Fiat Stilo

Central to the Fiat range, and encapsulating the spirit and values of the marque, the Stilo is set to re-establish Fiat as a major player in the compact hatchback sector of the European market.

The new car's name immediately conjures up something fashionable and trend-setting because it evokes an idea of style as the French and English would say, 'stile' as the Italians would put it, or 'stil' to the Germans. Stilo also evokes associations with the kind of emotions one would expect to be aroused by a friendly car that is fun to drive, compact, modern and hi-tech.

Stilo will be available in three and five-door versions, very different from each other in terms of styling, character and size: the length, and more importantly the height, has a crucial impact on available internal space.

Even the driving position is different, because the height of the driver’s seat above the road (the H-point) is lower in the three-door version, as you would expect in a dynamically styled car with a lively character. The increased height in the five-door brings with it the advantages of easy access, spaciousness and a mastery of the road that only a car with such a unique personality can offer.

The three-door centres on individualism, performance and driving pleasure. With strong shoulders and a distinctive cutout in the lower bodyside, the 3door Stilo appears very solid and precise. The front end is a very geometric design, with large air intakes, intersecting vetical and horizontal elements, and a strong connection of the hood form up into the A-pillars. The geometric, modular theme continues at the rear, with distinctive taillamps framing the inset rear hatch.

The five-door is all about comfort, spaciousness and safety, together with an innate versatility. The model shown appeared rather conservative in contrast to the sporty 3door Stilo. The windows of both models were blacked out for this first public showing of the Stilo.

The new five-door will also appeal to those customers who have shown an interest in the MPV sub-sector, which has recently emerged as a growth area of this market. Stilo brings the advantages of an MPV to a more traditional formula: it is easy to get in and out of, there’s a lot of space inside, and the driving position is higher, to make the driver feel more in control. The car is modular and adaptable because one front seat can be folded forward and the two rear seats moved fore and aft and reclined independently, making it easy to adapt the car to the needs of the moment.