- Fiat Coupé
-
Fiat Coupé Manufacturer Fiat Production 1993–2000 Assembly Turin, Italy (Pininfarina)[1] Class Sports car Body style 2-door coupé Layout FF layout Transmission 5 and 6-speed manual Wheelbase 2,540 mm (100.0 in) Length 4,250 mm (167.3 in) Width 1,768 mm (69.6 in) Height 1,340 mm (52.8 in) Curb weight 1,250–1,320 kg (2,800–2,900 lb) Designer Chris Bangle The Fiat Coupé (type 175, officially titled the Coupé Fiat) was a coupé produced by the Italian manufacturer Fiat between 1993 and 2000. The car was introduced at Brussels Motor Show in 1993.[2]
It is most remembered for its distinctive, angular design, with unique scalloped side panels. The body was designed by Chris Bangle from Centro Stile Fiat, while the interior was designed by Pininfarina. The exterior design would foreshadow much of late 1990s and early 2000s car design, acting as a precedent to both Bangle's somewhat notorious work at BMW, as well as futuristic angular designs by other marques such as Ford and Renault.
Contents
History
On its launch in 1993, the Coupé was available with a four cylinder, 2.0 L 16V engine, in both turbo (190 PS) and normally aspirated (139 PS) versions. Both engines were later versions of Fiat's twin-cam design and inherited from the Lancia Delta Integrale, winner of the World Rally Championship a record six times. 1996 brought in a 1.8 L 16V engine (not available in the UK, 130 PS), along with a 2.0-litre 5-cylinder 20V (147 PS), and a 5-cylinder 2.0-litre 20V turbo (220 PS). With a 0–100 km/h (0–62 mph) time of 6.5 seconds, and a top speed of 250 km/h (155 mph) the Fiat coupe was among some of the quickest European front wheel drive cars of its day.
The turbocharged 16 and 20 valve versions were equipped with a very efficient Viscodrive limited-slip differential to counter the understeer that plagues most powerful front wheel drive cars. Additionally, the coupe featured independent suspension all round: at the front MacPherson struts and lower wishbones anchored to an auxiliary crossbeam, offset coil springs and anti-roll bar; at the rear, trailing arms mounted on an auxiliary subframe, coil springs and an anti-roll bar.
Production figures[1] Year Units made 1993 119 1994 17,619 1995 13,732 1996 11,273 1997 12,288 1998 9,042 1999 6,332 2000 2,357 Total 72,762 1998 saw the release of the Limited Edition which featured red Brembo brake calipers at the front and standard red calipers at the back, a body kit, push-button start, six-speed gearbox, strut brace to make the chassis more rigid and Recaro seats with red leather inserts which offered better support than the standard 20VT seats. The LE was produced in Black (flat), Red (flat), Vinci Grey (metallic), Crono Grey (flat) and Steel Grey (metallic). The bodywork of the LE also benefited from titanium coloured insert around the light bezels and the wing mirrors. Each Limited Edition ('LE') Coupé was manufactured with a badge located by the rear-view mirror which contained that car's unique number (it is rumored that Michael Schumacher was the original owner of LE No. 0001). Originally Fiat stated they were only to build approximately 300 Limited Editions. The final amount was much higher, with numbers as high as 1400 touted by some. This angered many of the owners of the original 300 cars and almost certainly impacted residual values.
In 1998 the 2.0-litre 5-cylinder 20V got a Variable Inlet System which brought the power to 154 PS (113 kW). The 2.0-litre 5-cylinder 20V Turbo received a 6-speed gearbox and a large, satin gloss push starter button. In addition, the sills of the Turbo version were colour matched with the body paintwork. Fiat also released the 2.0 L 5 cylinder Turbo 'Plus'. This model came with an option kit that made it virtually identical to the LE, except for minor interior design changes and without the unique identification badge of the LE.
In 2000 Fiat released another special version of the Fiat Coupé. Featuring the 1.8-litre engine, it was only available throughout mainland Europe and marketed as an elegant and affordable edition. Fiat also made changes throughout the rest of the range; for example, new seats, side skirts and wheels for the 2.0-litre 20V model, 'Plus' edition wheels on turbo models and Recaro manufactured seats on the 'Plus'. The 2.0-litre 20V Turbo model is capable of accelerating from 0–100 km/h (0 to 62 mph) in 6.5 seconds, with the top speed of 250 km/h (155 mph). When production finally stopped in September 2000, a total number of 72,762 units had been produced.
Engines
Model[3][4] Engine Displacement Power Torque 0–100 km/h Top speed 1.8 16V I4 1747 cc 130 PS (96 kW; 130 hp) @6300 rpm 164 N·m (121 lb·ft) @4300 rpm 9.2 s 205 km/h (127 mph) 2.0 16V I4 1995 cc 139 PS (102 kW; 137 hp) @6000 rpm 180 N·m (130 lb·ft) @4500 rpm 9.2 s 208 km/h (129 mph) 2.0 20V I5 1998 cc 147 PS (108 kW; 145 hp) @6100 rpm 186 N·m (137 lb·ft) @4500 rpm 8.9 s 212 km/h (132 mph) 2.0 20V V.I.S. I5 1998 cc 154 PS (113 kW; 152 hp) @6700 rpm 186 N·m (137 lb·ft) @3750 rpm 8.4 s 215 km/h (134 mph) 2.0 16V Turbo I4 1995 cc 190 PS (140 kW; 190 hp) @5500 rpm 290 N·m (210 lb·ft) @3400 rpm 7.5 s 225 km/h (140 mph) 2.0 20V Turbo I5 1998 cc 220 PS (160 kW; 220 hp) @5750 rpm 310 N·m (230 lb·ft) @2500 rpm 6.5 s 250 km/h (160 mph) Notes
- ^ a b "PRODUZIONE COMPLESSIVA" (PDF). pininfarina.it. http://www.pininfarina.it/repository/Gruppo/Produzionecomplessiva.pdf. Retrieved 2007-08-03.
- ^ "THE RANGE". fiatcoupe.net. http://www.fiatcoupe.net/therange.php. Retrieved 2007-08-06.
- ^ "Coupé Fiat Technical Specifications". fiatcoupehistory.com. Archived from the original on 2007-09-29. http://web.archive.org/web/20070929220434/http://www.fiatcoupehistory.com/e_daten.htm. Retrieved 2007-08-06.
- ^ "The Fiat Coupe". fiatcoupe.cqnet.com.au. http://fiatcoupe.cqnet.com.au/performance.html. Retrieved 2007-08-06.
External links
- Fiatcoupe.net discussing the Fiat Coupe range in detail
- Modified Fiat Coupe 20v Turbo
- Fiat Coupé Club UK
- Club Fiat Coupé Passion ITA
« previous — Fiat Automobiles S.p.A. car timeline, European market, 1980s–present Type 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 City cars 126 Cinquecento Seicento / 600 500 Panda I Panda II Panda III Supermini 127 Uno Punto I Punto II Grande Punto Punto Evo Punto Small
family carRitmo Tipo Bravo / Brava Stilo Bravo II 131 Regata Tempra Marea Linea Albea Large family car 132 Argenta Croma I Croma II Coupé Coupé Roadster 124 Spider Barchetta Barchetta Sports car X1/9 Panel van/Leisure activity vehicle Fiorino I Fiorino II Fiorino III Doblò I Doblò II Mini SUV Sedici Mini MPV Idea Mid-size crossover Freemont Compact MPV Multipla Large MPV Ulysse I Ulysse II Van Daily* Scudo I Scudo II Ducato I Ducato II Ducato III Mini Pickup Strada Off-road Campagnola (1107) *Rebadged Iveco model Categories:- Fiat vehicles
- Front wheel drive vehicles
- Front wheel drive sports cars
- Pininfarina
- Vehicles introduced in 1993
- 1990s automobiles
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.