Fiat Sedici - At last Fiat made it...

During the last years Fiat has been surprisingly absent from the SUV sector: now it finally enters this healthy market with the Sedici, a vehicle developed in conjunction with Suzuki and designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro.

The car’s market launch will coincide with the 20th Winter Olympic Games, due to be held in Turin next February.

From the original Press Release:

The new model is a fusion of different vehicle types: it combines the driving satisfaction and handling features of a compact Fiat with the off-road performance of an SUV (Sport Utility Vehicle). Incidentally, the car’s name says everything about its off-road proclivities: Sedici (sixteen) is what you get when you multiply 4x4 – the code used to identify four-wheel drive vehicles.

Design

Within the Suzuki-Fiat industrial project, the styling of Fiat 16 has been jointly done with Italdesign, Giorgetto Giugiaro's design Company.

The designer explained: "I wanted to create a compact shape that is sturdy as a whole, with side windows that are low at the front of the windscreen pillar. This gives the car a distinctive look and is also more practical as far as visibility is concerned". The Fiat Sedici looks solid and safe yet it is also original and elegant. Its exterior is recognisable for its broad shoulders and generous wheels given extra flair by a clean, up-to-date personality-packed shape.

The combination of a long, steep bonnet with muscular wings and exposed wheelarches expresses all the strength and sportiness inherent in this model. The shoulders and side windows turn down at the beginning before springing forward energetically to embrace the rear, thus emphasising the overall impression of sturdiness and power. The broad, well-lit roof with its distinctive rear pillar projects all this power to the front, where distinctive and seductively-shaped light clusters sport up-to-date, hi-tech features.

Giugiaro explained: "This styling option makes the vehicle less of a station wagon and gives it the typical appearance of a car that is stylish but also sturdy; you could say that it acts as a psychological roll-bar". The big, chunky side strips guarantee protection during one-off expeditions and while driving through narrow city streets.

Firstly, compactness is bred into the Fiat DNA: this factor is extremely important for manoeuvrability and balance of form. The extraordinary resulting versatility of the Fiat Sedici makes it ideal for everyday use: its dimensions are 411 centimetres long, 176 centimetres wide and 162 centimetres wide with a wheelbase of 250 cm. These dimensions and features make the Fiat Sedici one of the most original cars in its segment. More specifically, the new Fiat model is 11 centimetres less than the average length for compact SUVs (as far as customers are concerned, this means the vehicle is easier to handle, particularly around town). The vehicle is also 10 centimetres lower, which is evident in its slender shape. This makes it look more like a compact saloon and makes for better performance, fuel consumption and emissions.

Transmission and off-road capabilities

The Fiat Sedici adopts a new electronically-controlled 4x4 drive that distributes variable torque to front and rear wheels.

It features a central differential and 3 operating modes that combines the performance of an off-roader with the driving comfort of a road vehicle. Under normal conditions, the Fiat Sedici system therefore behaves like a transmission with two drive wheels with the benefit of lower fuel consumption and lower emission levels. When road conditions decline and grip is lost, the system acts as a 4x4 transmission, automatically modulating torque distribution between the front and rear axle to increase vehicle safety.

The heart of this transmission is an electric dry multi-plate clutch coupling system (operated by an electromagnet) that modulates the transferred torque electronically according to the need for traction. The electrical pulse that generates the magnetic field to couple the plate arrives when the ABS sensors detect relative slip between front and rear wheels. This allows the system to change over from a 2WD to a 4WD transmission simply and quickly: all the driver has to do is operate a key on the dashboard to select one of the three operating modes (2WD, AUTO and LOCK) without the need for a separate gear lever.

Due to this specific four-wheel drive system and a minimum ground clearance of 19 centimetres, the new model can cover uneven, difficult ground with ease, as the ramp angle values reveal (standard A). Firstly, the rear incidence angle (31.1°), which is the maximum gradient climbable in reverse from a horizontal plane. Next comes the slope angle (18.1°), i.e. the maximum possible angle at the base of a triangular slope (isosceles) if it is to be driven up without the bottom of the car touching the ground. Last is the front incidence angle (20.3°), a measure of the maximum front angle that may be tackled by an off-road vehicle without the body touching the ground.

Engines

The Fiat Sedici is equipped with two engines (a 1.6 petrol and a 1.9 turbodiesel unit), both combined with five or six speed manual gearboxes.

The petrol engine is a 4 cylinder inline unit with a bore of 78 millimetres and stroke of 83 mm (four valve per cylinder) that develops a power output of 79 kW (107 bhp) at 5600 rpm. It features a VVT (Variable Valve Timing) that helps optimise torque and power at any speed.

The 1.9 diesel unit is a 4 cylinder in line engine – two valves per cylinder - and represents Fiat's 2nd generation of Multijet engines. It has a bore of 82 millimetres and a stroke of 90.4 mm, and delivers a power output of 120 bhp (88 kW) at 4000 rpm and a torque of 280 Nm (28.6 kgm) at 2000 rpm. It meets Euro 4 standards and is fitted as standard with a particulate trap (DPF) that lowers fine powder pollution.

Safety

To ensure maximum passive safety, the new model offers up to 6 airbags – 2 front bags, 2 sidebags and 2 curtain-bags (the latter are an option on top-of-the-range versions) – all controlled by an electronic control unit that assesses crash severity by means of sensors calibrated by means of a series of crashes conducted in the laboratory. Other standard features include front seat-belts with pretensioner and load limiter, three-point rear seat-belts, energy-absorbing steering wheel and ISOFIX attachment on the rear seats.

The vehicle is also fitted as standard with a host of major safety devices: foglights, front airbags and sidebags for driver and passenger, ABS with EBD, Isofix fastenings, ignition key with immobiliser, Deadlock anti-theft system (a function that mechanically disconnects the interior and exterior door opening pawl and handle so that it is not possible to open the doors from inside even if the glass is broken).

The Compact SUV Market

This steadily growing market segment rose from a share of 1.7% in 1992 to the current level of 6% for the entire European on-road vehicle fleet. Back in 1992 the segment was made up of vehicles that were configured for out-and-out off-road driving but the original generation of off-road vehicles was later supplanted as a result of two events. The first occurred in 1994 with the arrival of the first compact SUVs combining the qualities of true 4x4 off-roaders with up-to-date and original design making them suitable for city driving. These were followed in 1997 by deluxe off-roaders: with their wealth of equipment and extremely generous dimensions, the ideal response for demanding, sophisticated customers in a continual quest for unique products with a strong personality.

Both subsegments, particularly the compact SUV subsegment, are now experiencing growing interest from the public and the scenario is changing quickly. The size and features of the Fiat Sedici slot it into the compact SUV category but it stands head and shoulders above the crowd for its absolutely elegant exterior styling and very appealing standard equipment package.

Technical data

Engine	1.6 16v
No. cylinders, arrangement	4, in line, front, transverse
Bore x stroke (mm)	78 x 83 mm
Capacity (cc)	1586
Emission level	Euro 4
Compression ratio	10,5:1
Max EC power: kW (bhp)	79 (107)
at rpm	5600
Max EC torque: Nm (kgm)	145 (14.8)
at rpm	4000
Engine	1.9 diesel
No. cylinders, arrangement	4, in line, front, transverse
Bore x stroke (mm)	82 x 90.4 mm
Capacity (cc)	1910
Emission level	Euro 4 with particulate filter
Compression ratio	18,0:1
Max EC power: kW (bhp)	88 (120)
at rpm	4000
Max EC torque: Nm (kgm)	280 (28,6)
at rpm	2050
DRIVE
Drive	4x4 with electronically-controlled self-locking differential
Clutch	dry single-plate, with cup engagement spring, hydraulic control
Gearbox: no. gears	5 + reverse
BRAKING SYSTEM-D (disc) – T (drum)
Type	Hydraulic system, front disc brakes and rear drum brakes
Front: mm	D (280)
Rear: mm	T (220)
SUSPENSION
Front	MacPherson, independent
Rear	curved torsion bar
WHEELS
Tyres	205/60 R 16
CAPACITIES
Fuel tank capacity (litres)	50
DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase (mm)	2500
Length (mm)	4115
Width (mm)	1755
Max unladen height (mm)	1620
Front track (mm)	1495
Rear track (mm)	1495
Front overhang	895
Rear overhang	720
Luggage compartment capacity (dm 3)	270/670
Incidence angle (standard A)	20.3°
Exit angle (standard A)	31.1°
Slope angle (standard A)	18.1°
Minimum ground clearance (standard A) (mm)	190
Climbable gradient	33%
WEIGHTS
Vehicle kerb weight with tanks and reservoirs full, spare wheel, tools and accessories (kg)		1250 (petrol) - 1350 (diesel)

(Source: Fiat)