Fiat Tipo
| Fiat Tipo | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Fiat |
| Production | 1988–1995 |
| Assembly |
Cassino – Piedimonte S. Germano (Frosinone), Italy Pomigliano d'Arco, Italy (1989-1990) Betim, Brazil Bursa, Turkey (Tofaş) |
| Designer | Ercole Spada (I.DE.A Institute) |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Small family car (C) |
| Body style | 3/5-door hatchback |
| Layout | front-engine, front-wheel-drive |
| Platform | Type Two platform (Tipo Due) |
| Related | |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | |
| Transmission | |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 2,540 mm (100.0 in) |
| Length | 3,958 mm (155.8 in) |
| Width | 1,700 mm (66.9 in) |
| Height | 1,445 mm (56.9 in) |
| Curb weight | 1,020–1,230 kg (2,250–2,710 lb) |
| Chronology | |
| Predecessor | Fiat Ritmo |
| Successor | Fiat Bravo/Brava |
The Fiat Tipo. (Tipo-punto, literally: Type-dot) (Type 160) is a small family car, designed by the I.DE.A Institute design house, and produced by the Italian manufacturer Fiat between 1988 and 1995.
The Tipo was initially available only as a five-door hatchback. The car was made entirely out of galvanized body panels to avoid rust, and was built on a completely new Fiat platform, which was later used on Fiat, Alfa-Romeo, and Lancia models.
It also stood out because of its boxy styling that gave it innovative levels of packaging, rear passenger room being greater than that in a rear-wheel-drive Ford Sierra, but in a car that was of a similar size to the smaller Ford Escort. This type of design was comparable to the smaller Fiat Uno, which was launched five years before the Tipo.
For 1989, the Tipo won the European Car of the Year award and 1989 Semperit Irish Car of the Year in Ireland. The car has been extremely popular in Brazil. It outsold the Volkswagen Gol, which had been the best-selling Brazilian car for over 20 years. Only the Tipo, the Fiat Uno Mille, and Fiat Palio have also ever outsold the Gol.
Launched in June 1988, initially base (i.e.), DGT, (early Italian market DGT models were badged as 'digit', presumably in recognition of the digital dash, but this was quickly changed to DGT after a dispute over ownership of the name, leading to confusion about whether the model was diesel-powered) S, SX and 16v trim levels were available. "Tipo" is Spanish for "kind", and Italian for "type".
Power from 58 to 148 PS (43 to 109 kW; 57 to 146 bhp) came from 1.1-, 1.4-, 1.6-, 1.7-, 1.8-, 1.8- 16-v, 2.0-, and 2.0-L 16-v petrol engines, as well as a 1.7-L diesel, 1.9-L diesel, and 1.9-L turbodiesel.
The 1.1-L base engine was widely regarded as underpowered for the car, which was otherwise roomy for five adults and with above-average equipment. This version was never sold in the United Kingdom. The top of the range was the 2.0 Sedicivalvole (16 valves). The Sedicivalvole gained its engine from the Lancia Thema, and with a much smaller and lighter bodyshell to house it, this power unit brought superb performance and handling, and a top speed of around 130 mph (210 km/h), which made it faster than the Volkswagen Golf GTI of that era.
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