Fiat Croma

Fiat Croma
Overview
Manufacturer	Fiat
Production	1985–1996 2005–2010
Body and chassis
Class	Large family car (D)
Layout	Front-engine, front-wheel-drive

The Fiat Croma is the name used for two different large family cars produced by Italian automaker Fiat, one a five door liftback built from 1985 to 1996, and the other a crossover station wagon built from 2005 to 2010.

First generation (1985–1996)[]

First generation (154)
First facelift model (1988–1991)
Overview
Production	1985–1996
Assembly	Mirafiori, Turin, Italy
Designer	Giorgetto Giugiaro at Italdesign
Body and chassis
Body style	5-door liftback
Platform	Type Four platform (Tipo Quattro)[1]
Related	Saab 9000 Lancia Thema Alfa Romeo 164
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2,660 mm (104.7 in)
Length	4,495 mm (177.0 in)
Width	1,755 mm (69.1 in)
Height	1,425 mm (56.1 in)
Curb weight	1,095 kg (2,414 lb) approx
Chronology
Predecessor	Fiat Argenta
Successor	Fiat Marea

1987 Fiat Croma CHT

The original Croma (Type 154) was a five door notchback liftback penned by Giorgetto Giugiaro of Italdesign and built on the Type Four platform, which was designed in cooperation between several companies and was also used for the Saab 9000, Lancia Thema and Alfa Romeo 164.^[2] It was released in December 1985.

Although the other models were executive cars, the Croma was marketed in the large family car segment, replacing the Fiat Argenta in the Fiat lineup. The Croma was the first large car produced by Fiat to feature a transverse mounted engine and front wheel drive.^[3]

Facelift[]

Fiat Croma (after the facelift of 1991).

Rear view.

The Croma received a light facelift for 1988, first shown in Frankfurt in September 1987. The black plastic between the rear lamps was now ridged rather than smooth, the lower portion of the bumpers were body coloured, and the turn signals received clear glass rather than amber.^[4]

The front appearance received some other light modifications to bring appearance in line with that of the recently introduced Tipo.^[5]

A more significant facelift was released in January 1991, with a new front design, including changes to the lights, bumpers grille and sheet metal changes to wings and bonnet. Also in 1991, the direct injected diesel engine was equipped with a variable geometry turbocharger ("VNT").^[6] Another facelift was released in June 1993.

Production ceased in December 1996, and Fiat abandoned the large family car segment. Because the Bravo/Brava based Fiat Marea small family car debuted at the same time as the Croma's cancellation, it is sometimes argued that the Marea replaced the Croma.

In fact, Fiat never had a large family car after the Croma (until the resurrection in 2005) and Fiat eventually abandoned this segment of the worldwide market altogether.

Engines[]

The Croma was available with a variety of petrol and diesel engines, most of the petrol units coming from Fiat's Twin Cam engine family.

Base models had a single cam 1585 cc four with 83 PS (61 kW) and the 1995 cc, 90 PS (66 kW) "Controlled High Turbulence" (CHT) engine, followed by two fuel injected 2.0 litre twin cam powerplants, one with 120 PS (88 kW) and the other a turbocharged and intercooled version giving 155 PS (114 kW).

The later 2.5 L V6 petrol unit was from Alfa Romeo, but as with the 1.6 L engine, was not available in all markets. The 2.0 CHT was designed specifically to provide low fuel consumption under light and medium loads thanks to two separate inlet manifolds of different diameters.^[7]

The Fiat Croma was the first passenger car in the world to have a direct injection Diesel (Turbo D i.d.) engine, going on sale in 1988.^[5][8] The 1.9 L fitted with a turbocharger with direct injection produces 92 PS (68 kW). It was joined by the 2499 cc unit supplied by Iveco, with a normally aspirated version giving 75 PS (55 kW) and a turbocharged one with 115 PS (85 kW). The latter version replaced the original 2446 cc with 100 PS (74 kW).

Diesel engined variants of this car were not marketed in the United Kingdom.

Second generation (2005–2010)[]

Second generation (194)
Overview
Production	2005–2010 (LHD)[9] 2005–2007 (RHD)
Assembly	Cassino – Piedimonte S. Germano (Frosinone), Italy
Designer	Giorgetto Giugiaro at Italdesign
Body and chassis
Body style	5-door estate
Platform	GM Epsilon platform
Related	Cadillac BLS Opel Signum Opel Vectra Saab 9-3
Powertrain
Transmission	5- and 6-speed manual 6-speed automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2,700 mm (110 in)
Length	4,755 mm (187.2 in) 4,783 mm (188.3 in) (facelift)
Width	1,775 mm (69.9 in)
Height	1,600 mm (63 in)
Chronology
Successor	Fiat Freemont

Fiat Croma (2006)

In March 2005, Fiat announced a large crossover wagon with an upright tailgate, reminiscent of that of the Fiat Stilo, resurrecting the Croma nameplate. Giugiaro once again styled the exterior, while the chassis was provided via the short lived link with General Motors.

The new Croma (Type 194) is therefore based on the extended variant of the GM Epsilon platform sharing components with the Opel Vectra and Saab 9-3. It went on sale in Italy in June 2005. The car was shown in the Geneva Motor Show in 2005.

Unlike the previous model, and aware of its lack of image in the upper market segments, Fiat opted for not developing a standard large family car, but developing a "Comfort Wagon",^[10] an automobile with design elements of both estates and large MPVs.

Its height of 1,600 mm (63.0 in) falls between the Mitsubishi Grandis and Ford S-Max large MPVs (1,655 mm (65.2 in) and 1,660 mm (65.4 in) respectively) and SEAT Altea XL (1,525 mm (60.0 in)). In February 2007, Fiat UK announced that the Croma would no longer be generally available in the United Kingdom, after less than 900 were sold in 2005.^{[citation needed]}

The car was still offered only on special order, with RHD models manufactured to customer specifications. Production of the second generation Croma ceased in the end of 2010. Despite not being a showroom hit, the Croma managed to sell in quite reasonable numbers, with 65,000 sold in one year alone.^[11]

Safety[]

The Croma has seven airbags as standard, including one knee bag for the driver. As standard, the Croma is equipped with anti-lock braking system and electronic brakeforce distribution. It has a five star EuroNCAP crash, rating for adult occupant protection:

Euro NCAP test results
Fiat Croma (2008)

Test	Score	Rating
Adult occupant:	34
Child occupant:	39
Pedestrian:	6

Facelift[]

Facelifted Fiat Croma

The Croma got a major facelift in November 2007, and was termed the Nuova Croma. A new grille (Bravo look) and rear bumper, as well as some material changes inside are the main differences. Fiat now designates the revised model as "Station Wagon" instead of the previously used term "Comfort Wagon".^[12] The Nuova Croma was only sold in mainland Europe, excluding the United Kingdom.

Engines[]

The Croma, built at Fiat's Cassino factory, had three trim levels and five engine options. Like the chassis, petrol engines were supplied by Opel, beginning with the brand new evolution of the Family 1 Ecotec 1.8 L with 140 PS (103 kW), followed by the torquier L850 Ecotec 2.2 L with 147 PS (108 kW).

However, the bulk of the sales is represented by Fiat's own Multijet engine, available in three variants 1.9 L with 8 valves and 120 PS (88 kW), 1.9 L with 16 valves and 150 PS (110 kW), and the range topper five cylinder 2.4 L 20V, with 200 PS(147 kW). The diesel engines were fitted with a standard six speed manual gearbox, six speed automatic (standard on 2.4 engines) is also available.

Petrol[]

Diesel[]

References[]

External links[]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Fiat Croma.

• Fiat Croma EuroNCAP results