At next week's 26th Salão
do Automóvel de São Paulo Fiat Automóveis will launch
onto the Brazilian market a sports-focused version of
the new Fiat Uno which has already sold 70,000 units
since its May showroom debut. The new Uno Sporting
arrives to contribute even further with the product’s
image: strong and decisive, customisable, economical,
reliable, durable and excellent performance vehicle.
The Uno Sporting will
have under its bonnet the new Brazilian market Fire 1.4
Evo engine. Its external appearance aims to mirror a
high performance sports model, both in the use of
colours and in items of personalisation and efficiency.
The headlights with black masks, red detailing rings for
the inner sections of the grille and the new spoiler for
the front bumper, all form part of its personality.
The colour-coded door
moulding panels aim to convey sportiness as well as the
side skirts which are similarly painted. The exhaust
tail pipe features a more sporty twin exit and the rear
lights have a smoked finish. Following the example of
the front bumper, the rear also brings an aerodynamic
supplement. On the tailgate, a spoiler with a black
finish has been incorporated. Still on the decorative
elements and functionalities, the rims of wheel arches
and the coverings of the door columns also receive a new
treatment in black. The model has dedicated badging and
new pattern 15-inch alloy wheels fitted with 185/60
tyres.
Internally the new Uno
Sporting is distinguished by panels that have a new
exclusive coverings, as well as the adoption of specific
details with colors that identify the version. The
instrument panel has its own characteristics specially
for the Sporting version, bringing instruments with a
new orange gauge and a visor with red illumination. The
B-segment car also has as standard an on board computer
and leather steering wheel. The seats receive an
exclusive new cloth coverings with colour-coded stitched
seams plus there is a magazine holder and "Sporting"
embroidery. The New Uno Sporting has an intelligent rear
window washing system.
The Uno's suspension
has also adjusted for the new version. Compared with the
one that equips the regular Uno version it has been
designed and calibrated to allow better drivability,
besides transmitting to the driver a greater sensation
of sportiness and safety. The new suspension is about 20
mm lower in relation to the Uno's Vivace and Attractive
versions, and its springs are stiffer. They are helical
in format and designed with side-load techniques to
optimise the operation of the suspension. They reduce
the radial forces on the piston of the shock absorber
and the internal friction, which results in better
absorption of rough surfaces. The shock absorbers also
have revised characteristics due to the new performance
requirements. The front stabilising bars have a larger
diameter, and the rear axle has greater torsional
stiffness. These solutions were developed so that the
suspension of the Uno Sporting might have an improved
response time and lesser body incline in bends. They are
also more progressive at the limit of adherence.
Comfort is also assured through the adoption of passive
hydraulic mounts for the engine. The basic idea of this
component is to use highly elastic rubber for improved
acoustic behavior. This results in greater stiffness at
low frequencies and lower stiffness at medium and high
frequencies. These are requirements that cannot be found
simultaneously in conventional mountings.
The Uno Sporting version arrives in the showrooms with
plenty of standard equipment including power assisted
steering, foglights and electrically-operated front
locks and windows. In terms of safety the new Uno
Sporting can be specified, optionally, with HSD (High
Safety Drive – double airbag + brakes with ABS system)
as well as further items that aim to improve on-board
comfort and entertainment like air conditioning and
radio CD MP3 Connect with hands-free Bluetooth + USB.
The New Uno Sporting
also offers the consumer the option of exclusive
personalisation. From the factory there are two options
kits for this version. The "Sport Kit" brings decals for
the mudguards and tailgate plus a badge for C-pillar
while the "Exclusive Kit" consists of an exclusive
leather steering wheel with orange detailing, fabrics
for seats (also with orange details) as well as
dedicated floor mats. If the customer prefers he has the
option of personalising his Uno Sporting at the dealer
with new rearview mirror covers, external door knob
cover, shift stick knob, hand brake finisher, new
instrument panel frame, further decals and sporty
pedals. Also on the list of accessories are items like
an alarm, anti-theft locks for the wheels and under
engine protector.
Available in eight
different colors, the Sporting version of the new Uno
counts on three exclusive paint alternatives:
Indianópolis Yellow, Modena Red and the new Nemo Orange,
all solid colors. The rest are taken from the existing
Fiat Automóveis colour range, the solid Banchisa White,
plus four metallic paints: Bari Silver, Chrome Gray,
Scandium Gray and Vesuvius Black.