New 'spy' images show the comprehensively restyled Fiat Strada pick-up during final testing in the city of Belo Horizonte, the headquarters of Fiat in Brazil, in recent days. The model will be the next to be released the brand in the country, and it represents the completion of the makeover of the 'Project World Car' range which has seen the Palio (hatchback), Siena (saloon) and Palio Weekend (station wagon) all being given facelifts over the last year. The photos are courtesy of Lucas Righi.

The Strada will received the same bold new styling and innovative mechanical modifications which were accomplished in the new Palio Weekend, which last month became the most recent model to arrive on the Brazilian market. It will also get restyled headlights and rear lights. The most important technical modification to the Strada though will be the introduction of the system for differential blocking, named "Locker", that will be available in rugged off-road 'Adventure' version.

The 'Locker' system is the first one in the world to be developed for a 4x2 traction system vehicle. The system was developed by Fiat Powertrain Technologies in a partnership with Eaton. The system provides the car with a better scenario to extract itself from situations of adherence loss; the differential divides and distributes the torque between the two driveshafts and the wheel with lower adherence rotates more quickly while the other stays locked.

The resource can be enabled or disabled by the driver by the simple pressing of the "ELD" (Electronic Locker Differential) button located on the dashboard; however the system is only designed to be only used in specific situations at low speed, and for that reason, light and sound indicators warn the driver when the vehicle reaches 15 km/h, at which point the system is turned off automatically.

The new Strada Adventure will also receive important alterations in the suspension system, such as new shock absorbers called "Powershock”, a technology that has been developed by Magneti Marelli Cofap. The shock absorbers have internal anti-roll springs which help provide a safer and steadier reaction to the steering wheel, making them very suitable for an off-road model. New tyres measuring 205/70/15, increase the height of the pick-up in relation to the ground up to 190 mm.

The long-running Strada model is currently available in Brazil in two versions, Adventure and Trekking. The base model is equipped with two engines: 1.4 Flex (80 hp - petrol/81 hp - alcohol) and 1.8 Flex (112 hp - petrol/114 hp - alcohol), and two chassis options, with standard and extended cabin. The prices (with standard equipment) start from R$ 34,920 (£ 10,800) up to R$ 39,830 (£ 12,355).

The top version of the Strada is just equipped with 1.8 Flex (dual fuel) engine and extended chassis cabin, at a price (with standard equipment) of R$45,320 (£14,000). The load capacity (including driver) is 705kg (685kg for extended cabin version), with maximum weight haul of 400 kg, the 'dumper' version offer 1,100 litres (800 litres for extended).

Fiat Automóveis sold 27,596 units of the Strada during the first five months of 2008 on the Brazilian market, which keeps the model firmly at the top of the rankings for light commercials vehicles.