Fiat Cinquecento

The Fiat Cinquecento (Type 170) is a city car manufactured and marketed by Fiat from 1991 to 1998 over a single generation. It is a three-door hatchback that seats four passengers and has a front-engine, front-wheel-drive layout. It was manufactured at Fiat Auto Poland, which had manufactured its predecessor the Fiat 126.

Production of the Cinquecento ended in 1998 with the introduction of the Fiat Seicento.

Design

The origins of the Cinquecento trace to the early 1980s, with focused research projects of the Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche in Rome, studying a super-economical vehicle – from which a series of prototypes evolved, with abbreviations X1/72 to X1/79.[3] In parallel, FSM, not yet under FIAT's ownership, was studying the BOSMAL, a small car project that would culminate in the concept Beskid 106. Acquisition of FSM by the Italian automotive group led to the abandonment of this prototype in favor of a car that incorporated some of the concepts of the X1/7 series of previous years (until 1993 the cars produced in Poland were marketed as FSM rather than FIAT models).

Engines

The Cinquecento was initially available with two engine choices, with the 1.1 L FIRE or "sporting" joining the lineup later. Although the 704 cc engine was mounted longitudinally, the bigger units were fitted transversely, making the little Fiat one of the few cars in the world available with both configurations at the same time.[4][5]

704 cc

The smallest engine, intended for sale in Poland only, was a 704 cc OHV two-cylinder unit delivering 31 PS, 30 PS when fitted with a catalytic converter. Cinquecento inherited this unit from the 126p BIS, an evolution of the 126p which was cancelled when the Cinquecento production started.

In order to be fitted in the front-wheel drive Cinquecento, it underwent a major redesign (although the engine still employed a carburettor), which resulted, among other changes, in the crankshaft revolving in the opposite direction than in the 126p BIS.[4][5]

903/899 cc

The bigger engine was the 903 cc 40 PS version of the veteran Fiat 100 OHV four cylinder engine, which saw service in many small Fiat models, starting with Fiat 850. (This engine dates back to the initial 633 cc unit as introduced in the 1955 FIAT 600.)

It was fitted with single point fuel injection and was the base engine in most markets. Due to fiscal limitations, the displacement of this unit was limited to 899 cc in 1993, with a slight reduction of output, now producing 39 PS.[4][5] This engine is derived from that used in the Fiat 127.

While it still retains OHV chain drive pushrod layout it now has hydraulic tappets. Also now uses twin coil distributorless ignition.

1.1 FIRE (Sporting)

In 1994, Fiat introduced the Cinquecento Sporting, featuring the 1108 cc SOHC FIRE 54 PS engine from the entry level Punto of the same era, mated to a close ratio gearbox. Other additions were a drop in standard ride height, front anti roll bar, 13" alloy wheels, plus colour coded bumpers and mirrors. The interior saw a tachometer added, along with sports seats, red seatbelts and a leather steering wheel and gear knob.

It is the Sporting model which gave birth to a rallying trophy and a Group A Kit-Car version.[4][5]

Elettra

From 1992 to 1996, Fiat also produced and sold an electric variant of the Cinquecento called the Elettra. The car was offered with either a lead acid or NiCd battery pack, providing a ranges of 62 mi and 93 mi respectively. Unlike purpose built electric cars, the Cinquecento Elettra used two battery packs, one in the engine bay and one under the rear seats, replacing the fuel tank.

Although selling for 140,000 francs (~US$23,000), the Cinquecento Elettra enjoyed relative popularity in Italy, France and Switzerland.[6]

manufacturer	Fiat Auto Poland FSM
aka	FSM Cinquecento (1991–1993)
production	1991–1998 (1,164,525 units‡R1R‡)
assembly	Tychy, Poland
designer	Ermanno Cressoni at Centro Stile Fiat
class	City car (A)
body style	3-door hatchback
layout	Front-engine, front-wheel-drive
engine	704 cc I2 (petrol) 899 cc Tipo 100 I4 (petrol) 903 cc Tipo 100 I4 (petrol) 1108 cc FIRE I4 (petrol)
wheelbase	2200 mm‡R2R‡
length	3230 mm 3226 mm (Sporting)
width	1490 mm 1486 mm (Sporting)
height	1435 mm
weight	675 - 727 kg
predecessor	Fiat 126
successor	Fiat Seicento
sp	uk

Design

Engines

704 cc

903/899 cc

1.1 FIRE (Sporting)

Elettra

Abarth

Concepts

Production figures

External links

References