves no doubt that motoring pleasure is an outstanding factor on all four seats of this uniquely popular cult car.

With its roof down, this classy convertible really looks at its best. The waistline gradually rising to the rear gives the car a strong and distinctive profile further accentuated by the chrome strip continuing along the complete window line. The steeply raked windscreen, complete absence of a B-pillar, the rollbars made of extra-strong aluminum pipes behind the rear-seat backrest, as well as the compact, folding roof all bear testimony to the unique style of a classic convertible.

The new MINI Convertible is entering the market initially in the guise of the 115 hp MINI Cooper. The top-of-the-range MINI Cooper S Convertible will be following later. It reaches a top speed of 75 mph.

Nissan Micra C+C

The Nissan Micra C+C was designed, engineered and built in the UK. The Micra C+C allows owners the best of both worlds: fresh air when the weather allows and coupe protection when it’s inclement.

The Micra C+C is available with either the recently enhanced 65kW (88hp) 1.4-litre petrol engine or a 1.6-litre 16 valve petrol engine (110hp).

The new engine is Nissan’s new light-weight, low friction, 1.6-litre twin cam as first seen in the Micra 160SR. Developing 81kW (110hp) and 153Nm of torque, the all-aluminium design is notably lighter than similar capacity units from rival manufacturers and is some 25kg lighter than Nissan’s existing QG 1.6 engine, as used in the Primera.

The Micra C+C remains resolutely practical, enjoying class leading luggage space. With the roof lowered the boot area provides 221 litres of stowage space, which rises to an impressive 426 litres when it is in place.

Volkswagen Beetle

The New Beetle convertible have always been real head-turner, whether they were seen as hardtop or convertible – top up or down. The 2007 Beetle is more eye-catching than ever, in vibrant new hues.

The 2007 New Beetle convertible is offered with the advanced Volkswagen 2.5-liter, in-line, five-cylinder gasoline engine. The 2.5 L engine delivers 150 horsepower at 5,000 revolutions per minute and 170 lbs.-ft. of torque at 3,750 rpm.With four valves per cylinder, aluminum alloy cross flow heads and double overhead camshafts, the engine is strong, quiet, and efficient. Hydraulic lifters are maintenance-free. Digital electronic ignition and Motronic sequential multi-point fuel injection help allow the engine to operate on regular unleaded gasoline.Power is delivered to the front wheels using one of two transmissions.

A five-speed manual transmission operates smoothly with a hydraulic clutch. An available six-speed transmission with Tiptronic allows for both automatic and driver-selected gear changes using the gear selector.

The 2007 New Beetle convertible with automatic transmission achieve an EPA-estimated fuel efficiency of up to 32 miles per gallon in highway driving and 23 mpg in city driving. With a manual transmission, the EPA estimates are 31 mpg highway and 22 on the city cycle.

The car was developed by Tofas A.S., the 50-50 joint venture between Fiat Auto and Koç Holding which is listed on the Istanbul Stock Exchange. It will be manufactured in the plant in Bursa, Turkey (fully operative, output will reach 60,000 units per year) and will be marketed in a number of European and non-European countries: Spain, Germany, Morocco and Finland. At a later date, the Fiat Linea will also be manufactured in Brazil, India, China and Russia.

The new model clearly has an international vocation; it was designed by the Fiat Style Centre, and its exterior styling is elegant, dynamic and typically ‘Italian’. The aim was to appeal to the public with uncluttered, smooth lines which confirm the new Fiat family feeeling (from the Grande Punto to the new Bravo), while they offer a new reading of the stylistic elements of the great Italian motoring tradition in the saloon segment. This extraordinary stylistic heritage has now produced the Fiat Linea, a 4-door saloon that is sleek and elegant, but with generous dimensions that put it at the top of its class: it is 4.56 metres long, 1.73 metres wide, 1.5 metres tall and has a wheelbase of 2.6 metres, as well as a 500 litre luggage compartment.

The same attention went into the styling of the interior, where the lines are harmonious and balance well with the exterior, creating a friendly, light-filled environment that provides an amazing amount of room and superior comfort, where ergonomics and space for the driver and passengers are concerned. And it is in terms of the quality, comfort, practicality and enjoyment of the interior that the Fiat Linea aims to make the difference, backed up by the refinement of the materials and by the colour combinations, as well as the attention paid to every detail and to the assembly.

Designed for an elegant, refined clientele with plenty of personality, the new model is agile and enjoyable to drive in all situations. It has a sparkle that is due primarily to its engines, which combine excellent performance, low consumption and absolute respect for the environment (they are all Euro 4). At the launch the model will be offered with a choice between a petrol engine (1.4 8v, 77 bhp) and a turbodiesel (1.3 Multijet 16v, 90 bhp with a variable geometry turbo), both combined with five-speed mechanical transmissions; the 120 bhp 1.4 16v Turbo from the new T-Jet family will be available at a later date.

The Fiat Linea range is very comprehensive to cater for a clientele that considers cars of this class as a real investment, because it represents the family’s main car, and it will adapt to the various markets where it is sold. In most of these, at its launch, the range will offer two engines (90 bhp 1.3 Multijet and 77 bhp 1.4 16v), three specifications (Active, Dynamic and Emotion), and 11 body colours. The range also proposes equipment worthy of a higher segment, such as certain sophisticated climate and infotainment devices that improve the comfort and quality of the time spent on board: from automatic climate control, the Blue&Me® system with USB port, a radio with CD-player (including MP3 files) and Cruise Control, down to rain, dusk and parking sensors. In other words, there are endless possible combinations, all offering excellent value for money and the best price-content ratio.

Finally, the Fiat Linea is equipped with a reliable suspension layout which guarantees very easy, precise steering, excellent roadholding and the best possible comfort for passengers: an independent MacPherson system at the front, and semi-independent wheels connected by a torsion axle at the rear.

But the Fiat Linea is not only styling, plenty of personality, modern reliable engineering, a wealth of equipment and outstanding comfort. It is also a very safe car. Rather than the individual devices, it is the combination of the many solutions adopted that make it one of the safest cars in its segment. Stable, effective braking, good acceleration guaranteed by the engines and predictable handling, get the Fiat Linea out of even the most critical situations. The new model is also very well equipped where passive safety is concerned, a fact borne out by the presence of 6 airbags (Multistage at the front, curtain-bags and sidebags) which are standard depending on the version and the market. What is more, it also adopts a number of innovative technical elements that ensure the driver always has total control of the car (active safety). These include latest generation ABS, complete with EBD (Electronic Brake Distribution) and, optionally, the sophisticated ESP (Electronic Stability Program).

These briefly are the winning features of the Fiat Linea which aims to play a leading role in this category, where all the world’s major carmakers compete. Segment C accounts for 20% of the Western European car market, in other words the core of the market, with about 3,000,000 registrations per year. However, the majority of the cars in segment C are two-box hatchbacks, while 3-box models (saloons) only account for 5% of that market, with 150,000 registrations per year (this is expected to reach 160,000 units by 2013).

The share in other non-European countries is more significant. In Turkey, for example, segment C represents 52% of the whole market, and saloons account for 75% of this, with 170,000 registrations per year (approximately 50% of these are premium cars, and the sales mix is 50% petrol and 50% diesel models).

The Fiat Linea is destined to become a strategic car for the Fiat range in China: the entire Chinese market totalled 4,000,000 vehicles in 2006, and is expected to reach 7,500,000 units by 2013.

And finally, in Brazil, the market absorbed 1,835,000 cars in 2006, and is expected to reach 2,250,000 units by 2013 (because the Brazilian market is structured differently, the Fiat Linea is in category D, and its goal is to achieve a 13% share of the segment). A special version will be marketed in Brazil, powered by the new 130 bhp 1.9 Flexfuel engine (running on gasohol, which already contains about 22% ethanol, and pure bio-ethanol). Bio-ethanol and gasohol are poured into the same tank, a feature that makes it easier for motorists to fill up. The engine software recognises the composition of the mix and automatically adapts the injection and ignition parameters.

Flexfuel engines are able to function in the same way and with the same performance with both conventional fuels and with alcohol-based fuels. In environmental terms, the advantage of ethanol lies in the fact that it is a renewable source of energy and helps to limit emissions of greenhouse gases, because it captures carbon dioxide in the production process.

The new Fiat 500 is a symbol of Italian styling excellence, a state-of-the-art solution for people who enjoy their cars in total freedom, motorists who want a car they can use every day, that is entertaining and practical, eco-friendly and accessible, but also appealing and original. This model confirms Fiat Automobiles’ undisputed leadership in this category – a result of the extraordinary technological, design and human heritage that it has built up in more than a century of life. The model takes a quality leap forward for its segment, where design and safety, technology and equipment are concerned, without turning its back on its historical, cultural and industrial identity.

The new model’s debut will be an exciting, important event, and the official launch, to take place in Turin, on July 4, has been preceded by a number of different initiatives. One of these has linked Fiat and Cappellini, an internationally renowned brand of Italian design, in a project that focuses on the new Fiat 500 and its stylistic concept.

During the International Milan Furniture Fair (from April 18 to 23), some of the companies exhibiting at the Fair will organise events in other parts of the city, transforming its entire urban fabric into an attractive centre for social and cultural aggregation. And one of the best-known sites organised outside the Fair, that arouses particular expectation with the public, is the one that Cappellini has set up this year in the former Upim store in Piazza San Babila.

The “Cappellini Temporary Store” is located right in the centre of town, and it occupies approximately 2000 square metres on two floors. It will be open to the public from 10 am to 8 pm, from April 18 to 24. In one area of this interesting venue, known as the “500 Lounge”, the public will be able to reserve one of the 500 numbered examples of the Opening Edition of the new Fiat model. They will be able to choose between a version customised by Cappellini, featuring exclusive Light Blue, elegant mouldings, and a version enhanced by Pearl White bodywork, with an exclusive numbered badge on the outside pillar and a plate inside on which the customer’s name can be engraved. Anyone interested can sign a non-binding purchasing request, granting him the right to a place on the waiting list for the assignment of one of the 500 Opening Edition versions of the car. Potential purchasers will be told details of the price and outfit at a later date, when they will be able to confirm or cancel the purchase.

At the entrance to the Cappellini Temporary Store is a ‘black box’ measuring about 250 square metres fitted with an autostethoscopic system. Outside the structure the visitor will access a multimedia station, where he can configure a Fiat 500 concept car, choosing the colour of the bodywork, the stickers to apply and some accessories. When he has terminated the operation, he will enter the ‘black box’ to see a life-size 3-D projection of his personal 500 Concept Car, and will then receive a print out of his prototype.

In line with the philosophy of the new model (“a car created for the people with the people’s own ideas”), the configurator is an evolution of the famous Concept Lab, the virtual laboratory found on the site www.fiat500.com, that has already collected more than 160,000 configurations, and suggestions for the accessories and customisation of the new model. The inauguration of the Cappellini Temporary Store was the ideal occasion to announce the three winners of the Designboom international competition, divided into the “accessories”, “everywhere” and “lifestyle” categories (the three projects are exhibited in panels displayed in a dedicated area, together with other outstanding proposals).

Developed in collaboration with Designboom (an independent web magazine for the design world), the competition is only one of the many initiatives studied by the creative team of “500 wants you”, the interactive multimedia platform which, in advance of the official launch, is touching all sectors of communication: from advertising to viral marketing, fashion and photography. But it is on the web, thanks to the www.fiat500.com site that the “500 wants you” site really comes into its own. And the figures confirm that it has been a huge success: since it went online on May 3, 2006, the site has been visited by over two million users, and boasts a community of 50,000 fans.

The Panda is not merely a segment A supermini but an authentic platform on which Fiat is building an entire car family with the sort of engineering and attention to detail you would expect from a higher category car. Now it’s the turn of the new MY 2007 range and two brand new products to extend the family: ‘Panda Panda’ and Panda 100 HP.

First and foremost, the new range introduces four new body colours: Settimo Cielo Light blue (Surf Azure), Egocentrico Orange (Samba Orange), Magnetico Blue (New Orleans Blue) and Spumeggiante Beige (Cumbia Beige). As far as the Panda is concerned, colour is not just a matter of superficial looks but an integral part of a product philosophy based on personality, flair and style. No changes have been made to the model’s original, dynamic shape – which almost amounts to a small SUV – so much appreciated by customers throughout the world. The Panda Model Year 2007 complements these lines with a stylish dark grey facia and new interiors featuring brand new colours and fabrics: all this authenticates the impression of great quality that the model conveys at first glance.

The Panda Model Year 2007 is a personality-packed car, substantial and good looking with attributes and values that are encoded in Fiat’s DNA. The credit goes to a design that has generated a car of compact external dimensions gifted with the level of comfort we now expect from larger cars. Designed to be thrifty with fuel but no less lively for that. Ideal in city traffic but at the same time eager to tackle longer journeys, with the guarantee of a relaxing drive for passengers at all times. All these features make the Panda Model Year 2007 a fun pint-sized car that also represents fantastic value for money with its winning package of features, low running costs and high resale value. Other pluses include state-of-the-art features and sophisticated hi-tech solutions. The Panda is also responsible for introducing a host of devices that have never previously been seen in this market band: for example, this car is the first in its segment to introduce the groundbreaking 70 bhp 1.3 16v Multijet, a robotised sequential manual gearbox (Dualogic), the sophisticated ESP system, the DPF device and an innovative permanent four wheel drive system with two differentials and a viscous coupling. The Panda family puts an end to the age of faceless mass production as far as superminis are concerned.

Innovative design, cutting-edge technology accessible to all and clever solutions to make life simpler and better. These are the winning features of this model. Since it was first introduced on the market, the model has risen rapidly up the league table in segment A to reach first place in the Italian and European top ten rankings. And more. Although destined mainly for European markets, the various Panda versions are also sold in countries such as Malaysia, Taiwan and the island of Martinique. In detail, since its launch, more than 650,000 units (front wheel drive and four wheel drive) have been registered in Europe, a result that makes this the biggest selling model in its market segment. If we consider the results for 2005 alone, the Fiat Panda achieved a 32% share of the supermini segment with sales of 200,000 in Europe (in Italy it exceeded 45% with approximately 130,000 units delivered). And more: in 2005, the European sales mix favoured the Dynamic specification (39.5% with 1.2 Fire engine and 11% with 1.3 Multijet engine), followed by the Active (22%) and the extremely well-appointed Emotion (9% in the petrol version and 5% in the diesel version). This shows that European customers tend to go for the top specifications since they appreciate the advantageous content/price ratio. The best-equipped 4×4 version (1.2 4×4 Climbing) accounts for nearly 13% of total model sales. And is also the biggest-selling off-road vehicle in Italy with sales of 75,000. The sales figures for 2006 confirm continuing customer interest for the Panda because the market share is virtually the same as the previous year. The excellent sales figures are also confirmed by the 18 awards received from the international motoring press, including the prestigious ‘Car of The Year 2004′ and ‘Auto Europa 2004′ awards.

This public and critical success rewards, above all, the extraordinary ability of the Panda template to extend itself and generate new versions: the tiny ‘ready for anything’ 4×4, the funky Alessi version, the entertaining Panda Active and the well-appointed Panda Emotion – not to mention the Panda Cross and Panda Monster and the brand new ‘Panda Panda’ and Panda 100 HP and a host of concept cars created on the same base: the outgoing Panda Jolly and Panda Luxury, the cutting-edge Panda Hydrogen and the adventurous Panda Terramare. Young drivers are also able to race the Panda Rally in the Fiat Panda Rally Cup 2006, the second successful edition of the rally that will help launch them on a racing career.

The legendary Abarth “Scorpion” returns

A great project will be launched at the 77th Geneva International Motor Show: the rebirth of one of the most prestigious brands in world motorsports. Its symbol is a scorpion, and its name is Abarth.

Abarth has always been synonymous with assertive cars, competitiveness, passion and excitement, and it now returns with a new range that will appeal to all lovers of motorsports. Abarth’s first interpretation of the Grande Punto will be on the “catwalk” at the Geneva Show, the first step in an initiative which will later involve other models.

This new adventure starts in the familiar, uniquely emotional context and exclusive setting of the Geneva Motor Show. A striking stand has been prepared, in line with the philosophy of Abarth’s rebirth, an innovative space with a fresh, contemporary, technological language and great attention to every detail. The new elements that will publicise the Abarth brand are displayed with all their strong, original personality: the revamped version of the famous Abarth racing stripe has been rendered with LED tiles, while the new logo, the scorpion and the wording are all large, three-dimensional elements in polished, satin-effect aluminium.

The Abarth values and tradition on the other hand are underlined discreetly and technologically: refined materials and precious finishing details in aluminium, carbon fibre, enamel and lacquer decorate the exhibition area, and draw attention to the true stars of the stand: the Grande Punto Abarth S2000, a car that has been type-approved for racing and is proving to be highly successful, and the Grande Punto Abarth Preview, a concept car making its world debut.
These are the two souls of the Abarth world: racing and standard production.

Visitors to the Geneva Show will also have an opportunity to discover a third field in which the brand operates; a multimedia configurator will illustrate the whole concept of the ‘Abarth Kit’, and the flexibility and wide range of combinations that the brand will offer customers in its conversion kits. Some of these solid wooden boxes, inlaid with satin-finished aluminium trims, are on display inside glass cubes, with the historic mechanical and stylistic components from the conversion kits.

And finally, by means of exclusive LED technology and plasma screens, the walls of the stand propose historical photographs and films, alternating them with a reproduction of the new Abarth racing stripe, underlining the fine link between the past and the future, as well as the energy and personality that are inherent in the Abarth brand.

The Grande Punto Abarth Preview

The absolute star of the stand is the Grande Punto Abarth Preview, a true jewel of assertiveness and elegance. The car will be marketed in September, to enhance the sporty, youthful positioning of the Grande Punto.

The car on show in Geneva is equipped with a 1.4 Turbo petrol engine that delivers 150 bhp at 5500 rpm, boosted to 155 bhp by the adoption of 98 RON petrol. What is more, thanks to a booster kit, a version with twice as much power as the basic version (180 bhp) will soon be available. This is a revival of a tradition from the past: for example, the Fiat 500 of 1958 delivered 13 bhp at 4000 rpm with a top speed of 85 km/h, while the Fiat 500 Abarth of the same year delivered 26 bhp at 5000 rpm and a top speed of 118 km/h.

The Grande Punto Abarth aims to revive the feats of these entertaining performance cars, offering young drivers in particular an opportunity to enter the racing world in complete safety and at an accessible price.

Spec sheet of the Grande Punto Abarth

• Engine
  • 4 cylinders in line, 4 valves per cylinder, 1368 cc;
  • Power output: 110 kW (150 bhp) at 5500 rpm, boosted to 155 bhp by adopting 98 RON petrol;
  • Peak torque of 206 Nm at 2000 rpm, but 230 Nm can be obtained at 3000 rpm by activating the
• SPORT mode;
  • ‘Drive-by-wire’ accelerator control, without mechanical connections;
  • Turboboost by Garrett IHI RHF3-P10.5 fixed geometry turbocharger.
• Transmission
  • 6-speed gearbox
  • Dual hose external gearbox drive.
• Suspension and steering
  • MacPherson layout at front with anti-roll bar;
  • Torsion axle at rear;
  • Ground-hugging sporty trim;
  • Electrical power steering with SPORT mode.
• Brakes
  • Fixed M4x40 Brembo calliper at front, with double piston;
  • Front brake disc ø 305 mm x 28 mm, ventilated;
  • Rear calliper, piston ø 54 mm;
  • Rear brake disc ø 264 mm x 11 mm.
• Bodywork
  • Wider front and rear wings.
• Wheels
  • 7” x 17” aluminium alloys;
  • Tyres: 215/45-17.

This essential sign, full of references to tradition, was created to express ’change in continuity’, and to represent from a modern viewpoint a human and technological heritage that few of the world’s carmakers can boast. Historical identity and state-of-the-art engineering skills, pride in its past and a renewed determination to innovate: this is the context in which the new Fiat Bravo was developed, a beautiful well-built Italian hatchback, which is agile, entertaining to drive, and competitive, thanks to the excellent balance between content and price.

The new Fiat Bravo is ’concrete beauty’, a car that reiterates the aesthetic canons of Italian styling tradition. It was designed to give customers the substance that comes from outstanding safety and reliability, coupled with the enjoyable, sporty driving style that the whole world expects from an Italian car.

The new model was presented in the spectacular setting of the Stadium of Marble in Rome, the Eternal City, in one of the most important examples of Neoclassical architecture. This beautiful stadium, which is inside the Foro Italico, was built in the 1930s by Renato Ricci (1896-1956), who decided to decorate the stands with an array of statues in Greek style produced by young sculptors who were unknown at the time.

The end result is an extraordinary stadium where each figure, sculpted in white marble, embodies the power of an athletic movement in a form of refined beauty. One of the characteristics of Neoclassical art was to reproduce reality by taking Beauty as the ideal of perfection and balance, not just copying nature but trying to grasp its intrinsic essence.

The decision was a pondered one, because the goal of this artistic movement, which developed in Europe between the late 19th and early 20th centuries, was to recover in a contemporary key the aesthetics, forms, noble materials, building techniques and artisan skills of Graeco-Roman tradition, the cradle of every subsequent artistic manifestation of Western culture: from literature to the theatre, music and architecture.

The neoclassical artist did not improvise, but summed up tradition in every work, with exemplary control over his emotions, perfect mastery of his materials and a broad knowledge of history.

The choice of this site underlines an ideal parallel with the Bravo project. When they developed the project, the engineers, designers, technicians and marketing staff also set out to create a ’new classic’: in the design, by references to the great Italian styling tradition; by respecting the ’fundamentals’, such as the quality of the materials and the assembly, safety, and exploitability of space, and comfort, which have always decreed a car’s success; and finally, in the technological components and cutting edge engineering processes, including recourse to virtual development techniques that have made it possible to cut lead times and to check even the tiniest details related to quality and performance thousands of times.

Rigour and Love: the best way of creating a car

The launch is charged with other symbolism. The New Fiat Bravo project challenged accepted paradigms where the design and development of a new model are concerned, in terms of time and methodologies. This extraordinary result was achieved thanks to the rigorous integration of the best processes, and the application of the most advanced technologies, but above all the essential contribution of Fiat’s men and women, and the commitment, creativeness and love that they put into their work.To convey this immense undertaking, for the debut of the new Bravo, Fiat insisted on the extraordinary participation of the performers of ’Le Cirque du Soleil’: a perfect organisation, but above all ’the best artists in the world’, as the international press has described them. It is certainly one of the most extraordinary live performances on the planet.

’Le Cirque du Soleil’ employs about 3000 people, and performers include numerous Olympic champions and former champions, who currently give life to 5 resident companies (all in the United States) and 6 touring companies that perform simultaneously all over the world, and are regularly sold out. The various shows share maniacal attention to the tiniest detail, because everything is done by hand and nothing is left to chance.

t was the first time that ’Le Cirque du Soleil’ has put on a performance in Italy designed specifically for a corporate event, in front of an audience of more than 6,000 journalists, dealers, suppliers and representatives of large client companies from 72 countries, plus 3000 children from Rome who attended the first night and enjoyed a magical dream come true.

The parallel with the Circus world is appropriate, because the circus is hard work, talent, and creativeness, preparation and dedication, professional skill and passion, coordination, collaboration and teamwork, dexterity and lightness, magic without tricks, a dream but not an illusion. Just like the project to develop a new car: months of hard work, involving hundreds of people, and a huge investment. A perfect mechanism, for a spectacle that leaves no space for pretence or for second chances. At the first turn of the key, everything must function perfectly, year in and year out, repeat after repeat.

’Authentic Italian Beauty’

Designed by the Fiat Style Centre, the model sets out to attract the public with its uncluttered, smooth lines, which on one hand confirm Fiat’s determination to create a new ’family feeling’, beginning with the Grande Punto, while on the other hand they reinvent the stylistic elements of the great Italian car-making tradition, without exaggeration or stylistic excesses: authentic beauty in other words, that is reassuring and easy to understand.The raked, forward windscreen, the drop-shaped headlights, the sporty grille that frames the new logo, and even the colour chosen for the launch campaign, known as Maranello Red, which is a clear tribute to the best-known symbol of Italian automotive excellence: Ferrari.

The new Fiat Bravo is born from this cultural and stylistic heritage, a five-door saloon with a sleek, aggressive line, which is refined and compact at the same time. It is 434 centimetres long, 179 cm wide, and 149 cm high, with a wheelbase of 260 cm, and a loading capacity of 400 litres that tops its class.

The beautiful ’dress’ made by Fiat contains all the substance of a car built to surprise in the category that rules the European market, to convince a clientele that considers the cars of this class as a real investment, because they are the family’s main car. The Bravo aims to make the difference in terms of quality, comfort, practicality and the versatility of the interior. Anyone who gets into the car will immediately be aware of the quality leap that everyone at Fiat was determined to achieve. The refinement of the materials and the colour combinations, the solidity, attention to detail and painstaking assembly, all represent a new standard for Fiat and a benchmark for the market.

Innovation, reliability and quality

Substance also means performance, safety and technology. The launch of the new Fiat Bravo is also an opportunity to present the new family of turbocharged T-JET petrol engines (120 and 150 bhp 1.4 Turbo), which combine fuel economy, low emissions and exceptional performance, and now join the popular range of Multijet common rail turbodiesels (1.9 litres delivering 120 and 150 bhp) and the 90 bhp 1.4 16v petrol engine.Comfort is enhanced by the pinpoint steering and excellent roadholding, and the choice of two tried and tested suspension systems which have been suitably modified and updated: an independent MacPherson system at the front, and a semi-independent torsion axle with interconnected wheels at the rear.

The Fiat Bravo was designed to score maximum points in passive and active safety tests, thanks to several airbags (as many as 7), three-point seat-belts with pre-tensioners and load limiters, and five head-restraints. Another aspect of safety regards the ’Pedestrian impact’, which was taken into account during the design of the chassis, designed to maximise the absorption of this type of impact.

The new model also features the most sophisticated electronic systems to monitor the vehicle’s dynamic behaviour, such as ABS complete with EBD, the sophisticated ESP system with a Hill Holder, and ASR anti-slip regulation. The Fiat Bravo embodies new technologies, not only where engineering is concerned, but also in the use of electronics at the service of comfort and well-being on board.

The best example of this is the new generation of the ’Blue&Me’ system, known as ’Blue&Me Nav’. This technology, which is a Fiat Group exclusive, developed with Microsoft, combines the functions of the first generation with a highly efficient pictogram navigation system, and access to a series of telematic services, that convey the true spirit of Fiat: simple, useful and at the right price.

The ’dual-zone’ automatic climate system, a choice of two radios with specific Hi-Fi systems, the large panoramic opening sunroof, Cruise Control, a rain sensor, parking sensors and foglights with a self-adaptive cornering function, complete the array of equipment to customise the car, and to make life on board a pleasure for every occupant.

And finally, to underline the generosity of this project, the Fiat Bravo range will be broad and comprehensive right from its launch, with a choice of 5 engines, 12 elegant liveries and 4 outfit levels (Active, Dynamic, Emotion and Sport), all designed to offer the customer outstanding value for money.

Made in Italy, Sold around the world

The new Fiat Bravo aims to become the benchmark for what is the most important segment of the European market, which accounted for over 3,400,000 cars sold in 2006, or little more than one fifth of the total market (a value that has been practically constant since 2000).
It is clearly a very interesting segment but one that is also highly competitive, with about 30 different models, from full-liners and premium European, Asian and American manufacturers.We should also underline that the largest grouping in the medium sized saloon category is made up of 2-box saloons or hatchbacks, which account for over 71% of sales. About 25% of total sales for this category are destined to the corporate market, where qualities such as residual value, operating costs, reliability and price are important considerations. But these are areas in which the Fiat Bravo will be one of the most competitive models on the market.

With these expectations, the long-established plant in Piedimonte S. Germano (Frosinone) and its 3500 employees are preparing themselves enthusiastically to turn out an average of 120,000 cars a year, which will be marketed in 55 countries around the world, starting in 2007.

Grande Punto, passion on the move

The Grande Punto, the new Fiat that aims to repeat the historical success of the previous model, without following in its footsteps, makes its debut in Turin. Although in theory the car belongs to segment B, its size, equipment and characteristics actually represent an alternative to many segment C cars.

The Grande Punto is therefore unique in the world panorama, designed and built to be the new benchmark in stylistic terms, introducing a concept of larger ’dimensions’. The model also reaches safety and quality standards that are particularly high for its segment, it offers the best range of diesel engines and, finally, it has a very competitive price/content ratio. As a result of all these features, the Grande Punto interprets three fundamental qualities, beauty, solidity and brilliance in a highly original way.

The result is a car that embodies the passion, and the styling and construction capabilities of a brand that was founded over a century ago. Because this is part of the brand’s genetic make-up, together with the work and professional pride of thousands of people – technicians, blue collars and managers – who have worked in its plants and offices, and on the race track, over the years. It contains the roots of the inimitable personality that ensure that we immediately recognise a Fiat among all the cars we see on the road. There has always been a Fiat car for the people who first discovered the car as an irreplaceable means of individual mobility, and then learned to appreciate cars that are beautiful, reliable and enjoyable to drive, but above all at an accessible price.

And the Grande Punto is no exception; in fact it sets new styling, safety and comfort parameters for this category, where the world’s best manufacturers are all vying for space. Suffice it to say that the compact segment represents 26% of the Western European car market, in other words, the ’core’ of the market, with about 3,750,000 cars sold a year. This is even more the case in Italy, where this category accounts for 37% of the market, made up 56% of petrol engines and 44% of diesels.

In order to achieve and maintain the lead in this market bracket, the Grande Punto must make a real leap forward in conceptual terms. Only a few years ago, a car with these dimensions, comfort and equipment would have been considered a ’family car’, and certainly not a compact.
Which is why only a brand like Fiat could have swept away the classic categories to dictate times and methods, once again setting trends and imposing concepts and innovative solutions. The latest arrival from Fiat takes a generation leap forward compared to the previous model, as the Punto did in relation to the Uno when it was launched in 1993, and the Uno did in relation to the 127. The name lives on, as a wonderful legacy of a car that has been appreciated by 6 million customers with different tastes, ages, nationalities and social extraction.

The three winning qualities of the new model

Developed by Italdesign-Giugiaro together with the Fiat Style Centre, the styling of the Grande Punto stands out in the current automotive scene for the beauty of the exterior line, which is modern, elegant and distinctly ’Italian’, a ’Mediterranean’ stylistic language where the tapered rounded lines seem to be inspired by the sports cars of the 1950s and 1960s. Like the exterior, the interior of the Grande Punto represents the most evolved expression of Italian styling, thanks to the quality of the materials and the care that went into every detail. The result is a luminous, welcoming, functional environment.

This is a car created to ’excite’, but also to express the solidity that comes from superb quality standards. This is borne out by extremely high safety standards, attention to detail that is unusual in this market bracket, and exceptional comfort. This impression is confirmed by the car’s external dimensions which put it at the peak of its category: it is 403 cm long, 168 cm wide, 149 cm high and has a wheelbase of 2.51 metres, measurements which translate into an extraordinary amount of interior roominess. The Grande Punto is clearly a car of superior quality: from the very first stages of the project, the team working on it pursued very high quality standards, drawing on a stringent engineering process, based on a very strong platform, while it applied the most advanced, innovative reliability methodologies throughout the model’s development and industrialisation.

And finally, the Grande Punto is agile and enjoyable to drive in all situations. A brilliance derived primarily from its engines, which combine excellent performance, low fuel consumption and absolute respect for the environment (they are all Euro 4). There are two petrol engines (the 65 bhp 1.2 8v and the new 77 bhp 1.4 8v), and four turbodiesels (the 120 and 130 bhp 1.9 Multijet, the 75 bhp 1.3 Multijet 16v and the new 90 bhp 1.3 Multijet 16v with a variable geometry turbo).

’Value’ as a key to success

In other words the stage seems set to repeat the market success of the previous model. A car’s success is the result of a successful challenge, a flash of stylistic intuition sustained by studies into new fashion trends, customers’ emerging needs and projections regarding market performance. In other words, a difficult recipe, which is then tested by the strictest judge: time.

Real success lasts for years. This was evident with the Punto: from 1993 to the present day, over six million people in Europe have bought the car, and twenty-five international juries have rewarded it. Even though the Grande Punto makes its debut, manufacture and marketing of the Punto currently on the market will continue, with petrol, diesel and methane versions, and particularly advantageous offers.

Like the previous model, the Grande Punto plays the same trump card: listening to customers and making sure the product evolves to meet their needs. Consistent with the first and most important demand put forward by any customer who buys a car, the new model will offer ’value’ above all. This has always been one of the strengths of the Fiat Punto, which has led its segment, one where a huge number of new cars have been launched in recent years. Competition is obviously fierce, ready to enter the fray with every means. But this model has never lost ground, competing at the highest levels and always offering an extra something: safety, value for money and a good performance/consumption balance, and constantly striving for innovation. This is of course Fiat’s mission: an Italian company that builds cars with original styling and a wealth of intelligent solutions that are therefore capable of guaranteeing a better quality of everyday life. And today the Grande Punto takes up the baton with the precise goal of respecting this ideal commitment made to motorists.

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Exteriror

Moving Passion

The communications policy planned for this original model addresses a young, dynamic public using a fresh, immediate language. One result is the ’Mr. Dot’ logo, a cheerful P-shaped pictogram which changes appearance according to the situation: from a driver to a little man on skis. There are 50 possible transformations, each with a different personality, the expression of the concept of “moving passion” that lies behind the Grande Punto project: if on one hand the new model represents the passion shown by Fiat and its employees for cars, speed and racing, on the other, it is also the spirit of a customer who is attracted by the values of beauty, dynamism, colour, passion and movement. 19 versions have been created, by combining 2 body types (3 or 5 doors), 4 outfits, 6 engines, 13 body colours and 12 types of interior, all at an interesting price. The Grande Punto is also ’great’ because of its price, which is almost identical to that of today’s Punto with the difference that, for the same investment, customers will enjoy a car at the peak of its category with lavish, cutting-edge equipment.

A precise response to every need

Styling, emotion, comfort, safety and a good price: these are the guidelines along which the Grande Punto was developed; a car created for young adults, the very young, new active women, and small modern families. To meet the requirements of this heterogeneous public, the Grande Punto proposes typically Italian styling, the symbol of character and refinement, in two bodies: a 3-door version that is more aggressive and dynamic, and will appeal above all to the young, and a 5-door version that exalts the balance between styling and comfort, performance and safety, access and its distinctive look.

Both versions share a broad, comprehensive range with four specification levels, each capable of satisfying different customers who share the same youthful, dynamic spirit. The Active outfit addresses the younger driver, people full of vitality with an open, flexible mentality; the Dynamic version is the right response for those who combine an emotional and a rational approach, while the Grande Punto Emotion is ideal for the motorist who is looking for the equipment of a higher category and excellent comfort in a compact. And finally, the Sport version will certainly appeal to customers who want excellent performance and distinctive styling features.

So it is not exaggerated to state that everyone will find the Grande Punto he is looking for, customising it with the many options on offer, and taking advantage of the innovative financial and insurance services created specifically, and the many interesting accessories available from Lineaccessori. Nor can we overlook the fact that other novelties are in the pipeline for the Grande Punto, where the engines and the info-telematic systems are concerned. One example? An amazing rally version which will be presented in a few days time at the Frankfurt International

Beautiful

A car that arouses strong emotions; a sleek, aggressive line, and conveys an impression of elegance and compactness. And the Grande Punto combines this intrinsic beauty with the comfort, practicality and usability of a car from a higher segment. For example, it is extremely roomy, with excellent front visibility, easy access and a capacious luggage compartment. Where quality is concerned, the Grande Punto is stylish and refined because of the colour combinations and the innovative materials employed, painstaking attention to detail and the choice of fabrics, imparting a great sense of solidity and compactness.

Italian styling for a new conception of sportiness

Developed by Italdesign-Giugiaro with the Fiat Style Centre, the styling of the Grande Punto is an intriguing mixture of aggressiveness and power, combined with ’restraint’ and elegance. A sporty, flowing line that communicates strength and agility while showing off its refinement.

The strong character of the Grande Punto is evident in the car’s sleek, aggressive nose which conveys an incredibly real dynamism. It is a striking front end, worthy of a small GT, into which the elongated headlights are set with an original tension. The impression is strong: vivaciousness, attention-getting, a touch of transgression and a mysterious appeal. The rear end is softer and rounder, and it balances the aggressive front end. The car communicates its more reassuring character at the rear, reiterating the concepts of stability, solidity and strength.

The final result is a balanced line which meets demands for drive and rationale, where the values of sportiness, refinement and beauty all coexist harmoniously. The styling of the Grande Punto is rooted in the traditions of Italian motoring, a legendary history re-interpreted in a modern key and absolutely new in the current scenario.

Front
The line of the Grande Punto reinterprets the image of previous models in a dynamic, sporty key, combining hitherto irreconcilable elements. This is borne out by the aggressive front that is modelled to respect the canons of pedestrian impact protection. The approach, of both the composition and the modelling, is the fruit of careful analysis and is developed to respect the latest standards, which envisage more rounded volumes, a wider bonnet and tapered bumper structure, perceptible above all in the plane view, keeping the area of impact to a minimum.

The windscreen and the bonnet are pronounced and homogeneous: because there is no clear break between the two elements (an accentuated bonnet and sharply raked glass) they are perceived almost on the same line, a characteristic that highlights the sporty nature of the Grande Punto. In line with the requirements of the latest standards, the grille highlights the break between the bonnet and the front bumper, which tapers off as it links up with the wheelarches.

Beauty as the most up-to-date expression of Italian style

Developed by the Fiat Style Centre, the exterior design of the model is unmistakably ‘Italian’, another step forward in the development of the brand’s new stylistic identity.The new Bravo arouses emotions at first glance, and it welcomes driver and passengers aboard in a passenger compartment where they will appreciate the quality of the materials and the care dedicated to even the smallest detail.

The Fiat Bravo cleverly combines a compact five-door body with an extraordinary amount of interior roominess: it is 434 centimetres long, 179 cm wide, and 149 cm high, with a wheelbase of 2.6 metres, and a loading capacity of 400 litres that tops its class.

Substance in the form of an innovative, reliable, quality car

The Fiat Bravo aims to be a car of ‘substance’, thanks to a lavish array of technological features and quality standards worthy of a higher class where safety, comfort and driving enjoyment are concerned.The Fiat Bravo is an agile car that is entertaining to drive in every situation, thanks in part to the wide choice of engines, which include the popular turbodiesel 1.9 Multijets (120 and 150 bhp), the 90 bhp 1.4, and a new family of turbocharged T-JET petrol engines (120 and 150 bhp 1.4 Turbo) that now make their debut, combining low consumption and outstanding performance.

Designed by the Fiat Style Centre, the new Fiat Linea presents an elegant, dynamic external line. The same stylistic attention has been paid to the interior, the lines of which are harmonious and well balanced with the exterior to create a bright and friendly environment capable of guaranteeing extraordinary interior roominess and superior comfort in terms of ergonomics and space available to the driver and passengers.

This impression is confirmed by the car’s generous dimensions which set it at the very top of its segment: 4.56 metres long, 1.73 m wide, 1.5 m tall and with a wheelbase of 2.6 m, in addition to having a luggage compartment boasting an impressive 500 litres.

An elegantly functional car, with a strong Italian imprint, the Fiat Linea will be marketed in different equipment levels and equipped with features more usually found in higher segment vehicles as demonstrated by a number of sophisticated infotelematic devices which improve the comfort and quality of time spent on board.

The Fiat Linea’s generous equipment is dedicated to the protection of driver and passengers and the customer can choose from a wide range of gasoline and diesel engines that combine excellent performance, low fuel consumption and absolute respect for the environment, coupled to both manual and automatic transmissions.

And in order to guarantee the best price/content ratio, the various combinations of Fiat Linea equipment levels available are all characterised by high value for money.

The tiny Fiat 500 is now something of a trendy cult car, its rounded egg-like body and diminutive size endearing it to millions. The car was a successor to the Topolino model. (Topolino means ’mouse’). The designer was named Dante Giacosa, an individual who would later become an automotive legend for his contributions to the industry.

To meet the demands of the post-war market which called for cars of very low cost, the Fiat 500 was rear-engined on the pattern of the Volkswagen Beetle. Several car makers followed this now nearly vanished pattern at the time and were quite successful.

But only the Fiat 500 was used as the pattern for other car makers in Europe. The firms Neckar of Germany and Steyr-Puch in Austria each made cars that were legally based on the Fiat 500.

Measuring less than 3 m (10 ft) long, and powered by a tiny 479 cc two-cylinder (economical and hard wearing, so long as you can resist the temptation to drive flat-out all the time), aircooled engine, the 500 redefined the term “microcar”.With 13 horsepower the 500 never set any land speed records. It had a top speed of 85 km/h.

I cant really say much on the safety aspect of these cars – being a very small classic car with the engine in the rear I certainly wouldn’t think it would hold up very well in any kind of collision, most models have front seat belts though, and to be fair, Fiat did add numerous other safety features from time to time, just remember they were designed long before air bags came out!

To help improve the performance of the 500, Carlo Abarth offered bolt-on aftermarket parts and accessories, the cars were fitted with spartan like design, with vinyl covered seats and fitted carpets on the ’L’ models. These additions helped with increasing the horsepower and performance of the engine as well as improving the handling and making the vehicles more fun to drive and competitive on the streets.

In 1957, the 500 received 2 extra horsepower, bringing the total to 15. Wind-up windows were now standard.

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The handling is also superb for a car of its age and price, on ice the car can behave in unexpected ways – being rear-wheel drive and having most of the weight at the back means you get lots of traction, but cornering can be very exciting if you get it ’a bit wrong’.

In summer the huge fabric sunroof provides excellent ventilation and great views, if you dare to drive in winter then make sure the heating system is working – it relies on ’wafting’ cooling air from around the engine up the central floor-tunnel to vents in the dashboard. Any air leaks and it just doesn’t work!

From 1958 through 1960, Fiat offered a Sport version. These Sport versions offered a 21 horsepower engine, and a one piece roof. The standard 500 version had a fold-back sunroof.

In 1965, the 500F lost its suicide doors in favor of the more popular hinged doors. The horsepower rating was once again improved and now offered 19. The top speed was 95 km/h.

From 1969 through 1975, a Lux version was offered. This featured full carpeting and plastic revised dashboards.

In 1975 production of the Fiat 500 ceased. 3.6 million examples had been produced during its life span. In 2004, Fiat created a concept car that was similar in design and style to the Fiat 500. It was called the Fiat Trepiuno and featured front wheel drive.

The 500 endured a successful life span due to it economical size, excellent fuel economy, easy to repair, styling, competitive price, and city-friendly driving characteristics. Due to its small size, it was easy to navigate and drive in the small, Italian streets. Thanks to its short wheelbase and length, the vehicle could manuever easily into cramped parking spaces. ]]> http://www.240km.com/1957-fiat-500.html/feed 0 http://www.240km.com/2006-fiat-multipla.html http://www.240km.com/2006-fiat-multipla.html#comments Tue, 27 Oct 2009 10:41:31 +0000 simonie http://www.240km.com/?p=2423

Attractive and ingenious, the new Multipla comes with a new look, but still retains its main strength: six comfortable seats, with extraordinary flexibility of use and versatility. In just over four metres, the new Multipla offers a solid solution to the need for space, with six seats arranged in two rows, three in the front and three in the rear, all equally comfortable and roomy: it is actually the only car in its category to offer the 3+3 solution.

The new Multipla, with its unmistakable and attractive design, is the perfect example of how ingenious solutions can really improve in-car quality of life. Its special design means that it drives for all the world like an MPV, its greater height providing easier access and domination of the road, while its large windows provide much greater visibility; the modular seat arrangement, with seats that tip up or can be removed completely, makes it possible to create a luggage compartment with a capacity of up to 1300 litres, from a total internal volume of over 3m³.
All these intelligent solutions make the new Multipla a veritable mobile living room, which can be rearranged as needed to offer the interior of a station wagon or a people carrier, a saloon or a van. As the name suggests, it multiplies the various arrangements and movements possible and makes for free, inventive use of the interior space.
Freedom that, in the Multipla, is also synonymous with total driving safety: the New Multipla is the first model from the Fiat Group to adopt Bluetooth hands-free technology (available from the Accessory Line).
The New Multipla – which is launched this month in Italy and at a later date in the other markets – has two trim levels, Active and Dynamic, 10 body colours, a host of safety systems and equipment and a wide range of options and accessories.
The new model can be fitted with the 1.6 16v petrol engine, the 1.9 JTD diesel and the environmentally-friendly 1.6 “Natural Power” engine, which runs on either methane or petrol.

On the outside, the new Multipla has a distinctive ‘Chrome-Shadow’ front grille which reiterates the family feeling which has been prevalent on recent new Fiat models, and the lower part of the headlights is now transparent, a detail that enhances the technological impact of these stylish lights. The colour range for the paintwork has also been greatly extended with the introduction of eight new shades that help to underline the car’s unmistakable, original design

The engine that powers the Multipla Natural Power is a 1.6 Torque 16-valve unit that adopts a phased sequential Multipoint system. This is a technical feature that enables the engine to obtain the same advantages as a petrol engine even with a methane supply. The car guarantees excellent driveability: with the methane supply, the maximum power output is 68 kW (92 bhp) at 5750 rpm, with torque of 130 Nm (13.3 kgm) at 4000 rpm. When it is running on petrol, these values are 76 kW (103 bhp) at 5750 rpm and 145 Nm (14.8 kgm) at 4000 rpm respectively.

What is more, the Natural Power version is very fuel-efficient and emissions are also safe and minimal. This permits the motorist to drive even in areas of the town where traffic is restricted (because of an excess of polluting emissions), and to park it even in a lock-up. What about consumption? With methane drive, the Multipla Natural Power returns 7.5 kg/100 km (on the urban cycle), 5.0 kg/100 km (out of town) and 5.9 kg/100 km (on the combined cycle); with petrol (the tank holds 38 litres), the values are 11.9 l/100 km, 7.5 l/100 km and 9.1 l/100 km. The natural gas is stored in three steel cylinders under the floorpan, which have a total capacity of 164 litres and can contain 26 kg of methane, guaranteeing a maximum range of 520 kilometres (440 km in the combined cycle and 345 km in the urban cycle). On top of which, performance is very good: the new environment-friendly Multipla has a top speed of 168 km/h running on petrol (157 km/h with methane), and accelerates from 0 a 100 km/h in 13.5 seconds (petrol) or 16 seconds (methane). ]]> http://www.240km.com/2006-fiat-multipla.html/feed 0 http://www.240km.com/2006-fiat-sedici.html http://www.240km.com/2006-fiat-sedici.html#comments Tue, 27 Oct 2009 10:39:11 +0000 simonie http://www.240km.com/?p=2420

The Fiat Sedici did not go on sale until mid-March but is already a star, as the many orders collected by dealers since the beginning of the year testify.

Fortified by an absolutely irresistible price list – prices from 18,970 euros (on the road) – the new model personifies the ‘4×4 4 ALL’ concept that Fiat has brought to the four wheel drive market with the specific aim of offering customers all the safety and fun that is only available from a four wheel drive version. The Fiat Sedici’s features make it the ideal alternative to segment C cars and also to all other off-roaders currently on the market since it offers the driving satisfaction and handling of a compact car with the performance figures of an SUV.

The new model, the official car of the 2006 Turin Winter Olympic Games, offers a new selectable 4×4 system with central differential and 3 operating modes: 2WD, AUTO and LOCK. Its performance is that of a true off-roader, while its driving comfort and fuel economy are that of a road vehicle.

Customers can also choose between two specification levels, Dynamic and Emotion, ten body shades and two power units, the new petrol-driven 107 bhp 1.6 16v and the 120 bhp 1.9 Multijet, the latter fitted as standard with a DPF (particulate filter). The standard equipment package may be enhanced and further customised by a selected range of options and items from the Accessory range.

In detail, the on-the-road prices for 1.6 16v versions are 18.970 euros (Dynamic) and 20,470 euros (Emotion); the 1.9 Multijet versions are available at 21,970 euros (Dynamic) and 23,470 euros (Emotion). All versions come with a 3 year (or 100,000 km) warranty included in the price.

These are the winning features of the new car, which marks a veritable leap forward in the compact SUV scenario because it is the result of a style and design approach whose distinguishing feature is freedom of choice. The new model is a blend of different vehicle types: it combines the driving satisfaction and handling features of a compact Fiat with the off-road performance of an SUV (Sport Utility Vehicle). Incidentally, the car’s name says everything about its off-road proclivities: Sedici (sixteen] is what you get when you multiply 4×4 – the code used to identify four-wheel drive

The new model is available in two specifications (Dynamic and Emotion) with two power units (107 bhp 1.6 16v and 120 bhp 1.9 Multijet) and reconciles apparently conflicting qualities: plenty of passenger room despite a compact size; the handling of a saloon with the off-road qualities of an SUV – and original exterior styling with interior design geared for maximum practicality. This means that the Fiat Sedici is the ideal solution for the motorist of today who inhabits a technological world where it is common for objects to serve more than one purpose. The car is now seen as a versatile product that can adapt to different activities: work, relaxation, culture and leisure time. The Fiat Sedici has thus been designed and built for drivers who wish to make a statement by driving a sophisticated car with elegant lines yet are also seeking a compact, easily handled and safe car that will slip through town traffic with ease.

The new Fiat model allows its customers to make the most of their free time, particularly if they love nature and wish to indulge their taste for adventure and challenge: The vehicle boasts an all-terrain look plus a special adaptable four wheel drive that allows the driver the freedom of changing from a 4×2 drive to a 4×4, thus ensuring this vehicle consumes less fuel than other off-road vehicles in the same category. And more, a Fiat Sedici equipped with the spirited 120 bhp 1.9 Multijet engine assures outstanding performance, travelling comfort and respect for the environment.

The Fiat Sedici simultaneously ensures thrills and driving satisfaction by carefully juggling style and sophisticated engineering. Its vigour arouses a zest for life while satisfying the desire to travel in complete freedom. Fiat wishes to play a leading role in the development of the SUV by offering an off-roader for all. This steadily growing market segment rose from a share of 1.7% in 1992 to the current level of 6% for the entire European on-road vehicle fleet. Back in 1992 the segment was made up of vehicles that were configured for out-and-out off-road driving but the original generation of off-road vehicles were later supplanted as a result of two events: the first occurred in 1994 with the arrival of the first compact SUVs combining the qualities of true 4×4 off-roaders with up-to-date and original design making them suitable for city driving. These were followed in 1997 by deluxe off-roaders: with their wealth of equipment and extremely generous dimensions, these were the ideal response for demanding, sophisticated customers in a continual quest for unique products with a strong personality.

Both subsegments, particularly the compact SUV subsegment, are now experiencing growing interest from the public and the scenario is changing quickly. The size and features of the Fiat Sedici slot it into the compact SUV category but it stands head and shoulders above the herd for its absolutely elegant exterior styling and very appealing standard equipment package.

“Eurovans” is a common name applied to nearly identical large MPVs resulting from Sevel, a joint-venture of PSA and Fiat, and manufactured at Sevel Nord factory in France, near Valenciennes. The first eurovans were sold as Citroën Evasion (Synergie), Fiat Ulysse, Lancia Zeta and Peugeot 806. The present, second generation, saw the renaming of all but the Ulysse to Citroën C8, Lancia Phedra and Peugeot 807 respectively.

The eurovans differ little technically and visually, being a prime example of badge engineering. The eurovans share mechanicals and body structure with Sevel light commercial vans, Citroën Jumpy (Dispatch), Fiat Scudo and Peugeot Expert. They are more technically related to PSA than Fiat vehicles, as PSA governs the Sevel Nord part of the joint-venture.

Second generation

The first-generation eurovans were superseded by a new model in 2002. The floorpan, wheelbase and suspension setup were not altered, but all exterior dimensions as well as front and rear tracks were increased. In particular, the increase in length by almost 30 cm greatly enhanced interior capacity. The new eurovans were afforded a much more bubbly, contemporary look, along with a modern-looking dashboard with centrally mounted gauges. The differences are now more pronounced, encompassing entire front fascias and rear sections (including head- and taillights), as well as different interior color themes. The Fiat and the Lancia are slightly wider than PSA vans, and the Phedra is also longer than other eurovans.

Names

Except for the Fiat Ulysse, all the models have been renamed. The 806 was, as expected, replaced by 807, while Citroën chose to put the minivan in line with its new naming theme, where models were called Cx (x being a number roughly corresponding to the relative size of a given model), hence the Citroën C8. As the new Lancias didn’t use Greek letters anymore, the new minivan was called Lancia Phedra, in honor of the Greek mythological figure Phaedra.

Engines

The engine range comprised again of different versions of the PSA EW/DW engine, paired with either 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic transmissions. Additionally, top-of-the-line versions came with the PSA ES V6.

All diesels were PSA’s HDIs, but billed JTD by Fiat as well.

Into the latter category we can probably put Fiats facelifted MK2 Punto, launched in 2003. The sharp styling of its predecessor was rounded off but there were a whole host of other changes that were far more agreeable. Buying a used Fiat isnt the gamble it used to be and the MK2 Punto has gained a reputation as one of the better built superminis, an impression the post-2003 cars bolstered.
Most will notice the larger clear-lensed headlamps, the three-part under-bumper grille that received mixed reviews and the rather neater treatment to the rear end. Of more consequence are a trio of engines that merit closer investigation. First up is a 95bhp 16-valve 1.4-litre petrol powerplant offered with the Sporting model that plugged the yawning gap between the 80bhp and 130bhp petrol engines existing in the original post-2000 Punto line-up.
Of more interest to British motorists were the Multijet diesel engines of either 70bhp or 100bhp output. Its worth remembering at this point that it was Fiat who popularised the notion of common-rail diesel engines and here, the concept was taken a step further. Whereas conventional Fiat common-rail diesel engines fire two squirts of fuel into the combustion chamber for each cycle of the cylinder – a small pilot shot followed by the full injection of fuel – Multijet adopts an altogether more sophisticated approach. Depending on variables such as engine temperature and throttle opening, Multijet can fire anything up to five injections per cycle.
The amount of fuel entering the engine doesnt exceed first generation common-rail, but it can be tailored to burn more efficiently which in turn purports to decrease noise, vibration, carbon dioxide emissions and overall fuel economy. Impressive stuff. The interior benefits from Fiats post-2003 drive to endow the Punto with a more upmarket look and feel. Two tone dashboards give the car an airier feel than its predecessor and dual-zone climate control will be fitted to many cars youll find.
A fascinating piece of electronics is the Connect OBN system, an optional off-board navigation system. Rather than rely on the more usual CD-ROM of information that invariably fails to mention a newly-built motorway or terminates as you cross a national border, Connect OBN instead uses information stored centrally. Users pay a nominal fee every time they download a route and it keeps costs down.

The popular UK Fiat Panda range has been boosted by the arrival of tthe state-of-the-art turbodiesel featuring Fiat Auto’s widely acclaimed, Euro 4-compatible, 1.3 litre 16-valve MultiJet engine – the smallest and most advanced common rail direct injection turbodiesel in the world.

This resulta in not only the most powerful and quickest Panda in the range, but also the one with the lowest fuel consumption (65.7 mpg combined official figure), lowest emissions and lowest running costs.

The revolutionary Fiat Multipla MPV has undergone its mid-life facelift offering a mildy re-worked interior, new fatures and italso now comes with a new low environmental impact engine (with dual fuel system, petrol and LPG) which joins the two methane engines currently available. The interiors of the new versions due to go on sale at the end of May have been changed: new design cloth for SX versions, a new velvet-like trim for ELX versions and the option of a PVC facia instead of a cloth facia on both.

The Multipla now offers 13 colour shades, of which five are new: Indy Green, Pareo Yellow, Artemis Green, Antarctic Blue and Canary Blue. The suspension has been improved on all versions and one-touch electric windows have been adopted on the driver’s window. Higher specification versions (ELX) now come with a new lumbar adjustment control, a tailgate with electric lock release and darkened rear windows. Body-coloured bumpers and number plate holders now come as standard.

The new Fiat Multipla offers enhanced safety. All versions come with rear disc brakes. Latest-generation sensors modulate airbag intervention according to passenger weight and mass while optional window bags drop down over the windows to safeguard occupants’ heads in case of side impact. These offer even more protection than that afforded by the sidebags.
The seats offer something new too. The rear seats come with head-restraints that allow a better view during parking manoeuvres. The backrests also ensure better containment. The Fiat Multipla is fitted with ISOFIX attachments so that child seats can be attached easily and safely.
A wide range of options means customers can equip their Multipla to suit their own requirements. Apart from the items already mentioned, options include a footboard for easy access to the rear seats, a new phone aerial, anti-obstruction electric windows, new design alloy wheels and leather-trimmed gear knob and steering wheel. The steering wheel may be fitted with controls for the radio, now available also with a single CD player.
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The Multipla offers a range of telematic options: It can be fitted as an option with three levels of CONNECT, an infotelematic tool that acts as an on-board assistant and puts you in contact with the world of services offered by Targasys.

Three product levels are available:
- the basic level provides: radio, dual band GSM phone, emergency call key and – as an option – an external CD player;
- the second level offers a radio and pictogram satellite navigation system;
- the third, most comprehensive system offers: radio, pictogram navigation system, dual band GSM phone, GPS satellite location and, as an option, an external CD player.

The Fiat Multipla is available in two specification levels, SX and ELX, and can be equipped with four engines: two conventional, the 76 kW (103 bhp) 1.6 Torque 16v and the 85 kW (115 bhp) 1.9 JTD that ensure low fuel consumption, outstanding performance and a balanced, flexible and satisfying drive. Plus two low environmental impact engines, the ‘blupower’ (methane only) and ‘bipower’ (with dual methane and petrol fuel system), that are proving to be a big hit with the public.
These last two are now joined by another new clean engine: the Gpower, a petrol and LPG engine. Until recently, vehicles could be converted to run on gas (LPG) only as an aftersales option. Fiat Multipla LPG is, however, manufactured directly in the factory at Arese and marketed through the normal sales network. It is therefore a reliable, certified and guaranteed version.

The choice of LPG does not affect the Fiat Mulitpla’s load space: the tank (one or two cylinders, as you prefer) is positioned under the floor outside the passenger compartment. This solution allows you to benefit from a much higher fuel capacity than offered by other cars on the market. The range increases accordingly to 350 km on a single tank and an impressive 620 with the double tank.
The system’s strength is its fuel system. The gas is not vaporised but injected into the engine in its liquid state. As with the Bipower engine, the four injectors are specially designed for this fuel and the petrol and LPG fuel systems (both Multipoint) are separate.
These features bring great benefits in terms of handling and performance. Liquid injection allows the amount of LPG injected into the intake duct to be monitored more carefully so that the requisite air-fuel ratio can be obtained more accurately. This also assures greater driving comfort at the transient speeds most common during town driving, i.e. acceleration, braking and stop-go driving. The performances obtained using liquid LPG are on a par with those delivered by a petrol fuel system.
Like methane, LPG (liquid petroleum gas) is a clean fuel and thus meets Fiat’s now customary low environmental impact requirements.
The fuel also burns without leaving any of the carbon wastes that sometimes arise when a car runs on petrol. These wastes are responsible for premature wear on the piston rings and power unit wear in general.

The car offers environmental as well as financial benefits. For example, LPG – with methane – is the most economical fuel on the market in Italy: it costs about half as much as petrol. It is not burdened by excess taxation either, because gas conversions are not liable to tax.

The widespread preconception that LPG systems are dangerous is also a myth. The laws governing tank, pipe, valve and device construction are actually very strict. The Fiat Multipla is also protected by a Fire Prevention System (FPS) that protects the LPG system as well as the petrol system. One of its main components is an inertia switch that instantly cuts off the LPG flow in the case of an accident by closing the three solenoids on the tank and in the engine bay. The strength of the tank has also been tried by very severe crash tests. And there is more. The LPG system on the Multipla is equipped with the same diagnostic system present on all Group vehicles and can thus be serviced in any official Fiat service outlet. Because they are produced on a normal assembly line, LPG Multiplas are also subject to all standard production process checks.

The main specifications of the dual petrol and LPG fuel system are as follows:

cylinder capacity: 1596 cc 16 valves Euro 3
maximum power (petrol/LPG): 76 kW at 5750 rpm
maximum torque (petrol/LPG): 145 Nm at 4000 rpm
operation with separate injections inter-connected by a high-speed CAN line
refuelling capacity: petrol = 38 litres, LPG (single cylinder) = 48 litres, LPG (double cylinder) = 86 litres
LPG consumption: town route = 14.2 litres/100 km, out-of-town route = 9.3 litres/100 km, combined route = 11.1 litres/100 km
range (calculated over a mixed + motorway route with a top speed of 130 km/h): with single cylinder = 350 km, with double cylinder = 620 km
exhaust CO2 emissions: 179 g/km