To celebrate thirty five
years of Fiat in Brazil, an anniversary which comes up
next year, at the 26th Salăo do Automóvel de Săo Paulo
next week a dramatic concept convertible based around
the new Uno will be headlining the brand's line up.
Significantly Fiat Automóveis also says that this
distinctive new showcar will preview a forthcoming
two-door version of the Uno, adding that this
flexibility in terms of conception points towards
numerous possibilities that an advanced project, like
the one of the new Uno, can cater for.
With the removal of the
roof, and consequently the rigid section of the body,
the Uno Cabrio prototype had to receive reinforcements
to various parts of its structure. It was a detailed
work developed by Fiat Automóveis engineering, in the
sense of avoiding torsional movements of the body that
could cause discomfort and unsafeness.
Following the
aesthetic proposal that was defined by the project's
engineers, the Uno Cabrio has received restyled bumpers
at both the front and rear with a completely new visual
design, which provides for a more sporty look. The front
bumper is characterized by large air intakes and the
presence of a pronounced lower spoiler section. The tail
lights and brake lights – positioned at the posterior
part of the headrests – are illuminated by LEDs,
complementing the automobile’s look.
Inspired inside by the
choice of a "vintage" theme, the concept has received a
series of specific new components, like speaker covers,
weather controls, air vents, pedals and a chrome-plated
fire extinguisher. Likewise alluding to classic race car
models from bygone eras, the steering wheel has three
radii, the shift stick knob is metallic and the seats
have four-point safety belts which hold the body of the
occupants much better in situations of sporty driving.
Still internally, the
frame of the dashboard and the central console section
of the Uno Cabrio have both been adapted to incorporate
new measuring instruments: a turbo pressure gauge,
positioned together with the instrument panel, and two
gauges for reading the oil and fuel pressure, all
located on the central console. All of these have
received new text designs.
Moving between the
contemporary and the vintage concept, the solution of
the interior has been to incorporate sophisticated
surfaces and aluminum elements as well as elegant
finishes like the new special bicolor leather coverings
with stitches and application in matelassé.
The engine chosen to
propel the convertible concept is the same one as fitted
to the Brazilian-built Punto T-Jet, that is Fiat
Powetrain's turbocharged 1.4 16V engine, with 152 hp
power, which is capable of carrying it to a maximum
speed close to 200 km/h. There is also an improved
suspension arrangement for the Uno Cabrio concept and to
complete the visual looks, new 17-inch alloy wheels.