Fiat has released preliminary photographs of its new five-door family hatchback to be named the Bravo. The first UK buyers will take delivery next summer.
It's clear that a stylish exterior was high on Fiat's list of priorities for this new car, building on the success of the new
Grande Punto, though the Bravo has a shape and detail styling all its own. At the front, a neat new grille shape incorporates a newly designed Fiat badge and the shapely headlights look even better than the Maserati-like items on the Grande Punto. The Bravo has a distinctive profile too, though it looks like the designers couldn't decide whether or not to hide the rear door handles in the C-pillar. At the rear, the Bravo features unique lights that blend into the sculpted side panels and boot door, while the rear hatch includes an unusual, sporty glass shape.
Though the Bravo will sell well on its looks alone, Fiat has high hopes for its new challenger, claiming that it is targeted at being the class leader. The catchphrase is "beauty and substance", which sounds suspiciously like the original Alfa Romeo 159 marketing line. Anyway, it means that the Bravo needs to be well made and drive well to be taken seriously against the likes of the
Ford Focus and
VW Golf.
Aiding the Bravo will be an extensive engine line-up. Big sellers will be 120 and 150bhp versions of the four-cylinder 1.9-litre MultiJet turbodiesels and the current 90bhp 1.4-litre petrol unit, but new to the market is a family of turbocharged petrol engines Fiat calls "T-JET". We are told that the first members will be 120 and 150bhp versions of a 1.4-litre unit. It's assumed that T-JET includes direct injection technology to help reduce fuel consumption.
If the new Fiat Bravo delivers on its promises then it will be a worthy contender in this hotly contested segment. We'll find out early in 2007.
Shane O' Donoghue - 27 Oct 2006