Fiat Palio

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Fiat Palio

Manufacturer	Fiat
Also called	Nanjing Fiat Palio Pyonghwa Hwiparam
Production	1996—present
Predecessor	Fiat Uno
Class	Supermini
Body style	3-door hatchback 5-door hatchback
Engine	1.0 L FIRE I4 1.0 L Fiassa I4 1.2 L FIRE I4 1.3 L Fiassa I4 1.3 L Multijet diesel I4 1.4 L FIRE I4 1.5 L Fiassa I4 1.6 L Fiassa I4 1.6 L Sporting I4 1.6 L Torque I4 1.7 L turbodiesel I4 1.8 L GM Powertrain I4
Related	Fiat Albea Fiat Palio Weekend Fiat Siena Fiat Strada Fiat Uno
Similar	Chevrolet Aveo Chevrolet Celta Chevrolet Corsa Tata Indica Dacia Logan Ford Fiesta Hyundai Getz Lada Kalina Peugeot 206 Renault Clio Volkswagen Gol Volkswagen Fox
Designer	I.DE.A Institute (Mk I) Giorgetto Giugiaro (Mk II/Mk III) Centre Stile Fiat Brazil (Mk IV)

The Fiat Palio is a supermini, namely Fiat's world car aimed at developing countries. It is produced in Brazil, India, Turkey, South Africa and China as a hatchback (Palio), sedan (Siena/Petra and Albea), station wagon (Palio Weekend) and pickup truck (Strada). It is also built under licence in North Korea, as the Pyonghwa Hwiparam. Russian ZMA will start assembly of Turkish CKD kits in Autumn 2006. The station wagon and pickup versions are also sold in Western Europe.

1 Mk I (1996-2001)
2 Mk II (2001-2004)
3 Mk III (2004-2007)
4 Mk IV (2007-present)
5 Nanjing Fiat Perla
6 Motorsports
7 External links

[edit] Mk I (1996-2001)

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, sedan, pickup and station wagon, 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.

[edit] Mk II (2001-2004)

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

[edit] Mk III (2004-2007)

The new Mk III was released in 2004, designed again by Giorgetto Giugiaro. It has a completely new design, with inspirations in the Fiat Punto and the Fiat Stilo. The 2004 Palio was the very first Brazilian model in the B-segment available with four airbags (two front airbags and two side airbags), parking assistance, and light and rain sensor. In Europe, the new model features a Mk III front fascia and interior and a Mk II rear fascia. The latest development in Brazil was the launch of a new sport version called the Palio 1.8R which has a new version of the General Motors 1.8 L "Powertrain" engine rated at 115 hp (ethanol) and 112 hp (gasoline), lowered suspension, new 14 inch alloy wheels, new seats, and other sport features.

[edit] Mk IV (2007-present)

The Palio Mk.IV was launched in February 28th 2007, in Natal, Brazil. The model will be sold alongside an adapted version of the Grande Punto, which will be launched in Brazil in the first semester of 2007.

Some media have incorrectly affirmed that an all-new Palio was under development [1] [2] confusing it with the Fiat Grande Punto.

This fourth facelift includes new front, rear and side design, but it keeps the original chassis from the 1996 model. It also has a minor change in the instrument panel with differences between the two variants sold.

The trims for this new Palio are ELX with the 1.0 or the 1.4 FIRE engines, both flex (ethanol and petrol) and the sporty version 1.8R with the current revision of the 1.8 8 valve engine from GM, also flexible. The new Torque engines will be shown at the Palio, only after the launch of the Grande Punto.

[edit] Nanjing Fiat Perla

The Nanjing Fiat Perla is a sedan that was launched at the 2006 Auto Guangzhou Motor Show, which is based on the european Fiat Albea. However, rather than just being a facelifted Palio, the car has new bodywork and styling for the Chinese market. For example, the rear is longer and lower than the Siena. It has a new 1.7 L MPi engine, air conditioning, dual front airbags, anti-lock brakes, power steering, power windows, central locking, and many other features.

Russia will be the first country outside China to receive this new model, but with the 1.4 L Fire 8v engine with 77cv and the Speedgear transmission.

[edit] Motorsports

Several competition and homologated versions of the Palio have been produced, such as the A6 class rally car, multi-Brazilian and South American champion of the A6 class with Brazilian Luis Tedesco as driver, and the Super 1600 Abarth rally car, with a 215 hp 1.6 L 16-valve engine and a 6-speed sequential transmission.