Category: Fiat

Fiat call their new supermini ‘Grande Punto’, and they’re damn right for it has considerably been sized up. Being 4m03 long, 1m68 wide and 1m49 high, the Punto even oversizes the Clio III. We can guess not only accomodation will benefit from this increase but also resistance against shocks, Fiat targetting a five star rating at the EuroNcap crash-tests.
Since this new car is vital for Fiat’s future, they have got everything right, especially in terms of styling, a task that was granted to Giugiaro. He did a good job indeed, featuring the Punto III with a Maserati-like front end, thick wheel arches making it look steady and a funny new Punto logo.

Under the bonnet, we find 2 petrol and 4 diesel units. The first 2, a 1.2 and a 1.4 respectively delivering 65 and 77bhp, seem somewhat disappointing for lack of power, especially as the car must have put on weight. Let’s hope Fiat will release the 1.6 180bhp that has been rumoured, which would allow the Punto to compete with the Clio III RS or the future Peugeot 207 RC.
There are 2 diesel blocks, a 1.3 16V Multijet outputting either 75 or 90bhp and a 1.9  Multijet, coupled with a 6-speed gearbox, delivering either 120 or 130bhp, the latter being mounted in the Sporting version.
The Punto III shares its underpinning with the new Corsa, which will be launched in 2006.

The new Punto will hit the showrooms in September in Italy and by the turn of 2006 in the UK. In the mean time, Fiat will continue to make the Punto II, perhaps to make a smooth transition to the more expensive Grande Punto.

Fiat Auto CEO Sergio Marchionne wants to accelerate Fiat Auto’s recovery with several cost cuts, rationalizing research and development, spending less on advertising and reducing staffing. He seeks to save €105 million in 2005 and €180 million in 2006 on wages, €150 million on communication and €200 million on R&D. Even if GM gave Fiat €1.55 billion for breaking their alliance, Fiat’s situation is not safe yet. It should soon be better off with such new models as the Punto III, the new Croma or the oncoming SUV, but then, the brand has to face the misfortunes of the Punto II, Idea and Stilo. Marchionne hopes Fiat will break even in 2006.
Fiat chairman Luca Cordero Di Montezemolo announced Fiat’s priority is to find industrial partners to create such alliances as that made with PSA, since 2 of their main markets, Italy and Poland, are not performing well at all. We know that there have been negotiations with SAIC, Suzuki and Tata. Besides, he claimed the rumours of Ferrari being brought to the market were not founded. Fiat’s situation seems to become clearer and clearer, with a stabilized management team and an array of new models, such as the Alfa 159, Fiat Punto III or Lancia Delta III in 2006.  Besides, Marchionne confirmed there would a big crossover made by Maserati, a brand he hopes to see sell 10,000 vehicles a year as soon as 2007. Anyway, everything still depends on the success of the new Punto.

Last year, at the Geneva Motor Show, Fiat unveiled the lovely Trepiuno, a kind of 3^rd millennium 500, which was enthusiastically greeted. At last, Fiat decided to exploit the extraordinary sympathy conveyed by the 500. Of course, everybody found it logical that Fiat produced the Trepiuno. Everybody but Fiat…  It would have been too simple. Arguing that it’d be too expensive (£10,000) and too close to the Panda, Fiat decided to shelve it and began studying the Piccolo Bello. Why not. Given that the Smart Fortwo meets a considerable success in Italy, replacing the 500 in people’s hearts, Fiat thought it a good idea to take up the same concept and to improve it. In the same way, Fiat had tried to imitate the VW Golf and launched the Stilo… When did you last see one?
Like the Smart, the Piccolo Bello is a rear-engined minute car. But the Italian engineers have been trying to find a solution to offer accommodation for four people instead of two, in a car that’s not more than 270cm long. As a matter of fact, the rear bench will be mounted over the engine. So, to provide decent headroom, the height could reach 170cm. Various storage spaces will be scattered throughout the cockpit: beside the rear bench, above the glove box or under the front bonnet. Besides, the driver will enter the car opening a sliding door, just like in the Peugeot 1007. There will be just one though.
The Piccolo Bello will be built alongside the Panda, in Poland, at a rhythm of about 150,000 copies a year. Some say the basic price will not exceed £4000 when it’s released in 2007.

A few months ago, Fiat released the Stilo Schumacher throughout Europe. Fiat’s compact car simply received new bumpers, a red paint and a few Schumacher badges. Rightfully, Fiat UK thought this was not enough and, with the help of Prodrive, decided to fit it with OZ Superturismo 18’’ alloys,  front and rear springs made by Eibach, Bilstein dampers and a rear silencer with 2 pipes enhancing the sound of its 170bhp 2.4 five-in-line. This Stilo Schumacher GP was launched last month, in the UK only, at a price of £16,995. Only 200 copies will be made.
Now Fiat UK launches the Panda Sporting Special Edition. This sporty version receives new bumpers and side skirts, special alloys, lowered suspensions and the most powerful engine in the Panda range, the appraised 70bhp 1.3 Multijet. 400 copies will be produced, priced at £8,995. Fiat promises a unique finance package for young drivers.
These 2 cars look sportier than they actually are, but then, we can’t reproach Fiat UK for not addressing the brand’s main problem: an appalling image.

Quality seems to have lead the designers’ minds when they drew the facia of the new Punto. Obviously, they sought inspiration in Germany, for everything looks neat and slick. Nevertheless, under its camouflage, the curved top of the dash, above the dials recalls that of the Punto MKI. Sadly enough, the wide storage space facing the front passenger on the previous Puntos has disappeared.
So as not to look too dark, the dash takes up the colour of the seats while the controls are the same as the Lancia Ypsilon’s. Apparently, a dual-zone air-conditioning will be available.

Indeed, Fiat decided not to take any risk when designing this dash, which is a risk in itself for it looks a bit commonplace. Let’s wait for official photos though.

Source: www.ilpistone.com

  If you find your Focus, your Astra, your Golf or your Mégane boring, just wait until 2007, the year Lancia should launch the new Delta III.
Contrary to what many think, Lancia is neither dead nor dying, for they sell as many cars as Alfa Romeo with models that were developed for much less. Of course, after an absence of 16 years on the British market, the return will not be easy, but the Delta III might be very convincing.

Elaborated on the same platform as the next Fiat Stilo’s, the long, long awaited new Delta should be fitted with the excellent JTD engines and take over Lancia’s new styling, which counts for more than nothing in the mere success of the new Ypsilon and Musa. The prototype Lancia Gran Turismo has obviously been a source of inspiration.

Nevertheless, the future of Fiat Auto (the owner of Lancia) relies on the success of the oncoming Punto III.

After a 9-year absence (production ceased in 1996 and NOT in 1994 as the Fiat press file mentions it) on the executive car market, the Fiat Croma is back. Of course, the new one has nothing in common with its ancestor, which shared its platform with the Lancia Thema, the Saab 9000 and the Alfa Romeo 164. The new Croma shares 30% of its components with the Vauxhall Cavalier, thanks for the now dead Fiat-GM alliance. It takes up the Vauxhall’s platform, suspension (multilink at the rear) and electro-hydraulic steering.

Is it a sedan? Is it an estate? In fact, it’s both. The Giugiaro designed new family Fiat is bigger than what one would imagine when looking at the photos. Actually, its proportions are unusual in this segment for the new Croma has a particular architecture, meant to associate the advantages of an estate with those of a sedan. So, if its length (475cm) and its width (177cm) are commonplace, its height (160cm) is 10 cm above that of its rivals.
All this results in a particular tall car, combining bulging wheel arches and smooth curves. Yet, if it gives a sense of solidity, the front end looks a little dull.

You’d expect the cockpit to benefit from these dimensions. Bingo! The accommodation is really impressive, especially as the seats were raised by 10cm.
Once again, Fiat betrays its reputation of poor quality: the finish of this cockpit could serve as an example to such cars as the 407, the Laguna or the Mondeo.

Besides, the driving position is excellent, with a raised gear lever.
Nevertheless, versatility could have been better: the rear bench splits and folds, but will neither slide nor recline.

The capacity of the boot varies from 500 to 1610 liters, which is an excellent value.

Once on the road, the Croma II reveals other qualities: silence, comfort and safety. Its vibration free 150bhp 1.9 JTD engine performs very well, confirming its excellent reputation.
Yet, to provide such a good ride, the suspension has been softened too much and fails at providing a good body roll control. Its does not affect the road holding though.

5 engines are available: 2 petrol and 3 Multijet diesel units. If the first 2 (1.8 130bhp and 2.2 147bhp) are provided by GM, the last 3 are made by Fiat. These are the famous 1.9-liter 4 or 2.4-liter 5 in line Pratolla Serra blocks. The 1.9 gives either 120 or 150bhp while the 2.4 gives 200bhp. The latter is necessarily coupled with a 6-speed automatic transmission (also available on the 2.2) while the former 2 receive a 6-speed manual gearbox. The 5-speed manual one is reserved to the 1.8.

Standard equipment includes 7 airbags, ABS brakes, an ESP system, a hill-holder device, an HBA brake assistance amplifier, an air conditioner and 4 power windows on all models.
There’s a choice of five outfits: Active, Dynamic, Dynamic Skyline, Emotion and Emotion Skyline. The GPS, telephone, rear parking sensors, DVD player, panoramic roof, leather upholstery or automatic climate control can be either standard or optional.

Fiat remains faithful to one of its traditions at least: value for money. The new Croma will be 10% cheaper than its rivals.

Yes, this car offers a tremendous value indeed, having no perticular drawback. But will the low prices help Fiat fight against its poor reputation?

The long-awaited Punto III (possibly called Uno) should be launched in continental Europe next September. Still financially challenged, Fiat cannot mess up with this model which is to become its best-seller.

Following the new trend, the Mk III Punto should be significantly bigger than its predecessor, with an increase of 15 cm of its length at least. Accomodation should remain the best in its class.

At first, 3 petrol engines, ranging from 67 to 95bhp along with 3 Multijet diesel engines, ranging from 75 to 120bhp, should be available. Later in 2006, a sporty 1.6 turbocharged version is likely to come out.

This Giugiaro-designed new Punto is absolutely vital for Fiat, and its task will not be easy since the new Renault Clio, the Peugeot 207 and the new Vauxhall Corsa (built on the same platform as the Fiat) will be released within the following 6 months. But the new Fiat seems to have a key-argument : its front end recalls the Maserati Coupé’s. Not a bad reference!