Fiat Strada

Fiat Strada
Overview
Manufacturer	Fiat
Also called	Ram 700 (Mexico, Chile)
Production	1996–present (Tipo 278) 2020–present (Tipo 281; Latam)
Assembly	Betim, Brazil (Fiat Brazil) Rosslyn, South Africa (Nissan)[1]
Designer	Giorgetto Giugiaro
Body and chassis
Class	Subcompact coupé utility
Body style	2/3-door coupé utility (pickup) 4-door pick-up (2nd Gen)
Layout	Front-engine, front-wheel-drive
Platform	Project 178
Related	Fiat Palio Fiat Siena Fiat Albea Fiat Perla
Powertrain
Engine	1.2 L FIRE I4 petrol 1.3 L Fiasa I4 petrol 1.4 L FIRE I4 petrol 1.4L FIRE Evo I4 flexyfuel 1.5 L Fiasa I4 flexyfuel 1.6 L Torque I4 petrol 1.6 L E.torQ I4 flexyfuel 1.8 L E.torQ I4 flexyfuel 1.3 L MultiJet I4 diesel 1.7L TD I4 diesel 1.9 L JTD I4 diesel
Transmission	5-speed manual
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2,718 mm (107.0 in)[2][3][4][5]
Length	4,398 mm (173.1 in) (1996–2001)[2] 4,400 mm (173.2 in) (2001–2004)[3] 4,444 mm (175.0 in) (2004–2009)[4] 4,409 mm (173.6 in) (2009–present)[5]
Width	1,665 mm (65.6 in) (1996–2004)[2][3] 1,664 mm (65.5 in) (2004–present)[4][5]
Height	1,505 mm (59.3 in) (1996–2004)[2][3] 1,559 mm (61.4 in) (2004–2009)[4] 1,564 mm (61.6 in) (2009–present)[5]
Chronology
Predecessor	Fiat Fiorino Pickup (Europe) Fiat 147 City (Brazil)
Successor	Fiat Fullback (Europe)

The Fiat Strada is a supermini coupé utility produced by the Italian manufacturer Fiat since 1996. It is based on Fiat's world car "project 178", the Palio. It is produced by Fiat Automóveis in Brazil, and has been marketed worldwide, excluding the United States and Canada. In Europe the Strada was sold by Fiat Professional division.

First generation (Tipo 278; 1996-present)[]

Launched in 1996 in Brazil, it was the cargo member of the "178 Project".^[6] The Strada was made to replace the Fiat City, a pickup version of the Fiorino, a commercial derivative of the Fiat Uno. The Strada features a maximum loading capacity of 700 kg (1,543 lb) and a cargo space of 1,770 mm (69.7 in) x 1,314 mm (51.7 in). In Europe the Strada was launched in April 1999^[7] with two engine: the 1.2 Fire petrol with 73 hp and the 1.7 turbodiesel with 70 hp.

2001 revision[]

In 2001, the model had its first facelift. The new design was made by the Italian design guru Giorgetto Giugiaro. The facelift included a new front and interior. The Mark II series marked the début of an extended-cab version. In 2002, Fiat do Brasil launched the first version of a Fiat Strada Adventure, with "off-road" looks.

2004 revision[]

The new Mark III was launched in 2004. It has a revised front and interior design taken from the Palio (and also designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro). Also, a second version of the Strada Adventure was built, with the same features of the Weekend Adventure. It was offered in Europe with the relatively modern 1.9-L JTD diesel engine.

In South Africa, the Strada is offered in four variants: 1.2 Fire MPI EL, 1.6 Torque MPI EL, 1.6 Torque MPI ELX (same as the EL but with colour-coded bumpers and mirrors, electric windows, driver's airbag, and air conditioning), and 1.7 turbo diesel EL. Fiat South Africa also introduced the X-Space model, which stretches the cab by 30 cm (12 in). This model is available in two models, the standard X-Space and the X-Space Adventure (which has similar specifications to the standard 1.6 ELX model). Both X-Space models are powered by the 1.4 Fire MPI engine.

In Europe, it is available only with the 1.3 Multijet 16V diesel engine with 85 PS and Euro 4 standard emission level.

2009–2013[]

Unveiled in summer 2009, the all-new Mark IV model was put on sale in the end of 2009. Whilst the model shares its name with the previous Strada, a large number of its components are new, including a new bodyshell. For the rest of the South America, the new Strada was introduced in mid-2010. The design is inspired by the Fiat Grande Punto with many elements similar to the latest versions of the family Palio and Siena. The fourth-generation Strada is built in four different versions: Working, the basic version, Trekking, with more goodies, the Sporting for sportier style^[8] with aero kit body style, and the Adventure with a locking differential dedicated to off-road use. In 2010, Fiat do Brazil introduced a new double-cab version^[9] (also called Strada Cabina Dupla) with four seats, but maintaining the same wheelbase.

The engines used are the Fiat 1.4-L 16V Fire Flex (85 PS) and the 1.8-L 16-V Ecotec Flex (114 PS). For diesel, the 1.3-L 16V Multijet unit with 87 PS (64 kW; 86 hp) is also available.^[10]

The Strada was relaunched for Italy and other selected European markets in 2012.^[11]

2013–present[]

Strada Adventure Mk V

At the end of 2013, Fiat unveiled the latest facelift of the Strada (as a model year 2014)^[12] based on the 2009 version. The new Strada introduced a new front fascia and new rear lights, and the double-cab version is available with the suicide-style rear doors. Three versions are sold in South America: Working, Trekking and Adventure with four different body styles.

For the 2015 model year, the Fiat Strada was rebadged by Ram Trucks for the Mexican market as the Ram 700.^{[citation needed]}

In 2018, total sales of the Strada in the Brazilian market surpassed 1.4 million of units.^[13]

Second generation (Tipo 281; 2020-present)[]

2020 Fiat Strada double cab

The second generation of the Fiat Strada (codeproject 281^[14]) is presented on June 26, 2020 in Brazil and is based on the new MC-P modular platform derived from the Fiat Argo with the front MacPherson suspension and part of the cabin taken from the Fiat Mobi model and the rear suspension taken from the brazilian Fiat Fiorino (327). For the first time the Strada was produced in the double cab 4-door version with 5-seats.^[15]

The second generation of Strada introduce the large silver-colored Fiat front logo replacing the previous one, a small Italian flag inserted in the grid and LED light clusters. The side and tail, on the other hand, appear more classic, with the possibility of choosing between the two and four-door versions featuring a different capacity: 720 kg and 1,354 liters for the first and 650 kg and 844 liters for the second. In order to ensure maximum mobility even on rough surfaces, the raised structure allows the car to lift from the ground by 208 mm and a front angle of attack of 24 degrees. The interior reproduces some of the contents of the Fiat Uno (327) produced in Brazil, even if some secondary controls are modified. In addition to the display at the center of the instrumentation, there is also an infotainment with 7-inch touchscreen, bluetooth, wireless, compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Starting on 18 November 2020, the rebadged RAM 700 saw a new generation for the Mexican market. It is offered in the SLT (regular and crew cab), Bighorn, and Laramie trim levels.^[16]

Engine[]

The range of engines consist in the 1.4 Fire Flex 8 valve (85 HP petrol and 88 HP ethanol) of the Endurace versions and the 1.3 Firefly Flex 8 valve (101 HP petrol and 109 HP ethanol) of the Freedom and Volcano, both with the five-speed manual gearbox gears and the E-Locker traction control system.

Gallery[]

• 

  1996-2000 Fiat Strada rear

• 

  2001 Fiat Strada

• 

  2001 Fiat Strada rear

• 

  2004 Fiat Strada

• 

  2004 Fiat Strada rear

• 

  2004 Fiat Strada (extended cab)

• 

  2009 Fiat Strada Adventure

• 

  2010 Fiat Strada Adventure

• 

  2012 Fiat Strada Adventure

• 

  2012 Fiat Strada Adventure rear

Sales[]

See also[]

The 1980s Fiat Ritmo was sold as the Fiat Strada in some markets which did not receive the 1990s Strada described here.

• Fiat Ritmo — an earlier Fiat car which was sold as the "Strada" in some markets
• Fiat Palio — the recent Strada's base car
• Fiat Albea
• Fiat Siena

References[]

External links[]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Fiat Strada.

• Brazilian official website