Fiat Stilo (Italy, 2001-2007)

In 2001, Fiat launched the new Stilo model. A compact car available as 3-door and 5-door hatchback and as 5-door estate version.

The 5-door version is 4.25 metres long, 1.76 wide, 1.52 high and offers a wheelbase of 2.60 metres. The 3-door, on the other hand, is 4.18 metres long, 1.78 wide and 1.47 meters high. The character of the 3-door version is geared for individualism, performance and driving satisfaction. The 5-door version offers interior comfort, roominess, safety, versatility of use and rationality.

The new car's name can be pronounced easily and sounds unmistakably Italian. It suggests something that is fashionable. Because it evokes the concept of style: stilo in Italian, style in French, stil in German and estilo in Spanish and Portuguese. The word Stilo is also associated with the idea of emotion. Lastly, it is not a completely fanciful name because it also reminds of tangible items such as a stylograph or stylistic creations.

The 3-door version is a sporty car, the basic shape is made up of two overlying parallelepipeds that join at the waistline where a muscle underscores the prevalence of metal over glass.

The rear end extends from the upper body, which looks as though it has been set into the lower body and then pushed toward the front of the car. This styling cue creates in a modern looking boot that sits ahead of the car's rear profile.

Other traits are a dynamic, high front end with big air intakes and light clusters. Two brighter points that stand out against the diamond-faceted headlamp overlay the front lights. The tail-lights are identifiable by a red central column. By night they look like an arrow pointing the way ahead.

The Fiat Stilo 5-door is more sturdy and solid in appearance. The front, for example, is broad and features a wide bumper. The waistline does not drop down to the front and rear bumpers after running along the side of the car, but hugs the entire car in a hoop-like embrace.

The windows are big and upright. The luggage compartment gains visibly in width. The handle is at waist level.

The model offers four petrol engines and two Common Rail turbodiesel engines that range from 59 to 125 kW (80 - 170 bhp) and display different attributes. These are combined with 5- or 6-speed gearboxes and - in the case of the range-leader - a Selespeed sequential gearbox.

The 1.2 16v power unit develops 59 kW (80 bhp) at 5000 rpm. Maximum torque is 114 Nm at 4000 rpm. Top speed touches 172 km/h (170 km/h in the case of the 5-door). Acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h takes place in 13.4 seconds (13.8 in the case of the 5-door). Over a combined cycle, fuel consumption is 6.3 l/100 km for the 3-door and 6.5 l/100 km for the 5-door.

The 76 kW (103 bhp) 1.6 16v develops its maximum power output at 5750 rpm and the maximum torque (145 Nm) at 4000 rpm. When fitted with this engine, the Fiat Stilo 3-door can reach 185 km/h (183 for the 5-door). Acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h takes place in 10.5 seconds (10.9 in the case of the 5-door). The power unit consumes 7.3 l/100 km over a combined cycle (7.4 for the 5-door).

The 1.8 16v develops a maximum power output of 98 kW (133 bhp) available at 6400 rpm and a torque of 162 Nm at 3500 rpm. This engine propels the Fiat Stilo 3-door version at 202 km/h (200 km/h for the 5-door) and allows the car to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 9.9 seconds (10.3 for the 5-door). Over a combined cycle, fuel consumption is 8.0 l/100 km for the 3-door and 8.1 l/100 km for the 5-door.

The 2.4 20v with Selespeed gearbox tops the Fiat Stilo range. A development of the five cylinder engine family, this power unit packs 125 kW (170 bhp) at 6000 and a torque of 221 Nm at just 3500 rpm. Top speed is 215 km/h for the 3-door version (213 km/h for the 5-door version) and acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h takes place in 8.5 seconds (8.9 seconds for the 5-door version). Fuel consumption over a combined cycle is 9.7 l/100 km (9.8 for the 5-door version).

The 80 bhp 1.9 JTD delivers 59 kW, available at 4000 rpm, and a torque of 196 Nm at 1500 rpm. A Fiat Stilo three-door equipped with this engine touches 172 km/h (170 km/h with the 5-door version), accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 12.9 seconds (13.3 for the 5-door version) and consumes 5.4 l/100 km over a combined cycle (5.5 for the 5-door).

The 115 bhp 1.9 JTD differs from the 80 bhp version in the presence of an intercooler and variable geometry turbine. It delivers a maximum power output of 85 kW at 4000 rpm and offers a maximum torque of 255 Nm at 2000 rpm. A Fiat Stilo three-door equipped with this engine touches 192 km/h (190 km/h with the 5-door version), accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 10.3 seconds (10.7 for the 5-door version) and consumes 5.3 l/100 km over a combined cycle (5.4 for the 5-door).

The front features an independent MacPherson strut configuration. The rear configuration is an interconnected wheel (semi-independent) suspension with a torsion beam.

Safety

In the field of passive safety, the Fiat Stilo offers 8 airbags, two of which (the front airbags) are Multistage. As far as active safety is concerned, the model boasts four disc brakes and offers ABS with brake force distributor EBD; ASR to limit wheel slip during acceleration. EVA and HBA devices, to help the driver brake fully during emergency stops. An ESP to control car dynamic stability electronically on bends. The car can also be fitted with Xenon headlamps.

Telematics

CONNECT, an on-line system that connects the driver to the range of services offered by Targasys, is also available on the Stilo. The CONNECT service array is complemented by a dual-band GSM phone with WAP internet access, GPS localisation and a navigation system in addition to a CD sound system that can play MP3 music files. The system may be managed by voice commands and displayed on a 7" Wide Screen.