Test drive Fiat 500X against Renault Captur: urban fashion
First comparison of the 500X with one of its strongest opponents – the Renault Captur The Italian brand Fiat has finally released a model that has every reason to be considered a significant new product. Moreover, the 500X claims to take a worthy place in the particularly popular class of compact urban crossovers Old Continent. Another, no less important news that the 500X brings with it is the fact that with its help Fiat has really managed to take the first successful step towards transferring the iconic design features of the small 500 to a completely new model and gradually (like BMW and their British brand MINI) build a whole family of diverse cars with a common design philosophy. And although the exterior of the 500X has a typical Italian look, behind the metallic…
Test drive Fiat Bravo: first test drive
With its soft and elegant lines combined with sophisticated technology, the Fiat Bravo aims to make the public forget about the not-so-successful sales model of the Stilo. First impressions. After a long period of poor financial results, Fiat has started to get back on its feet with the launch of the extremely successful Grande Punto in quantitative terms, which means a 21 percent increase in global sales, an increase in the company's market share in Europe by 1,1 percent - completely It is logical that the Italians will only strengthen their position with new attractive models. This process is apparently being carried out in record time, because the new Bravo became a series car in just 18 months, thanks to the availability of a ready-made Stilo platform, which was radically redesigned but not replaced by a new one, as well as…
Test drive Fiat 500: Italian for connoisseurs
Fiat 500 fans will forgive their pet any shortcomings. But in the 50-kilometre test, the Cinquecento wanted to prove to its critics that it is not only beautiful, but also reliable. Rimini, a few months ago. The hotel stresses the national importance of separate waste collection, even the shiny-haired carabinieri stop at zebra crossings, and the smoking ban is strictly observed by the owners of dubious pubs. Even south of the Alps, one can no longer indulge in one's favourite vices - just as one can no longer maintain faith in the unreliable reputation of Italian cars. A heavy burden Fiat's previous involvement in long-term motor and sport tests was marked by a sense of inconstancy. In the late 000s, the Punto I covered 90 kilometres with seven unscheduled stops, ending with 50…
Test drive unknown Fiat
60 years of Centro Stile Fiat is a good opportunity to look at a unique history Individual development is a short rehearsal of history – the truth of this statement by Ernst Haeckel has long been recognized in the theory of evolution. However, we can fully apply this to automobile development. BMW marketing will not fail to mention that aircraft engines are in the company’s genes and even the brand image reflects this, while Mercedes is proud to produce trucks and buses. But what about the group united by the name Fiat – although now formally divided into an automotive division, including Chrysler and a range of light trucks, and an industrial group, which includes Iveco trucks, Case and New Holland agricultural machinery, as well as…
Test drive eco-friendly and efficient brake pads
Federal-Mogul Motorparts has announced the expansion of its Ferodo Eco-Friction range of low or no copper brake pads. Ferodo's Eco-Friction technology is patented to Original Install (OE) standards and is the preferred technology by a number of vehicle manufacturers. Along with protecting the environment, it aims to improve braking distances, which is important for safe driving. Eco-Friction pillow tests show that not only are they as good as traditional copper components, they are often significantly better. For example, the Volkswagen Golf VI has a stopping distance with Ferodo Eco-Friction brake pads that is 10% shorter at 100 km/h and 17% shorter at 115 km/h. Other production models such as the Peugeot Boxer and Fiat Ducato reduce the stopping distance …
Test drive Fiat 500 Topolino, Fiat 500, Fiat Panda: Little Italian
Three models that provided mobility for several generations in their homeland They were practical and, most importantly, cheap. With the 500 Topolino and the Nuovo 500, FIAT managed to put the whole of Italy on wheels. Later, Panda took on a similar task. These two are well aware of their influence - Topolino and 500. Because they know that with their charm they definitely appeal to women, who often look at them a little longer than usual in other cars. This, of course, is noticed by Panda, whose angular face today seems to throw jealous glances. As if he wants to shout: "I deserve love too." He is also a bestseller and, what's more, has long been mentioned as a design icon. And in general, he is almost identical to the other babies -…
GAC GS8 test drive
We figure out that an SUV from the Celestial Empire with charisma and cross-country ability, and also explain how it is still correct to call it. the worst weather. April rains and snowfalls have turned the path through the field into a muddy swamp, so signs are attached to the trees with the words "Off-road tow truck" and a phone number. On the sandy hills that have remained in the places of brown coal production, people are drawn not only by completely cosmic views, but also by the opportunity to try themselves on strong off-road. Having overcome the mess of the field, you can get stuck already on the mountains themselves, which consist of very slippery soil, mottled ...
Test Drive Alternatives: PART 2 - Cars
If you have the opportunity to fly over Western Siberia at night, through the window you will see a grotesque picture reminiscent of the Kuwaiti desert after the withdrawal of Saddam's troops during the first Iraq war. The landscape is littered with huge burning “torches”, which is clear evidence that many Russian oil producers still consider natural gas a by-product and an unnecessary product in the process of finding oil fields ... Experts believe that this waste will be stopped in the near future. For many years, natural gas was considered a surplus product and burned or simply vented to the atmosphere. It is estimated that so far, Saudi Arabia alone has dumped or burned more than 450 million cubic meters of natural gas in oil production ... At the same time, the process is reversed ...
Test drive Fiat 500 Abarth: pure poison
The Fiat power unit is a legend among fans of Italian motorsport, so their hearts were hardened by the sad emptiness of the years of its absence. Now the "scorpion" is back, bringing light back to the souls of its sworn fans. In this case, we decided to "chase" one of the hottest modifications of the 500 model. For many years, Abarth, the racing brand of the recent past, did not remain in deep hibernation. However, recently the "poisonous scorpion" returned to the scene with a new reserve of energy and a new desire to swallow its sting. The display of several old-timers from the Abarth factory collection at the opening of the new car repair shop in Turin-Mirafiori clearly seemed insufficient to the Italians, who decided to send a specially selected dealer network and two modern sports models. At the same time, the 160-horsepower Grande Punto Abarth…
Test drive Fiat 500 0.9 TWIN-AIR: Two, if you like!
If you believe Fiat's promises, there's nothing but two cylinders in the new TWIN-AIR engine. First installed in the not-so-cheap, retro-styled little car 500, the direct-injection turbo engine is trying to break the shackles of the standard four-cylinder engine. In the race to create the most efficient combustion engine, engineers today play a kind of mechanical Mikado - they take a big engine and start removing cylinders while it's still running. Fiat's designers have come a long way so far, because their unit, called TWIN-AIR, somehow manages to run with just two cylinders in a row. A little fun So there's nothing missing? On the contrary, it lacks, for example, a camshaft for the intake valves, a function that is taken over by the…
Test drive the 10 most anticipated electric vehicles in the coming year
Electric vehicles have made great strides in recent years, but so far remain exotic. In the next 12 months, it will depend on them whether they will become a real competitor to conventional cars. Many premieres are expected, but the fate of electric vehicles in Europe will largely depend on the next 10. 1 BMW i4 When: 2021 The model you see is a concept version, but the production version will not differ significantly from it. Its exact figures are not yet known. The prototype has 523 horsepower, accelerates to 100 km / h in 4 seconds. and accelerates to a maximum of 200 km / h. The battery is only 80 kWh, but since this is a new generation, it should last for 600 km. 2 Dacia Spring Electric When: 2021 Renault Group assures…
Test drive Fiat Bravo II
This is with the names, it is necessary to clarify; between the previous and the current Bravo there was (was) Stilo, which did not bring much success to Fiat. So the return to the name Bravo, which is not usual for Fiat, since it usually brought a new name in this class with a new car. Remember: Rhythm, Tipo, Bravo / Brava, Stilo. They make no secret of the fact that they also want to forget about Stilo by name, reminding them anew of Bravo, which still has many followers. It is also no secret that much of the success depends on the shape. It was created in Fiat and resembles the Grande Punta, which is a design by Giugiaro. The resemblance is part of the "family feeling", as they officially say in…
Test drive Fiat Fullback
The Italian pickup is a product of joint creativity, this time with Mitsubishi. When choosing the basis for the new car, the Italians settled on the Japanese L200 model with a proven frame design. I'm driving to work in Turin in the morning in a brand new Fiorino city van. Despite the compact size of the car, the back easily accommodates a Euro pallet, to which several spare wheels are fastened. The working day promises to be eventful. On the narrow streets of the homeland of Fiat, I enjoy excellent visibility, precise steering, a precise manual gearshift with short strokes and an absolutely amazingly tuned clutch pedal. On the highway, I come to the conclusion that the 95 "horses" of the diesel engine are quite enough to not feel like an outsider in the dynamic Italian traffic. Yes, it's no surprise that the mail ...
Test drive comparison of four profitable compact hatchback models
They look at each other Fiat Tipo hatchback, Ford Focus, Kia Cee`d and Skoda Rapid return With the Tipo, the Fiat brand has a representative in the compact class again. In previous years, it is reminiscent of both the name and even more so its price, which in Germany starts at 14 euros for the hatchback variant. In this test, the Tipo is equipped with a turbocharged petrol engine and the latest equipment, but it is much cheaper than its well-known competitors Ford Focus, Kia Cee`d and Skoda Rapid Spaceback. It remains to be seen whether this will make it a winner. Finally, we have the opportunity to start with a quote from Mrs. Jha Gabor, who once said: "Darling, if you envy a better woman, it is…
Test drive keyless entry: almost all cars are easy to steal
ADAC test with surprisingly alarming results The German automobile club ADAC and its Austrian partner ÖAMTC inspected 270 cars with keyless entry and found that almost all of the tested models could be easily opened and stolen. "273 Keyless-Go cars were recently tested, and only four of them could not be opened. Most manufacturers are clearly unwilling or unable to eliminate this security breach," criticizes ÖAMTC expert Stefan Kerbel. "Currently, cars with Keyless-Go are significantly easier to steal than other cars. Only four Jaguar models, resp. In our tests, the Land Rover could not be unlocked. So things could have been different - other manufacturers need to catch up quickly here...
20 years of Common Rail for Diesel IIs: Alfa Romeo was the first
Continued: The difficult path of designers to implement new technology. They are the backbone of everything Fiat and Bosch Shortly after Fiat introduced the direct-injection Croma in 1986, a similar system was introduced by Rover, which created it with British specialists from Perkins. It will be used later for Honda models. It wasn't until 1988 that the VW Group had its first direct injection diesel engine, which also used a Bosch distribution pump. Yes, it is VW that plays the role of mass injector for direct injection in diesel vehicles. However, VW is so enamored with its TDI engines that it misses the revolution of the late 20th century. So, back to the beginning of the story to meet again with the engineers from Fiat and Bosch. This time…