I just picked up a Pininfarina press pack from the 64th Geneva International Motor Show 1994, which along with the other cars (Ferrari 456GT, Peugeot 306 Cabriolet, Peugeot 205 Cabriolet Junior) covers the Coupe in some depth. I thought it might be of interest
COUPE FIAT
Considerable interest has been aroused by the new Coupe Fiat, because it marks Fiat's return to the sports car sector, and because of the interesting and innovative form of cooperation between Fiat Auto and Pininfarina which was called on to play a leading role in the operation, and not only as manufacturer of the Coupe.
This all-embracing collaboration project has covered everything from design, development and experimentation to the mass production of this brilliant new sports car.
The Coupe is, in fact, the fruit of a stimulating synergy developed in an unusually short space of time, less than three years from drawing board to market. In the automotive industry, this so called "Time to market" is considered a vital competitive factor: the shorter it is, the better the manufacturer responds to market trends.
The Coupe went onto the assembly line in just 30 months from the time the styling was decided (June 1991 - December 1993).
As its technological partner, Pininfarina worked in harmony with Fiat, playing a creative role in numerous fields.
There were three main goals:
- To respect the targets set by Fiat as closely as possible, and to propose innovative solutions;
- To find correct solutions to the problems emerging from an approach based on the principles of the "Simultaneous Engineering" (in which designers, stylists, technicians, components suppliers, and marketing specialists all work together to develop the new model);
- To build the Coupe according to the dictates of "lean production" which streamlines company hierarchies, creating small and medium-large working units, making individuals responsible for their actions, and raising product value.
The first tasks included developing the new model under the banner of the utmost efficiency, without waste, keeping manufacturing costs competitive, building a Coupe which could hold its own against the best competition where reliability and quality are concerned. A vehicle that was attractive to the average motorist and not only to the sports car enthusiast.
In particular Industrie Pininfarina carried out industrial feasibility studies of the styling models prepared by the Fiat Styling Centre (responsible for the external shape of the Coupe body) and by Pininfarina Studi e Ricerche (responsible for the interior). Styling, functional and technological characteristics had to converge.
On the product engineering side, Industrie Pininfarina prepared the drawings for construction of the prototypes of the Coupe and the necessary machine tools.
Different types of tests were performed with Fiat Auto - flexional and torsional bodyshell resistance, durability and wear of body parts, resistance to thermal and environmental factors - in addition to pre-homologation and homologation tests. Plus all the safety tests based' on Fiat and Pininfarina standards, which include tests more severe than those enforced by the EC.
Particular care was taken over passive safety components. The bodyshell passed the most gruelling crash tests and all versions are equipped with standard pretensioned seat-belts that take up any belt slack in just a few milliseconds in the event of a crash in order to hold their wearer back against the seat.
Moreover the special design of the front and the rear seats also backs up the action of the seat-belts, since it incorporates an anti-submarining ramp that prevents the seat's occupant from sliding out under the seat-belt. All versions adopt a standard EAS (energy absorbing) safety steering wheel with a telescopic steering column.
Finally, airbags for driver alone or driver and front seat passenger are available on request.
In a highly selective market where star players are thick on the ground, the new Coupe Fiat makes a highly competitive contender, in looks, performance, safety and genuine driving pleasure.
The Coupe Fiat is available with a choice of two engines (2-litre 16v aspirated or turbo) and two trim levels for each one. It has been on sale in Italy since February 1994 at prices that range from 36 million lire for the 16v aspirated (140 bhp, 208 km/h) to 43.5 million for the Turbo Plus (195 bhp, 225 km/h top speed).
The Coupe Fiat will be marketed in the rest of Europe in Spring.
