Fiat Palio
Encyclopedia
The Fiat Palio is a small family car designed by Fiat
as a world car
, aimed at developing countries. It is produced in Brazil
, Argentina
, Turkey
, South Africa
and China
. It is also built under licence in North Korea
as the Pyonghwa Hwiparam. Russian ZMA
started assembly of Turkish CKD kits in Autumn 2006. The Palio platform is also used to produce the Fiat Siena
sedan, the Fiat Palio Weekend station wagon, the Fiat Palio Adventure crossover and Fiat Strada
light pick-up truck.
, of 1977 where it was a trim designation rather than an actual model in itself. The 127 Palio featured alloy wheels, a more luxurious interior and a metallic paint finish as found on the 127 Sport. The Palio designation was also used on other Fiat models throughout the 1980s and 1990s in various markets.
The basic chassis was a development of the Fiat Punto
, but little remained unchanged. The entire structure was significantly stronger in order to be suitable on the rougher roads found in some of the markets for which it was intended, as was the suspension. The body was a completely new design by the I.DE.A Institute
of Turin
, who also designed the new interior.
Production began in 1996 in Brazil and was followed later that year by a plant in Argentina
. 1997 saw production starting in Venezuela, Poland and Morocco whilst Turkey started building the same car in 1998. India and South Africa began production in 1999, Egypt in 2001 and China in 2002. The Palio Weekend station wagon was launched in 1996 in Brazil and later in Europe.
automobile designer Giorgetto Giugiaro
. This facelift included new front and rear fascias, and a brand new interior. Also, new engines came for the Palio: the FIRE
16 valve 1.0 L and 1.2 L and the Sporting engine, a 1.6 L 16 valve with 120 hp made in Turkey. The Palio 2001 version was the first Fiat to be made in China by Nanjing, and included a "SpeedGear" version. Palio 2001 is the ultimate version sold in Italy. In the 2011 Fiat introduced for south americas market the new version Palio Adventure, a crossover vehicle based over the body of the Palio Weekend.
The third revision was released in 2004, designed again by Giorgetto Giugiaro
. It is basically a facelift from the previous models. The 2004 Palio was the very first Brazilian model in the B-segment available with four airbag
s (two front airbags and two side airbags), parking assistance, and light and rain sensor. In Europe, the new model featured a redesigned front fascia and interior with rear fascia similar to Palio 2001 version. It has also a sport version called the Palio 1.8R which has a new version of the General Motors 1.8 L "Powertrain" engine rated at 115 hp (ethanol) and 112 hp (gasoline), lowered suspension, new 14 inch alloy wheels, new seats, and other sporting features. The third generation of the Palio had huge sales numbers, even getting higher sales in some months than VW Gol, the Brazilian best-selling car for over twenty-four years. It is currently still sold as Palio Fire Economy as a cheaper alternative to its posterior facelift, with alterations derived from the Uno Mille Fire Economy
model. The top model is still Weekend Adventure version; it is equipped with a 1.8 litre Powertrain Flex fuel engine with 112 HP (petrol/gasoline) and 114 HP (ethanol) at 5500 rpm, all terrain Pirelli Citynet tires and a higher/reinforced suspension kit but still with 4x2 traction.
Fiat India is making the Palio 2004 with old 2001 version interiors at Ranjangaon plant along with Grande Punto, Linea
. After entering into a partnership with Tata Motors, the Palio has been relaunched as Palio Stile with 1.1 Fire, 1.6 Torque and 1.3 Multijet engines. Sales have been low at hardly 200 units per month.
, Brazil. The design of the body was inspired by the new version of the Fiat Grande Punto
, which was launched in Brazil in the first semester of 2008.
This fourth facelift includes new front, rear and side design, but it keeps the original chassis from the 1996 model despite being marketed as New Palio. It also has a minor change in the instrument panel with differences between the two variants sold.
The trims for this new Palio are ELX with the 1.0 or the 1.4 FIRE engines, both flex (ethanol and petrol) and the "sporty" version 1.8R with the current revision of the 1.8 8 valve engine from GM, also flexible. The new Torque engines will be shown at the Palio, only after the launch of the Grande Punto. The Palio Adventure introduced the new limited slip differential
and new suspension for off road with front wheel drive traction.
Fiat has sold 111,949 Palios since January from June 2008.
, Greece
; however, the official launch took place at November 4. It is the first total remodeling since launch in 1997. The project (under code 326) was anticipated because of the success of the new Fiat Uno
in Brazil. One of the new versions will be "Sporting" - brand known by the sportive versions of Siena
, Uno
, Idea
, Bravo
and Strada
.
sedan was added in November 2002, followed by the Palio Weekend in June 2003. The Siena and Weekend were not available with the smaller engine.
is joining utility companies Cemig
and Itaipu to develop new electric vehicles for Brazil, with an initial batch of Fiat Palio cars scheduled to start testing later 2007.
, the sedan version of the Palio, was tested in Russia
according to the EuroNCAP
latest standard (offset frontal crash at 64 km/h). The Albea scored 8,5 points in the frontal test, equivalent to 3 stars. The tested vehicle, was equipped with standard driver Airbag and regular seatbelts.
The Fiat Perla, the Chinese version of the Fiat Albea
, was tested in China
by the China-NCap in three different test; 100% front crash test with a wall (like the US NTHSA test) a 40% offset test (like the EuroNCap) and a side crash test like the EuroNCap. The Perla scored 8,06 points in the 100% frontal crash test, equivalent to 3 stars; 12.02 pts in the 40% offset crash test, equivalent to 4 stars, and 10,96 pts in the side crash test, equivalent to 3 stars; with an average result of 31 points and 3 stars. The tested vehicle, was equipped with standard driver and passenger airbag and regular seatbelts.
versions of the Palio have been produced, such as the A6 class rally car, multi-Brazilian and South American champion of the A6 class with Brazilian Luis Tedesco as driver, and the Turkish Fiat Rally Team create Palio Super 1600 Super 1600
Abarth
rally car, with a 215 hp 1.6 L 16-valve engine and a 6-speed sequential transmission. Turkey also boasts an N2 Palio.
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...
as a world car
World car
The phrase world car is used to describe a car designed for, or achieving, worldwide sales using the same platform and components, often with variety of body styles...
, aimed at developing countries. It is produced 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...
, 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...
, Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
and China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. It is also built under licence in North Korea
North Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
as the Pyonghwa Hwiparam. Russian ZMA
ZMA (factory)
ZMA is a Russian car maker located in Naberezhnye Chelny, Republic of Tatarstan. It produces Oka micro-car under VAZ license. Most of the stock was owned by KamAZ, until March 2005 when SeverstalAvto bought the factory...
started assembly of Turkish CKD kits in Autumn 2006. The Palio platform is also used to produce 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...
sedan, the Fiat Palio Weekend station wagon, the Fiat Palio Adventure crossover and Fiat Strada
Fiat Strada
The Fiat Strada is a supermini coupé utility version of Fiat's "world car" project, the Palio. It is produced in Brazil and exported from Betim, Minas Gerais to the European Union.-History:...
light pick-up truck.
Origins of the Palio badge
The Palio badge originated on the Mark II Fiat 127Fiat 127
The Fiat 127 is a supermini produced by the Italian automaker Fiat between 1971 and 1983. It was introduced in 1971 as the replacement for the Fiat 850...
, of 1977 where it was a trim designation rather than an actual model in itself. The 127 Palio featured alloy wheels, a more luxurious interior and a metallic paint finish as found on the 127 Sport. The Palio designation was also used on other Fiat models throughout the 1980s and 1990s in various markets.
First generation (1997–2011)
Launched in 1996 in Brazil, as part of Fiat's "178 project", the Palio was Fiat's first attempt to build a world car, the same basic design being produced in numerous nations around the globe. Four principal models were produced -hatchback, sedan, pickup and station wagon-, with different versions being built for different markets. The powerplants, both diesel and petrol, also varied from region to region depending on local production capability, legislation and market requirements.The basic chassis was a development of the Fiat Punto
Fiat Punto
The Fiat Punto is a supermini produced by the Italian manufacturer, Fiat, since 1993.-1st generation :Internally codenamed Project 176, the Punto was announced in September 1993 and launched in late 1993 as a replacement for the ageing Fiat Uno. The Fiat Punto was voted European Car of the Year...
, but little remained unchanged. The entire structure was significantly stronger in order to be suitable on the rougher roads found in some of the markets for which it was intended, as was the suspension. The body was a completely new design by the I.DE.A Institute
I.DE.A Institute
I.DE.A Institute is an automobile design and engineering company in Turin, Italy, founded in 1978...
of Turin
Turin
Turin is a city and major business and cultural centre in northern Italy, capital of the Piedmont region, located mainly on the left bank of the Po River and surrounded by the Alpine arch. The population of the city proper is 909,193 while the population of the urban area is estimated by Eurostat...
, who also designed the new interior.
Production began in 1996 in Brazil and was followed later that year by a plant 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...
. 1997 saw production starting in Venezuela, Poland and Morocco whilst Turkey started building the same car in 1998. India and South Africa began production in 1999, Egypt in 2001 and China in 2002. The Palio Weekend station wagon was launched in 1996 in Brazil and later in Europe.
2001 revision
In 2001 the model had its first facelift. The new design was made by the ItalianItaly
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
automobile designer Giorgetto Giugiaro
Giorgetto Giugiaro
Giorgetto Giugiaro is an Italian automobile designer responsible equally for a stable of supercars and several of the most popular everyday vehicles driven today...
. This facelift included new front and rear fascias, and a brand new interior. Also, new engines came for the Palio: the FIRE
Fully Integrated Robotised Engine
The FIRE is a series of automobile engines from Fiat. It was designed by Italian design firm Rodolfo Bonetto . It is constructed by robot assembly plants to reduce costs....
16 valve 1.0 L and 1.2 L and the Sporting engine, a 1.6 L 16 valve with 120 hp made in Turkey. The Palio 2001 version was the first Fiat to be made in China by Nanjing, and included a "SpeedGear" version. Palio 2001 is the ultimate version sold in Italy. In the 2011 Fiat introduced for south americas market the new version Palio Adventure, a crossover vehicle based over the body of the Palio Weekend.
2004 revision
Giorgetto Giugiaro
Giorgetto Giugiaro is an Italian automobile designer responsible equally for a stable of supercars and several of the most popular everyday vehicles driven today...
. It is basically a facelift from the previous models. The 2004 Palio was the very first Brazilian model in the B-segment available with four airbag
Airbag
An Airbag is a vehicle safety device. It is an occupant restraint consisting of a flexible envelope designed to inflate rapidly during an automobile collision, to prevent occupants from striking interior objects such as the steering wheel or a window...
s (two front airbags and two side airbags), parking assistance, and light and rain sensor. In Europe, the new model featured a redesigned front fascia and interior with rear fascia similar to Palio 2001 version. It has also a sport version called the Palio 1.8R which has a new version of the General Motors 1.8 L "Powertrain" engine rated at 115 hp (ethanol) and 112 hp (gasoline), lowered suspension, new 14 inch alloy wheels, new seats, and other sporting features. The third generation of the Palio had huge sales numbers, even getting higher sales in some months than VW Gol, the Brazilian best-selling car for over twenty-four years. It is currently still sold as Palio Fire Economy as a cheaper alternative to its posterior facelift, with alterations derived from the Uno Mille Fire Economy
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 :...
model. The top model is still Weekend Adventure version; it is equipped with a 1.8 litre Powertrain Flex fuel engine with 112 HP (petrol/gasoline) and 114 HP (ethanol) at 5500 rpm, all terrain Pirelli Citynet tires and a higher/reinforced suspension kit but still with 4x2 traction.
Fiat India is making the Palio 2004 with old 2001 version interiors at Ranjangaon plant along with Grande Punto, Linea
Linea
Linea is Latin for 'line'. In planetary geology it is used to refer to any long marking, dark or bright, on a planet or moon's surface. The planet Venus and Jupiter's moon Europa have numerous lineae; Saturn's moon Rhea has several.-See also:...
. After entering into a partnership with Tata Motors, the Palio has been relaunched as Palio Stile with 1.1 Fire, 1.6 Torque and 1.3 Multijet engines. Sales have been low at hardly 200 units per month.
2007 revision
The last Palio facelift was launched in 2007, in NatalNatal, Rio Grande do Norte
-History:The northeastern tip of South America, Cabo São Roque, to the north of Natal and the closest point to Europe from Latin America, was first visited by European navigators in 1501, in the 1501–1502 Portuguese expedition led by Amerigo Vespucci, who named the spot after the saint of the day...
, Brazil. The design of the body was inspired by the new version of the Fiat Grande Punto
Fiat Grande Punto
The Fiat Grande Punto is a car manufactured by the Italian automaker Fiat. It was unveiled on May 5, 2005 and replaced by the Punto Evo in 2010. In September 2011 Fiat unveil the Punto model year 2012, the new version will replaced the Grande Punto and the Punto Evo...
, which was launched in Brazil in the first semester of 2008.
This fourth facelift includes new front, rear and side design, but it keeps the original chassis from the 1996 model despite being marketed as New Palio. It also has a minor change in the instrument panel with differences between the two variants sold.
The trims for this new Palio are ELX with the 1.0 or the 1.4 FIRE engines, both flex (ethanol and petrol) and the "sporty" version 1.8R with the current revision of the 1.8 8 valve engine from GM, also flexible. The new Torque engines will be shown at the Palio, only after the launch of the Grande Punto. The Palio Adventure introduced the new limited slip differential
Limited slip differential
A limited slip differential is a type of differential gear arrangement that allows for some difference in angular velocity of the output shafts, but imposes a mechanical bound on the disparity...
and new suspension for off road with front wheel drive traction.
Fiat has sold 111,949 Palios since January from June 2008.
Second generation (2011–present)
An all-new generation of Palio was revealed in October 2011 at the annual Fiat dealers meeting in MykonosMykonos
Mykonos is a Greek island, part of the Cyclades, lying between Tinos, Syros, Paros and Naxos. The island spans an area of and rises to an elevation of at its highest point. There are 9,320 inhabitants most of whom live in the largest town, Mykonos, which lies on the west coast. The town is also...
, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
; however, the official launch took place at November 4. It is the first total remodeling since launch in 1997. The project (under code 326) was anticipated because of the success of the new 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 :...
in Brazil. One of the new versions will be "Sporting" - brand known by the sportive versions of 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...
, 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 :...
, Idea
Fiat Idea
The Fiat Idea is a mini MPV built by the Italian manufacturer Fiat since 2003. The car is based on the Project 188 platform, originally used for the second-generation Fiat Punto. The Idea is noted for its versatile interior, which includes sliding and folding rear seats...
, Bravo
Fiat Bravo (2007)
The Fiat Bravo is a small family car introduced to the press in January 2007 in Rome, and later in the Geneva Motor Show in 2007.- History :The Bravo is produced in Fiat's plant in Piedimonte S. Germano. The car was designed by Fiat Style Centre. Austrian automotive company Magna Steyr engineered a...
and Strada
Fiat Strada
The Fiat Strada is a supermini coupé utility version of Fiat's "world car" project, the Palio. It is produced in Brazil and exported from Betim, Minas Gerais to the European Union.-History:...
.
Nanjing Fiat
In November 2001 the Chinese Fiat Palio debuted, with either the 60 PS 1.2 liter or the 85 PS 1.5 liter. The SienaFiat 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...
sedan was added in November 2002, followed by the Palio Weekend in June 2003. The Siena and Weekend were not available with the smaller engine.
Electric versions
FiatFiat Automobiles
Fiat Automobiles S.p.A. is an Italian automaker which produces Fiat branded cars, and is part of Fiat Group Automobiles S.p.A.. This is a subsiadiary of Fiat S.p.A., the largest automobile manufacturer in Italy...
is joining utility companies Cemig
CEMIG
CEMIG is a Brazilian power company headquartered in Belo Horizonte capital of Minas Gerais. The company is one of the largest power generator and distributor in Brazil being responsible for 12% of the national distribution....
and Itaipu to develop new electric vehicles for Brazil, with an initial batch of Fiat Palio cars scheduled to start testing later 2007.
Safety rating
A Fiat AlbeaFiat Albea
The Fiat Albea is the sedan version of the Fiat Palio small family car, built in Turkey at the Tofaş facilities of the Italian automaker Fiat. It is the replacement for the Siena in Europe and has been in production since 2002. It has a similar design with its South American equivalent but a longer...
, the sedan version of the Palio, was tested in Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
according to the EuroNCAP
EuroNCAP
The European New Car Assessment Programme is a European car safety performance assessment programme based in Brussels and founded in 1997 by the Transport Research Laboratory for the UK Department for Transport and backed by several European governments.-History and activities:Euro NCAP is a...
latest standard (offset frontal crash at 64 km/h). The Albea scored 8,5 points in the frontal test, equivalent to 3 stars. The tested vehicle, was equipped with standard driver Airbag and regular seatbelts.
The Fiat Perla, the Chinese version of the Fiat Albea
Fiat Albea
The Fiat Albea is the sedan version of the Fiat Palio small family car, built in Turkey at the Tofaş facilities of the Italian automaker Fiat. It is the replacement for the Siena in Europe and has been in production since 2002. It has a similar design with its South American equivalent but a longer...
, was tested in China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
by the China-NCap in three different test; 100% front crash test with a wall (like the US NTHSA test) a 40% offset test (like the EuroNCap) and a side crash test like the EuroNCap. The Perla scored 8,06 points in the 100% frontal crash test, equivalent to 3 stars; 12.02 pts in the 40% offset crash test, equivalent to 4 stars, and 10,96 pts in the side crash test, equivalent to 3 stars; with an average result of 31 points and 3 stars. The tested vehicle, was equipped with standard driver and passenger airbag and regular seatbelts.
Motorsport
Several competition and homologatedHomologation
Homologation is a technical term, derived from the Greek homologeo for "to agree", which is generally used in English to signify the granting of approval by an official authority...
versions of the Palio have been produced, such as the A6 class rally car, multi-Brazilian and South American champion of the A6 class with Brazilian Luis Tedesco as driver, and the Turkish Fiat Rally Team create Palio Super 1600 Super 1600
Super 1600
Super 1600 is a rally car formula that is primarily used in the Junior World Rally Championship, as well as various national rally championships. Any automobile manufacturer that has a suitable road-going production model in its range may develop a specification for use in this formula...
Abarth
Abarth
Abarth is an Italian racing car maker founded by Austrian-Italian Carlo Abarth and Italian Armando Scagliarini in Turin in 1949. Its logo depicts a stylized scorpion on a red and yellow background.- History :...
rally car, with a 215 hp 1.6 L 16-valve engine and a 6-speed sequential transmission. Turkey also boasts an N2 Palio.