To most observers' surprise Fiat didn't choose present the new facelifted Palio model on the occasion of the Internacional do Automóvel, which took place in São Paulo late last month; however the revised model is currently pounding the streets of Belo Horizonte and its surrounding areas in final prototype format, with a close to the year-end market introduction expected.

This will be the final facelift for the C-segment Palio hatchback before it is replaced, and it will be the most visually striking revamp to the most important 'Project World Car' family member thus far. The designers in Brazil have worked hard to give the car a bigger and more 'executive' level feel, mirroring closely the improvements made to the Siena (saloon) model from the same family architecture in China where it has recently been re-launched on the market as the Perla.

In China, Nanjing Fiat, the local Fiat Auto operation, was looking to tap into the aspirations of Chinese car buyers who were seeking out a bigger, more prestigious class of car to match their own upward ambitions. This design concept has quickly been carried over to Brazil where the principles have been applied to the Palio. The prototype cars which have been sighted on the roads in the vicinity of the Betim plant in Belo Horizonte, have been painted in lurid white and black flashes which aim to disguise its bigger size pretensions, but the larger new headlights and its Perla inspired front grille, bigger bumper and spoiler cut-out sections can all be clearly made out.
 

This final facelift is based mainly around the exterior with few changes being made to the interior, unlike the last model upgrade two years ago which saw much of the designers' attention being focused internally. This time new instruments, which aim to be more effective and clearer for the driver, and a new steering wheel are the main changes to be made. Active and passive safety levels have reportedly been improved while the standard equipment and options list will also be enhanced when it arrives on the Brazilian market within the next few months.