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The 'Fiat Palio' is a 'third world car' designed by the Italian manufacturer Fiat as a ''world car'', aimed at developing countries. It is produced in Brazil, India, Turkey, South Africa and China as a hatchback ('Palio'), sedan ('Siena/Petra' and 'Albea'), station wagon ('Palio Weekend') and pickup truck ('Strada'). It is also built under licence in North Korea, as the Pyonghwa Hwiparam. Russian ZMA will start assembly of Turkish CKD kits in Autumn 2006. The station wagon and pickup versions are also sold in Western Europe. 'Cost cutting is evident in use of cheap plastics and other mechanical/electrical parts. Also, the Palio in all its avatars is known to be extremely fuel inefficient.'

Contents

Mark I (1996–2001)

Mark II (2001–04)

Mark III (2004–07)

Mark IV (2007–present)

Mark V (projected for 2010)

Nanjing Fiat Perla

Safety Rating

Motorsport

References

External links

Mark I (1996–2001)

Launched in 1996 in Brazil, as part of Fiat's "178 project", the Palio was Fiat's first attempt to build a world car, the same basic design being produced in numerous nations around the globe. Four principal models were produced, a hatchback, sedan / saloon, pickup and station wagon / estate, different versions being built in different countries. The powerplants, both diesel and petrol, also varied from region to region depending on local production capability, legislation and market requirements.
The basic chassis was a development of the Fiat Uno, but little remained unchanged. The entire structure was significantly stronger in order to be suitable on the rougher roads found in some of the markets for which it was intended, as was the suspension. The body was a completely new design by the I.DE.A Institute of Turin, who also designed the new interior.
Production began in 1996 in Brazil and was followed later that year by a plant in Argentina. 1997 saw production starting in Venezuela, Poland and Morocco whilst Turkey started building the same car in 1998. India and South Africa began production in 1999, Egypt in 2001 and China in 2002.

Mark II (2001–04)

In 2001 the model had its first facelift. The new design was made by the Italian automobile designer Giorgetto Giugiaro. This facelift included new front and rear fascias, and a brand new interior. Also, new engines came for the Palio: the FIRE 16 valve 1.0 L and 1.2 L and the 'Sporting' engine, a 1.6 L 16 valve with 120 hp made in Turkey. The Mark II series was the first Fiat to be made in China by Nanjing, and included a "SpeedGear" version.

Mark III (2004–07)

The Mark III was released in 2004, designed again by Giorgetto Giugiaro. It was a completely new design, with inspirations in the Fiat Punto and the Fiat Stilo. The 2004 Palio was the very first Brazilian model in the B-segment available with four airbags (two front airbags and two side airbags), parking assistance, and light and rain sensor. In Europe, the new model featured a Mark III front fascia and interior and a Mark II rear fascia. The latest development in Brazil was the launch of a new sport version called the 'Palio 1.8R' which has a new version of the General Motors 1.8 L "Powertrain" engine rated at 115 hp (ethanol) and 112 hp (gasoline), lowered suspension, new 14 inch alloy wheels, new seats, and other sporting features. The third generation of the Palio had huge sales numbers, even getting higher sales in some months than VW Gol, the brazilian best-selling car for over twenty-four years.
Sales (Palio III)
2003 - Palio II
2004 - 130.228
2005 - 126.443
2006 - 167.390
2007 - replaced by Palio IV
Source: Fenabrave

Mark IV (2007–present)

The Palio Mark IV was launched in February 28 2007, in Natal, Brazil. The model will be sold alongside an adapted version of the Fiat Grande Punto, which will be launched in Brazil in the first semester of 2007.
Some media incorrectly affirmed that an all-new Palio was under development [1] [2], but these reports actually presaged the Fiat Grande Punto.
This fourth facelift includes new front, rear and side design, but it keeps the original chassis from the 1996 model. It also has a minor change in the instrument panel with differences between the two variants sold.
The trims for this new Palio are 'ELX' with the 1.0 or the 1.4 FIRE engines, both flex (ethanol and petrol) and the sporty version '1.8R' with the current revision of the 1.8 8 valve engine from GM, also flexible. The new 'Torque' engines will be shown at the Palio, only after the launch of the Grande Punto.
Fiat has sold 111.949 Palios since january from june of 2007.

Mark V (projected for 2010)

A complete new-generation Palio was announced by Fiat Auto in early 2007. Some prototypes have seen spotted in Italy in an early stage of development. ^[1]

Nanjing Fiat Perla

The Nanjing Fiat Perla was launched at the 2006 Auto Guangzhou Motor Show, and is based on the European Fiat Albea. The car's rear got a more profound facelift for the Chinese market. For example, the rear is longer and lower than the Siena. It has a new 1.7 L MPi engine, air conditioning, dual front airbags, anti-lock brakes, power steering, power windows, central locking, and many other features.
Russia will be the first country outside China to receive this new model, but with the 1.4 L Fire 8v engine with 77cv and the 'Speedgear' transmission.

Safety Rating

The Fiat Albea a sedan version of the Palio, was tested in Russia according to the EuroNCAP latest standard (Offset frontal crash at 64 km/h). The Albea scored 8,5 points in the frontal test, equivalent to 3 stars. The tested vehicle, was equipped with standard driver Airbag and regular seatbelts.[AutoReview Magazine; Russia]

Motorsport

Several competition and homologated versions of the Palio have been produced, such as the A6 class rally car, multi-Brazilian and South American champion of the A6 class with Brazilian Luis Tedesco as driver, and the Super 1600 Abarth rally car, with a 215 hp 1.6 L 16-valve engine and a 6-speed sequential transmission.

References

1. Gazeta AutoDiario '(in Portuguese)'

External links

★ Official site