Fiat Automóveis is preparing to launch onto the Brazilian market a new version of its market leading pick-up, the Strada Sporting, that will take the robust, compact workhorse into a completely new niche. It arrives as the Strada celebrates continued sales success in Brazil: in 2009, more than 60,000 units of the model have already been commercialised up to the end of September, and that figure represents twice the number of sales of Ford's Ecosport which is the second best selling light commercial vehicle in the country.

To be named the "Sporting", on the exterior this new version of the Strada will be equipped with exclusive multi-spoke R16 alloy wheels, a front lip spoiler, contoured side skirts, smoothly curved wheel arch mouldings, a large aluminium rear tailgate plate embossed with the new name, matching chromed door mirror covers and front fog light bezels, and double headlight units with blackened covers to add up to a more sleek and stylish, and sports-effect.

Inside, the finish will also be upgraded with sporting details, including a new leather steering wheel complete with red stitching, red coloured seatbelts and sports pedals. The engine fitted will be the 1.8 Flex with 113 and 115 bhp when running on gasoline or alcohol respectively, while the Strada Sporting's suspension system has also been fine-tuned by Fiat Automóveis' engineers in order to give the occupants more sporting characteristics.

The Strada Sporting comes as the latest in a rapid-fire roll-out this year in Brazil of new versions of the compact Strada pick-up, which has been the leader in the segment of light commercials vehicles in the country for the last nine years. The most recent addition, launched in late September, was the Strada Working, which slotted in above the entry-level version and offers all-round improvements and more equipment as standard. The Strada Working is being offered in three different configurations: standard cabin, extended cab and double cab. The previous entrant to the Strada range was the summer launch onto the Brazilian market of a new top specification version, the Strada Cabine Dupla (double cab), that offers four seats for the passengers. Since it was commercialised, this new double cab option has achieved a level of 15 percent participation in the overall production of the model, making it a big hit in terms of sales for the brand.

by Claudio Perlini