The 5-door C-segment Bravo arrives in Brazil equipped to please the most demanding of consumers: a differentiated design, cutting-edge technology, with equipment that makes it truly complete; generous internal space with a lot of sophistication as well as sportiness. Fiat Automóveis will be hoping that the Bravo can succeed where its most recent plans to go upmarket failed with the Linea sedan. The Linea was always designed as a low-cost sedan, attempts to chase a more premium position were never going to come off, but with the Bravo they have a refined and proven car.

Built in Italy and with much of the design and engineering carried out by Austro-Canadian contractor Magna-Steyr, the Bravo first went on sale in Europe in the spring of 2007 replacing the unloved and unsuccessful Stilo in the vital C-segment. The attractive Bravo, which will receive no mid-life restyling programme, will be phased out on European markets in 2012 and this year it has seen its reasonably steady sales (on its domestic market) finally tailing off sharply despite the recent arrival of new engine options.

The Bravo arrives this week on the Brazilian market with a choice of two engine options: the locally-built 1.8 16V E.torQ (formally the Tritec engine) fitted with mechanical transmission or Dualogic, and the imported-from-Italy 1.4 T-Jet equipped with a 6-speed transmission – and in three versions – Essence, Absolute and T-Jet – all very well equipped, including up to seven airbags – two frontal, two front sides, two for the protection of occupants’ heads, besides one for protection of the driver’s knees, Dual Drive electric steering, fog lights with cornering system, NAV Radio, Xenon headlights, front parking sensor, folding external rearview mirrors and a new Skydome sunroof. With this strategic launch, Fiat Automóveis is seeking to create a strong impact in the medium hatchback segment and to increase its share.

The two available motorizations for the new Fiat Bravo offer good performance, fuel economy and low emission levels. Both are compact and modern units. The E.torQ 1.8 16V engine brings together adequate performance and economy, with excellent torque at low rotations. Driving only with gasoline, its power is 130 hp at 5,250 rpm; with ethanol, 132 hp at the same revs. And the maximum torque of 18.4 kgfm with gasoline and 18.9 kgfm with ethanol, is reached at 4,500 rpm. But at 2,500 rpm, the engine already produces 93% of its torque. E.torQ is a compact and light engine, designed to last and to have low maintenance cost as well as offering low emission levels and silent operation. It equips the Essence and Absolute versions of the new Fiat Bravo.

Meanwhile the 1.4 16V T-Jet engine equips the sporty version of the hatchback. This compact gasoline turbo engine produces 152 hp of power and 21.1 kgfm of torque at 2,250 rpm. Small engines with performance of large engine are a strong trend in Europe. Their advantage is that, when not required, they are so economical as any other motor of the same capacity. To obtain this formula, an especially developed turbo compressor is employed to overfeed the engine with lesser capacity. The T-Jet engine comes coupled to a 6-gear mechanical Italian transmission.

And for more sportiveness, Fiat Bravo brings an "overbooster" (the Brazilian market name for the European "Sport" button), which is activated by the OVB key located on the automobile’s panel. From the activation of this function the accelerator pedal curve is switched to a more aggressive curve. The opening of the butterfly is then altered to a greater value at the same pedal position. With the OVB key activated, every time the driver steps on more than 10% of the course of the accelerator pedal, the injection central unit will be authorizing the Waste Gate Valve to be kept more closed, increasing overpressure in the engine from 0.9 to 1.3 bar. This increase of overpressure will bring a torque gain within the range of 2,000 rpm up to 4,000 rpm, passing through a peak of 23.0 kgfm at 3,000 rpm (without the overbooster, a peak of 21.1 kgfm of torque). With this function activated the electric steering is firmer, thus assuring more safety.

For the Brazilian market there are three levels of finish, two engines and three types of transmission: Bravo Essence 1.8 16V Flex with transmission mechanical; Bravo Essence 1.8 16V Flex with transmission Dualogic; Bravo Absolute 1.8 16V Flex with transmission mechanical; Bravo Absolute 1.8 16V Flex with transmission Dualogic; and Bravo T-Jet 1.4 16V Turbo with transmission 6-gear mechanical.

Fiat Bravo Essence.  Well equipped, all Bravo versions bring ISOFIX, universal hook for setting of child seat. The Essence version also includes standard items like double airbag, manual air conditioning, electric steering with “City” function, 16” light alloy wheel, fog lights with cornering system, disc brakes in the four wheels, automatic pilot, CD radio with MP3, electric external rearview mirrors, Safe Lock, front and rear electric windows with one touch system and anti-crash, steering wheel with height and depth regulation, fuel tank cap with electric opening, driver’s seat with height regulation, visors with mirror and lighting, illuminated glove compartment and trunk, 1/3 and 2/3 bipartite rear seat, five headrests with height regulation, hood for engine and transmission, hooks for fixing of load in the trunk, key with remote control for windows, locks and trunk, among several others.

Fiat Bravo Essence Dualogic. It brings all standard equipment of the Essence version, plus Dualogic® Automatic transmission.

For both Essence versions, the list of optional equipment includes brakes with ABS, Dual Temp® automatic air conditioning, Hi-Fi sound with subwoofer, Blue&Me or Blue&Me NAV + leather upholstered steering wheel with radio controls, Skydome electric sunroof, electrochromic internal rearview mirror, twilight sensor, rain sensor, rear and front parking sensor, electric folding of external rearview mirrors, front armrest with refrigerated span, rear armrest, besides partially leather upholstered seats in black or brown. The Dualogic version offers, even, the transmission control on the steering wheel, or butterflies.

Fiat Bravo Absolute. The version has the same standard items of the Essence version plus: Dual Temp® automatic air conditioning, Blue&Me, ABS in the brakes, Night Design, rear parking sensor, leather upholstered steering wheel with radio controls, front armrest with refrigerated span, besides the passenger seat central armrest , 17” light alloy wheels, knobs and linings under the chromate windows, rags on carpet with Absolute embroidered, more exclusive fabrics and finish details.

Fiat Bravo Absolute Dualogic. Besides all standard equipment of the Absolute version, this also has Dualogic® Automatic transmission and transmission control on the steering wheel.

The two Absolute versions offer, as optional equipment, Skydome electric sunroof, tire pressure sensor, Hi-Fi sound with subwoofer, Blue&Me NAV, NAV Radio, front parking sensors, external rearview mirrors with electric folding, electrochromic internal mirror, twilight and rain sensors and partially leather upholstered seats, plus the airbags: kneebag, sidebags and windowbags.

Fiat Bravo T-Jet. The list of standard items includes all equipment present in the Absolute version, and even 6-gear transmission, ESP (stability control system) + Hill Holder, 17” exclusive light alloy wheels, Overbooster button on the panel, darkened front headlights, double chromate exhaust, steering wheel, red painted brake calipers – for the first time in the Fiat series -, hand brake and leather upholstered level knob with red seams, pedal system and sportive footrest, spoiler, mini-skirts, besides diverse finish details that differentiate the sportive version from the new hatchback. The customer can also equip the Bravo T-Jet with xenon headlights, tire pressure sensor, Skydome electric sunroof, NAV Radio, Blue&Me NAV, electrochromic internal mirror, twilight and rain sensors, Hi-Fi sound with subwoofer, 18” light alloy wheels + tire 225/40, partially leather upholstered seats, plus the airbags: kneebag, sidebags and windowbags.