The Stilo Multi Wagon is a neat and cleverly designed car. It builds on the "multi-purpose estate" theme that is currently very much in fashion. It has been designed to maximise load space and features a host of innovative ideas including front flat-folding seats, slide-swivel rear seats and an independentally opening rear window.

The Stilo Multi Wagon is loaded up with all the latest safety features, and has undergone over 120 crash tests. 8-airbags include multi-stage front and window bags, while active safety lists ABS with EBD, ESP, ASR and MSR, and brake assist.

The Stilo Multi Wagon comes with a range of four engines. Starting with a petrol 1.6 16v unit which puts out 103 bhp while the best performance is offered by a 133 bhp 1.8 16v  which propells the Multi Wagon from 0-100 km/h in 10.8 seconds and to an overall top speed of 200 km/h. Two 1.9 JTD common rail diesels engines, an 80 bhp version and a higher specification unit fitted with a variable geometry turbine and intercooler which produces 115 bhp complete the line-up.

Fiat claim considerable savings are coming into play from synergies developing with General Motors, adding up to €248 million over the first nine months. Fiat have detailed restructuring plans, key to them being the introduction of new models. Between now and 2005 Fiat will spend €2.5 billion per year on product renewal and R&D programmes, with the aim of reducing the average model age to 4 years by the end of this period.

Fiat Group will cancel all the auto divisions internal debts and they now claim that the auto division will "break even" by the year end. 

It has not been revealed how the project will take shape, but it is expected that the venture will start to produce diesel engines late next year and vans in early 2005. Trucks and buses will follow shortly after.

Ruspromavto is an umbrella holding company which includes Pavlovsky Avtobus's Golicinsky, Likinsky and Kurgansky bus factories, the Avtodiesel factory, the Ural truck factory, and car componentry manufacturer Kanashscky as well as major car maker GAZ who Iveco signed an agreement earlier this year allowing them to produce trucks and vans under licence. 

Fabrizio Giovanardi, this years champion, has left Alfa Romeo, headed to BMW. Giovanardi has had an illustrious eight year spell at Alfa Romeo, winning six titles: one Spanish Super Touring Championship, two Italian Super Touring Championships and three European Touring Car Championships, notching up 33 victories along the way.

Roberto Colciago has just won back-to-back Swedish Touring Car titles while Gabriele Tarquini won the 1993 British Touring Car Championship for Alfa Romeo before moving on to race the Alfa Romeo 155 V6 TI in the ITC in 1995. Both took part at the ETC's penultimate round at Donington Park last month, while Colciago also appeared in the previous round at Enna.

Alfa Romeo and Fiat had extensive model ranges on show in Birmingham, as well as the 147 GTA, the Alfa stand saw the 156 GTA and Sportwagon GTA displayed alongside Fabrizio Giovanardi's European Touring Car Championship winning version. 

Fiat had a number of different Stilo models in a display that ranged from the Seicento to the Doblo. In the supercar category a yellow Lamborghini Murcielargo complemented the Ferrari Enzo.

Read a full model-by-model review of the show with photographs of every Italian model present.