Fiat Duna
Encyclopedia
The Fiat Duna was a small car
produced by Fiat
in Brazil
, where it was sold as Fiat Prêmio. The Duna was based on the Fiat Uno
, but unlike the Uno, it was a sedan, as such models are more popular in South America
.
In Brazil, the "Prêmio" was presented in late 1985: with its only two doors, it never became the big hit the Brazilians expected. In 1987, the Elba model was born: With a 1.5 l engine, the new station wagon with only three doors was supposed to replace the old Fiat Panorama, based in the Fiat 147. Only in 1988 the Brazilians could get the four-door Premio and in 1989, the Elba with five doors.
In Argentina
the four door Duna was released in 1987, and from 1990 was the best selling car in the market for almost six years. It was largely used as a taxi, with gas engines (GNC).
The Duna was exported to Italy and other countries in Europe
from 1987, but by 1991, the only existing version was the station wagon, this time called as Innocenti
Elba. The Duna did not arrive in the United Kingdom
, as Fiat Brasil did not produce cars in right hand drive.
Fiat Brazil
produced the Duna, Premio in the factory of Betim
. It was produced in Brazil until 1995.
Fiat Argentina
produced the Fiat Duna and Elba in the Sevel
factory in Córdoba
until 2002. 257.559 units were built there.
The Duna and Duna Weekend were replaced by the Fiat Siena
and the Fiat Palio Weekend.
The Fiat Duna acquired in Italy the reputation of the most unreliable car Fiat had ever produced, especially in regard to engine starting problems; but, on the other hand, the car won the FIA realiability record in late 90's. The Duna was tested on 25000 kilometres (15,534.3 mi) in the Rafaela's Speedway with a total time of 170 hours, 44 minutes and an average speed of 146 km/h (91 mph). The model chosen for the test was the Duna SCV with a 1.5 liter engine with 82 hp.
Automobile
An automobile, autocar, motor car or car is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor...
produced by Fiat
Fiat
FIAT, an acronym for Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino , is an Italian automobile manufacturer, engine manufacturer, financial, and industrial group based in Turin in the Italian region of Piedmont. Fiat was founded in 1899 by a group of investors including Giovanni Agnelli...
in Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, where it was sold as Fiat Prêmio. The Duna was based on the Fiat Uno
Fiat Uno
The Fiat Uno is a supermini car produced by the Italian manufacturer Fiat. The Uno was launched in 1983 and built in its homeland until 1995, with production still taking place in other countries.-First series :...
, but unlike the Uno, it was a sedan, as such models are more popular in South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
.
In Brazil, the "Prêmio" was presented in late 1985: with its only two doors, it never became the big hit the Brazilians expected. In 1987, the Elba model was born: With a 1.5 l engine, the new station wagon with only three doors was supposed to replace the old Fiat Panorama, based in the Fiat 147. Only in 1988 the Brazilians could get the four-door Premio and in 1989, the Elba with five doors.
In Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
the four door Duna was released in 1987, and from 1990 was the best selling car in the market for almost six years. It was largely used as a taxi, with gas engines (GNC).
The Duna was exported to Italy and other countries in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
from 1987, but by 1991, the only existing version was the station wagon, this time called as Innocenti
Innocenti
Innocenti was an Italian machinery works originally established by Ferdinando Innocenti in 1920.After World War II, the company was famous for many years for Lambretta scooters models such as LI125, LI150, TV175, TV200, SX125, SX150, SX200, GP125, GP150 and GP200.From 1961 to 1976 Innocenti built...
Elba. The Duna did not arrive in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, as Fiat Brasil did not produce cars in right hand drive.
Fiat Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
produced the Duna, Premio in the factory of Betim
Betim
Betim is a city in Minas Gerais, Brazil. It is located at around . The city belongs to the mesoregion Metropolitan of Belo Horizonte and to the microregion of Belo Horizonte....
. It was produced in Brazil until 1995.
Fiat Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
produced the Fiat Duna and Elba in the Sevel
Sevel Argentina S.A.
Sevel Argentina was an automobile company that produced and marketed Fiat, Peugeot, Alfa Romeo, Chevrolet, and Citroën automobiles for the Argentinian market until it was dissolved in 1999...
factory in Córdoba
Córdoba, Argentina
Córdoba is a city located near the geographical center of Argentina, in the foothills of the Sierras Chicas on the Suquía River, about northwest of Buenos Aires. It is the capital of Córdoba Province. Córdoba is the second-largest city in Argentina after the federal capital Buenos Aires, with...
until 2002. 257.559 units were built there.
The Duna and Duna Weekend were replaced by the Fiat Siena
Fiat Siena
The Fiat Siena is the four-door sedan version of the Fiat Palio, a supermini car especially designed for developing countries. The car is similar to Fiat Albea...
and the Fiat Palio Weekend.
The Fiat Duna acquired in Italy the reputation of the most unreliable car Fiat had ever produced, especially in regard to engine starting problems; but, on the other hand, the car won the FIA realiability record in late 90's. The Duna was tested on 25000 kilometres (15,534.3 mi) in the Rafaela's Speedway with a total time of 170 hours, 44 minutes and an average speed of 146 km/h (91 mph). The model chosen for the test was the Duna SCV with a 1.5 liter engine with 82 hp.