| Fiat Mini platform | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Fiat Auto (2003–2007) Fiat Group Automobiles (2007–2014) Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (2014–2021) Stellantis (2021–present) |
| Production | 2003–present |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | City car |
| Layout | Transverse Front-engine, front-wheel-drive or four-wheel-drive |
| Chronology | |
| Predecessor | Fiat Type Zero platform |
| Successor | Smart Car Platform |
The Fiat Mini platform is an automobile platform shared among city cars of the Fiat Group. [1]
Developed in the late 1990s in Turin, Italy, the Mini platform was designed to be adaptable to the city cars sold by Fiat Group. The Mini platform replaced the old Panda platform (code project Type Zero; Tipo Zero in Italian) dating back to 1980. All components were totally new, and were made to be adaptable to more types of small vehicles (including hatchback, convertible and crossover SUV). The frame makes heavy use of high-strength steel. Cars built on the Mini platform can accommodate either front- or four-wheel drive, using only front-mounted transverse engines. The standard version was of the platform is designed for MacPherson strut front suspension and torsion beam rear suspension but the four wheel drive version was re-engineered with independent semi-trailing arms rear suspension and electronic Limited slip differential. A concept version was used in the 1999 Fiat Ecobasic prototype, powered by a small 1.2 JTD Multijet engine, but the first production vehicle on the platform was the Mk2 Fiat Panda in 2003 – a five-door hatchback with a high roof which allowed for increased interior space compared to most of its competitors. [2]
The architecture has been developed for production by Fiat in Poland, in Mexico by Chrysler (when the Fiat 500 was adapted for sale in the USA) and later in Italy at Pomigliano d'Arco plant (when production of the Fiat Panda Mk3 began there). The Mini platform has a wheelbase of 2,299mm in the standard version (2,305mm in 4x4 version), which is used on the Fiat Panda Mk2. In 2007, the platform spawned two smaller three-door hatchbacks: the Fiat 500 and Ford Ka Mk2. A Long wheelbase version (2,390mm) of the platform was used in the Lancia Ypsilon Mk3, launched in 2011. In 2012, the third generation of Fiat Panda was launched, again using the standard-wheelbase version, but at the 2,305mm wheelbase previously used only for the 4x4 mode. Vehicles based on Fiat Mini platform:
The Economy platform, is a chassis created for the small low cost vehicle produced by FCA in South America. It is a new platform introduced first with the Fiat Uno (codeproject 327) in 2010 assembly in Betim, Brasil. Fiat said "the Panda and Uno were born together in design and share the same concept, but have no mechanical parts in common". [5] Fiat claims that the Uno uses 82% new components, being based on the old Fiat Palio. [6] A long wheelbase version was also used in the second generation of Palio (326) and Grand Siena (326 3V). In 2014 Fiat introduced the Brazilian Fiorino based on the modified Uno (327) chassis with rear axle from the Fiat Strada pick up, and in 2016 the smaller Fiat Mobi introduced a new version of the Economy platform engineering to a lower cost.
The successor of the FCA Economy platform was the new FCA MP1 (Modular Platform 1) chassis introduced in 2017 with the new Fiat Argo. Vehicles based on Fiat Economy ("Low Cost") platform:
Fiat S.p.A., or Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino, was an Italian holding company whose original and core activities were in the automotive industry, and that was succeeded by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV (FCA). The Fiat Group contained many brands such as Ferrari, Maserati, Fiat, Alfa Romeo, the Chrysler Group, and many more. On 29 January 2014, it was announced that Fiat S.p.A. was to be merged into a new Netherlands-based holding company Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV (FCA), taking place before the end of 2014. Fiat Chrysler Automobiles became the new owner of Fiat Group. On 1 August 2014, Fiat S.p.A. received necessary shareholder approval to proceed with the merger. The merger became effective 12 October 2014.
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The Fiat Siena is a subcompact car produced by the Italian manufacturer Fiat from 1996 to 2022. It is the four-door sedan version of the Fiat Palio, a supermini car especially designed for developing countries. It was introduced for the first time in South America, and was produced in various countries worldwide. Later, in 2002, a similar car based on the same platform was developed for the European market, the Fiat Albea. It replaced the Siena in these European markets, such as Poland and Turkey, where the original model was previously sold.
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The Fiat Fiorino is a small commercial vehicle produced by the Italian car manufacturer Fiat since 1977. Its first two generations have been the panel van derivatives of other small models, such as the Fiat 127 and Fiat Uno, while the current third generation was developed jointly with PSA Peugeot Citroën, and is based on the Fiat Small platform.
The Lancia Ypsilon is a supermini (B-segment) manufactured and marketed by Lancia, currently in its fourth generation and as of 2024, the marque's only model. The Ypsilon was released in 1995, as a larger and more expensive replacement to the Y10. Between 1995 and 2005, Lancia produced more than 870,000 Ypsilons in the Melfi plant in the Potenza region.
Tofaş is a Turkish automobile manufacturer which was established in 1968 by Vehbi Koç, who was the founder of Koç Holding, based in Bursa, where the manufacturing plant of the company is located. It is jointly owned by Stellantis and Koç Holding.
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Fiat Automobiles S.p.A. is an Italian automobile manufacturer, formerly part of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, and since 2021 a subsidiary of Stellantis through its Italian division Stellantis Europe. Fiat Automobiles was formed in January 2007 when Fiat S.p.A. reorganized its automobile business, and traces its history back to 1899, when the first Fiat automobile, the Fiat 4 HP, was produced.
The SCCS platform, also called Small Platform or 199 platform is an automobile platform originally developed by Fiat for subcompact, front-wheel drive, and all-wheel drive vehicles. It was first used on the Fiat Grande Punto, which was unveiled in 2005. Developed during the GM-Fiat alliance, the platform was also used for some Opel models including the Opel Corsa D and E. A derivative called the Small Wide platform was introduced in 2012 for applications on larger cars in the compact segment. Usage of the platform continued through the merger of Fiat and Chrysler which created Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA), and the merger of FCA and PSA which formed Stellantis.
The Fiat Tipo is a compact car. A three-box sedan version was unveiled at the 2015 Istanbul Motor Show in May 2015, and commenced sales in Turkey in October 2015. In 2016, it was followed by a hatchback and a station wagon version, for the European market. The Tipo is assembled at the Tofaş plant in Bursa, Turkey, by the Italian automaker Fiat and is built on the Fiat Small Wide LWB platform. It replaced the Bravo and Linea in the C-segment range. The Tipo was designed by Centro Stile Fiat in Mirafiori, Turin. In December 2015, the car won the 2016 Best Buy Car of Europe Award, from the Autobest jury made up of Europe's twenty-six leading journalists, from twenty-six different European countries.
FCA Poland S.A. is an automobile factory belonging to Stellantis formed on May 28, 1992, after Fiat acquired Fabryka Samochodów Małolitrażowych (FSM) in Bielsko-Biała and Tychy. At that time, Fiat Auto took over 90% of the company's shares. The takeover of FSM by Fiat has been considered hostile and controversial. The plant has been part of Stellantis since 2021, following the merger of FCA and PSA Group. As of 2020, the facility had 2,500 employees.
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Designed by Aurelio Lampredi, the Fiasa engine first appeared in the Brazilian-built Fiat 147 in September 1976. The name Fiasa is a portmanteau of "Fiat Automóveis S.A.", for whom it was developed. The in-line four-cylinder engine has five main bearings, a cast iron block with an aluminium cylinder-head with belt-driven overhead camshafts actuating the valves. The engine remained in production until 2001 in Latin America, and also provided the basis for a diesel version. The capacity was initially 1.0 L (1,049 cc), but Lampredi designed the engine to be suited for a considerably longer stroke. Sizes eventually ranged between 1.0 and 1.5 L. The last versions of this engine to be built was a 1.5-litre, dedicated-ethanol version developed in Brazil that served the Fiat Uno and its derivatives, and later yet the Fiat Palio until 2001.