Fiat Palio

From WOI Encyclopedia Italia

Fiat Palio
Fiat Palio
Manufacturer:Fiat Auto S.p.A.
Production:1996 – present
Class:subcompact car / supermini
Body Styles:Hatchback, Sedan, Estate, PickUp
Engines:FIRE Engines
1.0 8v, 1.0 16v, 1.2 8v, 1.2 16v, 1.4 8v
Fiassa Engines
1.0 8v, 1.3 8v, 1.5 8v, 1.6 8v
Torque
1.6 16v
Sporting
1.6 16v 120hp
Powertrain
1.8 8v
Multijet Diesel
1.3 16v
TurboDiesel
1.7 8v TD
Also known as:Fiat Siena, Albea, Petra (sedán version)
Nanjing Fiat Palio
Similar models:Chevrolet Celta
Chevrolet Corsa
Peugeot 206
Ford Fiesta
Renault Clio
Volkswagen Gol
Volkswagen Fox
This article is part of the automobile series.

The Fiat Palio is Fiat's 'world car' aimed at developing countries, although the station wagon version and the Strada PickUp are also sold in Europe with the names Fiat Palio Weekend and Strada Malibu.

It is produced in Brazil, India, Turkey, South Africa and China as a hatchback, with the Siena/Petra and Albea sedan and the Weekend being the station wagon version. It is also built under licence in North Korea, as the Pyonghwa Hwiparam.

Contents

The 1996 Mk.I Series

Launched in 1996 in Brazil, as the "family member" of the '178 Project' was Fiat's first attempt to build a 'world car', the same basic design being produced in numerous nations around the globe. Four principal models were produced, a hatchback, saloon, pickup and estate, different versions being built in different countries. The powerplants, both diesel and petrol, also varied from region to region depending on local production capability, legislation and market requirements.

The basic chassis was a development of the Uno, but little remained unchanged. The entire structure was significantly stronger in order to be suitable on the rougher roads found in some of the markets for which it was intended, as was the suspension. The body was a completely new design by the I.DE.A Institute of Turin, who also designed the new interior.

Production began in 1996 in Brazil and was followed later that year by a plant in Argentina. 1997 saw production starting in Venezuela, Poland and Morocco whilst Turkey started building the same car in 1998. India and South Africa began production in 1999, Egypt in 2001 and China in 2002.

The 2001 Mk.II Series

In 2001 the model has the first facelift. The new design was made by the Italian design guru Giorgetto Giugiaro. This facelift includes a new front and rear design, and a brand new interior. Also, new engines came for the Palio: the FIRE 16 valve 1.0L and 1.2L and the Sporting engine, a 1.6L 16 valve with 120cv made in Turkey. The Mk.II series was the very first Fiat made in China by Nanjing; including a 'SpeedGear' version.

The 2004 Mk.III Series

The new Mk.III comes in 2004. The designer was again, Giorgetto Giugiaro. It has a new front, rear and interior design, with inspirations in the Fiat Punto and the Fiat Stilo. The 04' Palio was the very first Brazilian model in the B-Segment available with four airbags (two front airbags and two sidebags), park assistance and light and rain sensor. In Europe, the new model features a Mk.III front and interior design and a Mk.II rear. The latest development in Brazil, was the launch of a new version called Palio 1.8R which has a new version of the Powertrain 1.8 FLEX engine but now with 115cv (ethanol) and 112cv (gasoline).

The future

An all-new generation of the Palio (codenamed Proyect 310) is expected in 2006 or 2007 and will be based in the latest generation Fiat Punto. The design of this new model will be carried by Fiat Centro Stile / Giugiaro, and the development by Fiat Automóveis do Brasil and Tofas of Turkey. It is unknown whether it will be a true low-cost car, like the €5000 Dacia Logan, or just a supermini with more competitive price than models, such as the Volkswagen Fox, Hyundai Getz and Chevrolet Aveo.

Competition

Enlarge

Several competition and homologated versions of the Palio have been produced, such as the A6 class rally car, many times Southamerican champion with the Brazilian Luis Tedesco as driver, and the top-technology Super 1600 Abarth rally car, with a 215hp 1.6 16 valve engine and a 6 speed sequential gearbox.





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Fiat S.P.A.
Current models Albea | Barchetta | Croma | Doblò | Ducato | Fiorino | Grande Punto | Idea | Marea | Multipla | Nuova 500 | Nuova Panda | Palio/Palio Weekend | Punto | Scudo | Sedici | Seicento | Siena | Strada | Stilo | Ulysse
Historic models 1 | 1T | 3.5 CV | 4 HP | 8V | 10 HP | 12 HP | 124 | 125 | 126 | 127 | 128 | 130 | 131 | 132/Argenta | 133 | 147/Spazio | 2B | 24 HP | 242 | 500 | 502 HP | 503 HP | 508 | 508C | 509 | 510S | 514 | 518 | 519 | 520 | 524 | 574 Corsa | 60 HP | 600 | 750 | 850 | 1100 | 1200 | 1400 | 1300/1500 | 1800/2100/2300 | 2800 | Albea | Balilla | Bianchina | Bravo/Brava | Campagnola | Cinquecento | Croma | Coupé | Dino | Duna/Prêmio | Elba | Mod 5 | Oggi | Panorama | Panda | Regata | Ritmo/Strada | Siena | Tempra | Tipo | Topolino | Turbina | Uno | X1/9 | Zero
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