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The Autobianchi Primula was a small car from the Italian automaker, Autobianchi , a subsidiary of the Fiat group, built from 1964 to 1970. It was notable as Fiat's first ever automobile with the front-wheel drive, transverse engine setup, as well as the first Fiat group car with rack and pinion steering. Before the Primula, all Fiat group passenger cars were rear-wheel drive — the bigger models followed the classic FR layout (front engine powering the rear axle), while small cars were rear-engined. The Primula found favorable reception in the marketplace, and came second in the 1965 European Car of the Year contest, after another front-wheel drive car, the Austin 1800. This convinced Fiat to pursue the concept further. (more...)

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