The successful hatchback of Fiat Automóveis with more than 2.5 million units sold in Brazil and a history of daring and innovation now conquers one more chapter: in its new generation, the Fiat Palio is totally new. It is more beautiful, robust, more comfortable, safe and larger - the Fiat Palio has grown and evolved.
Manufactured at our plant in Betim, Minas Gerais, the new Fiat Palio arrives at the Brazilian market as a natural evolution of its predecessors: improved, impressive, absolute, in perfect harmony with its customer's desires. Its attractive design, completely reworked by Centro Stile Fiat in Italy, is modern and harmonious, exquisite and sporty, and immediately shows that it is a Fiat, but also displaying its strong personality.
The evolution transforms the look of the new Fiat Palio, and leaves it longer, wider, higher and with a larger wheelbase: beneficial to all passengers who can now enjoy more internal space and comfort. Besides, the comfort is enhanced by careful reformulation of the cabin, which create an environment that is pleasant - in which all elements and volumes are in harmony in the contours, colors and textures - and functional.
Three engines power the new Fiat Palio: Fire 1.0 EVO, Fire 1.4 EVO and 1.6 16V E.torQ, all of them Flex. The 1.6 16V versions can come with mechanical or Dualogic transmission. In total, the new model hits the market with six versions to please all tastes, needs and budgets. They are: Attractive 1.0, Attractive 1.4, Essence 1.6 16V, Essence1.6 16V Dualogic, Sporting 1.6 16V and Sporting 1.6 16VDualogic.
The Fiat Palio is also very complete and brings in its equipment list various contents that serve to further enhance the comfort and safety of passengers such as lateral and frontal airbags, ABS brakes, leather steering wheel with radio controls, gear-shift butterfly-type switch on the wheel, twilight and rain sensors, cruise control, windshield heater, CD player with MP3 and iPod/USB inputs, fog lamps, rear hatch Logo push, switchblade key with remote control, among many other items.
The hatchback also comes with yet another innovation: the owner of the new Fiat Palio can choose from several items to customize the car, which can be direct from the factory or at dealerships. There are several lines of stickers, badges and liners for the consumer to choose.
The development of the new Fiat Palio required about 824,000 hours from the company's engineers. During the process, 526 prototypes, test vehicles and pre-series were built. They were submitted to 61,434 virtual tests, 61,583 physical tests, and driven for more than 1.7 million kilometers before the final product could now hit the streets. Almost 3,300 new components make up the car. In terms of quality, reliability, endurance and strength, no effort was spared to provide the Fiat customer the best.
TOTALLY NEW DESIGN FOR A WHOLE NEW CAR
The Fiat Palio that now hits the streets represents a step beyond in relation to the former hatchback - it is bigger and finer. The entirely contemporary design by Centro Stile Fiat, Italy, is completely in tune with global trends, but also refers to the identity of the Fiat brand. It shares the stage with functionality, practicality and accurate finishing, making the new Fiat Palio a reference model in its segment.
A significant change that attracts much attention to the new Fiat Palio is its size. Its dimensions are noticeably larger than those of the previous Palio. The car has grown: 31 mm in width; 60 mm in height, 28 mm in length; and 47.3 mm in wheelbase. Despite being a compact car, these larger dimensions really contribute to raise passenger comfort and more intelligent use of internal space.
The body of the new Fiat Palio was developed in accordance with the latest design criteria. The goal was to obtain a lightweight body (compared to competitors) while keeping optimal structural performance. To this end, more resistant materials were used, allowing for the reduction of thickness and hence the weight of components, without loss of structural targets. The use of strategically placed reinforcements also contributed to increase occupant protection.
Italian style in a car 100% Brazilian
Outwardly, everything is different. The new Fiat Palio brings the DNA of Italian design that combines functionality with a beautiful aesthetic quality. Its high and sloping waistline defines the model's vocation by revealing sportsmanship. In addition, the highly tilted windshield denotes dynamism. The soft curves form a profile between hatchback and minivan with modernity and sophistication. The harmonious and dynamic design of the windows in conjunction with the side crease, which rises in the front fender and ends at the rear elongates the model, determines an element of beauty and grandiosity.
The front with rounded and voluminous lines received drop-shaped, bi-parabola headlights, representing modernity and personality. The robust bumper with geometric niches for the fog lamps gives the impression of strength and gallantry. The high and majestic air intake has a horizontal strip, which receives the front number plate of the vehicle. And the Fiat logo is flanked by elegant chrome trim similar to the 500 theme. Well positioned creases "tie-in" all elements.
Smooth surfaces predominate on the side, defined by lines and subtle curves. The waistline begins from the outer corner of the headlight bordering along the windows and on the C column, and extending to the rear window. This line brings harmony to the entire body. Another stronger crease runs on the side, embedding the doorknobs and meeting with the outer corner of the headlight. The car roof makes a slight curve toward the rear, and the windows follow the curve, radiating dynamism and energy. The protruding wheel housings serve as an element of surprise, breaking the great lateral plane and merging with the bumpers.
On the rear the focus is on the lamps. Elongated vertically and with many of the original traits, they invade the region of the rear window, and call attention to their boldness and functionality, as they are easily seen by other drivers. In addition, they make the model exclusive. Bicolor lenses add to the modernity of the body.
The brake-light in LED has a long service life and offers excellent viewing for those coming behind and still gives the car a sportier look. The large rear window and gently curved trunk lid with beveled edges create an appealing visual plane, which is complemented by the robust bumper. This embeds the same black strip as the front bumper. The entire rear refers to robustness and modernity.
The optical systems in the new Palio deserve highlight. The biparabola headlight has greater high and low photometric intensity of beams, which ensure a high luminous flux. The bulbs in the headlights were designed to simulate daylight as much as possible, which allows for a more homogeneous distribution, with greater depth and realism of the scenario. The turbine shape of the tail lights, of both the parking and brake lights, make it exclusive.
The new model also comes with independent tail reflector separate from the turn lights. Positioned in the bumper, they are traditionally more visible on the highways or in city streets.
Great refinement and comfort on board
Internally, the new Fiat Palio is also full of surprises. Ample internal space especially for a car in the AB segment, exquisite finishing and many details of comfort technology increase the pleasure to drive and to travel in the vehicle. Special attention was given to the harmonization of all elements - dashboard, steering wheel, radio, speakers and fabrics - in such a way as to create a warm and refined, but always functional environment.
All functional surfaces of the car are covered by panels, giving the cabin a very polished and pleasant to the touch aspect. The storage compartments, which extend the convenience and organization, are everywhere. Depending on the version, they can be a total of 17: four on the dashboard, four in the center console, eight on the doors, and one on the trunk cover.
The wraparound seats are new and designed to be more ergonomic and more comfortable. Its structure is light and strong, and very safe. The front seats have antisubmarining system and aft adjustment via rail. The driver's seat can come with height adjustment by lever arms and supports for comfort. The rear seat offers two positions on the back to increase the volume of the trunk. It can also be folded flat, creating a larger luggage space. All head restraints of seats and arm rests have the pourinplace technology, which means "inject" the foam directly into the fabric, enabling the creation of new and more ergonomic shapes.
One of the new features that draw the most attention on the dashboard is the instruments panel - 100% designed and developed in Brazil by Magneti Marelli. It comes with White LCD, which ensures better visibility of the display, bright new graphics and pointers across the bar, where the arrangement of elements is entirely three-dimensional. It also features WelcomeMoving, which make the instrument indicators move and perform a systems check, and greeting to the driver on the turn of the key. The lighting of the dashboard turns on and off gradually, following the movement of the indicators.
In the versions Attractive and Essence, the dashboard's background is black and contains a speedometer, tachometer, clock and partial and full digital odometers, coolant thermometer, analog fuel gauge, and pilot lights. The numbers are in white with red pointers, in easy to read format, without distracting the driver.
The Sporting version received a different dashboard. It contains the same meters of the other versions, but with numbers in larger screen printing gradient and white indicators, and the "Sporting" logo in the center.
Another important point was the development of Color and Trim, when Fiat's designers sought through new technologies the best balance of colors, fabrics and textures for both the internal and external looks of the new Palio.
A highlight of this work is the insertmolding - the central strip that runs horizontally across the panel - which along with the new fabric of the seats and door panels, forms the principal item of internal customization of the new Fiat Palio. With patterns specific to each version, the assembly can be replaced with other colors and prints for customers who want to customize their car.
With the new volume of the interior of the Fiat Palio, the audio system was also configured and positioned to achieve optimal acoustic performance. The package consists of an amplified reception antenna, two front speakers MidWoofer, two rear Full Range speakers, and two front Tweeters. The CD MP3 player is part of the dashboard and adds to its sophistication. The system also features a USB/iPod connection and Bluetooth® for hands free phone. Another innovation in the model is the option of radio controls on the steering wheel.
The indoor comfort is completed with the engineering work of by Fiat in the air-conditioning system. The excellent result of the new Fiat Palio positioned it as the best the market reference among manual systems.
EXCELLENT STRUCTURAL PERFORMANCE
The structure of the new car was designed to meet the best safety requirements of the global market. In the body, the high-strength materials were used on a large scale, resulting in increased rigidity, improved safety performance and reduction in body weight by 15%.
These components with high strength materials comprise 35% of the body structure. They were also used in 30% of the moving parts of the structure and 34% of the structure of the doors. In addition the door safety has been increased against lateral collision and burglary with the use of ultraresistant materials and with the new lateral protection bars in omega profile.
All of these interventions in the new car resulted in excellent structural performance, weight reduction, improved performance and enhanced safety. In addition to all aspects that enhance passive safety, the new Fiat Palio can also be equipped with four airbags, two in the front and two on the sides. In terms of active safety, we highlight the ABS brakes with EBD.
Another strong point of the new Fiat Palio is its suspension. Featuring an entirely new and more robust structure, it is designed and calibrated to provide comfort for occupants in all driving conditions - that is, it absorbs the irregularities of the floor and the lateral and longitudinal oscillations coming from it or from maneuvers - and ensures the stability of vehicle, keeping the tire traction on the ground.
To this end, various technical solutions were adopted:
- Front suspension. It has lower arms in the form of rectangular triangle. The goal is to minimize the effect of the braking load in curves and ensure better balance in all operating conditions.
- Rear suspension. The torsion axle and semi-independent wheels result in high torsional rigidity and appropriate flexibility.
- Rubber cushion attached to the body. It has been optimized to improve dynamic response in curves.
- Dimensions of elastic cushions. They were increased to better dampen road roughness, increasing driving comfort.
- Dampers designed and calibrated to achieve the ideal balance between driving comfort and curve stability thresholds.
The front suspension, McPherson type, consists of lower arms in stamped plates, wheel hubs, rods, stabilizer bar, hydraulic dampers and "side-load" helical springs. Dampers and springs work as both elastic and absorbent elements and structural and cinematic elements.
