Test drive Fiat Stilo 5 doors 2006 - 2007 hatchback
Bravo, "Styl" ... Bravo!
The presentation of the fiat-style was held with a traditional scope
More than a thousand journalists from around the world gathered at a press conference in the Olympic complex of Barcelona. We looked, listened, asked questions, traveled, compared, photographed, discussed ... According to the creators, the stylo is not just a new car in the most popular European segment C, but an attempt to guess the market needs, at least several years ahead. Preliminary marketing studies have shown that it is necessary to focus not on competitors, but on the wishes of motorists. Fortunately, their priorities are known: for 29% in the first place, for 23% - equipment and equipment, for 19% - safety, for 12% - the size of the salon and comfort. All other wishes are not so definite, but the portrait of the car looms without them.
Satisfy 83 percent
It is impossible to create a car that everyone would like. But to try to please the majority using all available methods.
To do this, the fiat style has a considerable arsenal. Firstly, this is the largest car in the class: a five-door hatchback of 4.25 m long, 1.76 wide and 1.52 m high, it exceeds all competitors, including the Accelerate of Peugeot 307. Secondly, this is further development of six proposed six years ago, the topics when three- and five-door bodies (bravo/brava) became independent machines. Today the name is one, but there are even more differences. And not only external ones (the only common external detail of the body of both stylists is the hood), but also in the layout. For example, planting a driver in a three -door machine 50 mm below. This not only allowed to lower the silhouette of the car, but also add other driver's sensations. After all, the lower the landing, the more sports the car is.
Technological onslaught It seems, who is now surprised by the electric throttle or the central lock? But the list of equipment will make you scratch even an incorrigible bore in the back of the head. Let's start at least with audio systems. The basic one is a radio receiver with the RDS system (data transfer by radio) and six speakers - it is installed on all the machine without exception. The second option has a full-fledged CD resort, and the third supports the reproduction of MP3-files-the last squeak of musical fashion.
If you think that the ignition key is outdated, and the locks in the doors are nonsense, try Easy Go. Put the transponder round in your pocket and forget about the keys - the start button on the dashboard now serves to start the engine. And you will never leave the car unlocked again. Forgetting to turn off the light by passing the tunnel? No problem. Put the outdoor lighting switch to the AUTO position - the photocell will turn on and turn off the headlights.
Not used to the dimensions of the styl and are afraid to park in reverse? Order parking sensors. Wear varnish shoes and are afraid to step into a puddle, getting out of the car at night? There is a backlight in the bottom of the door. If you want, the car leads you to the house. You just need to program it correctly. Love automation - there is a rain sensor, and susceptible not only to precipitation, but also by the time of the day (at night the wipers work more intense). Further according to the list: xenon headlights with an automatic corrector, an electric drive with memory, climatic installation with a filter, air quality sensor and separate adjustment for the driver and passenger. Speak, nothing surprising?
How about adaptive cruise control with a radar sensor-not in a representative sedan for $ 100 thousand, but on a car six to seven times lower? Finally, the highlight of the styl is a Connect system that combines the route computer, the RDS navigation system, a mobile phone with a Hands Free system and a voice set, a salvation service and a tourist guide. Read more?
Fiat, together with the company Targasis, offers the owners of the styl with the Connect system. An extensive range of services: from planning the route to traffic jams to emergency care in the event of an accident or breakdown. All that is required is to call and ask. Of course, a subscription fee is charged for using the system. But it does not matter at all in which of the European countries the styl is and in what language its driver speaks.
On the roads of Catalonia
It was a little more than two hours on the races at my disposal - it was barely enough to drive a circular route and take photos. I had to limit myself to two cars: a five-door with a 1.6-liter engine (potential bestseller) and a three-door stylo-abart-this has a 2.4-liter five-cylinder unit with a gearbox of Celespid. Let's start with the first. Inner scope - of course. But in terms of the transformation of the Styro salon, the heads will give a start to other mini-wenes. Here are the armrests with the interior, and the back of the right seat leaning forward. And also tables, boxes for small objects, the separate back seats adjustable in inclination and even a newfangled element - the rear seat pillows moving back and forth allow you to choose between the legs for the legs at the back and the luggage volume. There are no complaints about the driver’s place either - both the adjustment range and the overview are excellent. You can only complain about soft wide seats without noticeable lateral support - will it somehow be on corners? Go!
It is customary to wait for the same temperament from the Italian engines as from the inhabitants of the country. But environmental requirements, combined with an electronic gas pedal, do not give one hundred three horses to no avail with hooves. I pressed the accelerator - in response, a smooth acceleration with a slight capture after 4000 rpm. Its intensity is as such as the car should be with a equipped mass of 1200 kg. First on the freeway. Legal 130 km/h lie in a completely comfortable range: you can talk in an undertone even with passengers in the back seat. Do not interfere
only the rules, but also the engine noise - its well -set baritone is still a little intrusive. Ahead is a small mountain serpentine - the navigation system continues to dictate its instructions. It's time to try the branded dish - the power steering electrical amplifier Deval Drive. He has two operating modes: one for the highway, the other for the city. The City inscription in the display window indicates that the city regime is included. Go ahead and quickly ... Oh, damn it! The force on the steering wheel completely disappeared and the angle of rotation of the wheels has to be determined only visually. And the steering wheel is sharp and the paths are narrow ... No, on the first straight line I return to the original position. Now everything is fine - an elastic bagel, like a ripe apple, is filled with juice of reactive force. So let's leave the City mode for parking to someone who is not able to raise something heavier than the glass of Chianty. Moreover, the chassis of the car will easily accept a more powerful motor - behavior in the turns is impeccable, as the answer of the excellent student in the exam. After all, we will not ask him provocative questions?
From the stylo-abart with Scorpio in the emblem you expect unforgettable sensations, mindful of the glorious past and sports successes of the brand. Yes, the driver’s landing is noticeably lower, and also white devices, 17-inch wheels and, of course, a 170-horsepower engine. And even the back of the seat holds tightly by the sides. What a thing is the Celezpid? In a nutshell - a mechanical gearbox with automatic switching. There is no clutch pedals, there is a manual mode with switching buttons on the steering wheel or moving the lever back and forth. The machine is surprisingly aggressive - it holds the transmission almost to the red line of the tachometer and reluctantly turns on the increased one. It is clear, because before me a dozen brothers on the pen and the Camera Tesal Michelin tire and the pavers of Ferodo - Celeespid remembered their manner.
Of course, the stylo-abart is much more stable and anger than the usual styl, but with his well-balanced reactions to the true athlete is far away. The character and assertiveness of the car do not cross the civilized framework anywhere. Even noticeable pauses when switching gears do not spoil the paintings. The element of the styl-abart is not narrow closed turns of mountain serpentines, but a direct ribbon of the highway, where on a protracted rise you can afford to eat exquisite pleasure for breakfast golf-gti. The main thing is not to confuse it with VR6 - it can turn out the other way around ... Made for Europe
Fiat steal of those cars that are more interesting to talk about than to ride. After all, speaking of ultra -modern electronics, it is difficult to resist listing its capabilities. But, apparently, the 21st century dictates its own rules: the machine cannot exist without it. Progress is moving in the direction of increasing integration of systems: from a mobile phone to an injection controller. No wonder the presentation almost did not talk about the economy, dynamics or controllability of the styl. It is understood that these parameters are at a competitive level. In New Europe, other priorities: convenience and safety, where you can not do without electronic assistants.
It is clear that the fiat-style will appear with us before the situation changes; The good half of his smart filling will be unequity. So the wallets of Russian buyers will have to be conquered by appearance, comfort and quality. And this task is not easy.
Fiat style replaces the Bravo/Brava family, known since 1995. The first shown in March 2001 in Geneva, the fiatstilo is released from September in two body variants: (three- and five-door hatchbacks) and with six engines. Gasoline - 1.2; 1.6; 1.8 and 2.4 l with a capacity of 59 to 126 kW. Diesel engines with turbocharging with a power system of Common Rail with a working volume of 1.9 liters
Fiat style Abart is equipped with a comment system
and climate control with separate adjustment for the driver and passenger. Develop 59 and 85 kW (the latter with an adjustable turbocharger and intermediate cooling).
Text / Anatoly Fomin
Photo / Anatoly Fomin, Fiat
Source: The magazine "Driving"
