close
Jump to content

Fiat Croma

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Fiat Croma
Overview
ManufacturerFiat
Production
  • 1985–1996
  • 2004–2010
Body and chassis
Class
LayoutFront-engine, front-wheel-drive
Chronology
PredecessorFiat Argenta (as sedan)
SuccessorFiat Freemont

The Fiat Croma name was used for two distinct large family cars by Fiat, one a five door liftback manufactured and marketed from 1985 to 1996, and after a nine-year hiatus, a crossover station wagon manufactured and marketed from 2004 to 2010.

First generation (1985–1996)

[edit]
First generation
1989 Fiat Croma
Overview
Model code154
Production1985–1996
AssemblyItaly: Mirafiori, Turin
DesignerGiorgetto Giugiaro at Italdesign
Body and chassis
Body style5-door liftback
PlatformTipo Quattro[1]
Related
Powertrain
Engine
Dimensions
Wheelbase2,660 mm (104.7 in)
Length4,495 mm (177.0 in)
Width1,755 mm (69.1 in)
Height1,425 mm (56.1 in)
Curb weight1,095 kg (2,414 lb) approx
Chronology
PredecessorFiat Argenta
1987 Fiat Croma CHT

The original Croma (Type 154) was a five door notchback liftback styled by Giorgetto Giugiaro of Italdesign using the Type Four platform, cooperatively used with the Saab 9000, Lancia Thema and Alfa Romeo 164.[2]

Released in December 1985, it was marketed in the large family car segment, replacing the Argenta in the Fiat lineup. The Croma was the first large car produced by Fiat to feature a transverse mounted engine and front wheel drive.[3]

Facelift

[edit]
Fiat Croma (after the facelift of 1991).
Rear view (post-facelift model)

The Croma received a light facelift for 1988, first shown in Frankfurt in September 1987. The black plastic between the rear lamps was now ridged rather than smooth, the lower portion of the bumpers were body coloured, and the turn signals received clear glass rather than amber.[4]

The front appearance received some other light modifications to bring its appearance in line with that of the recently introduced Tipo.[5]

A more significant facelift was released in January 1991, with a new front design, including changes to the lights, bumpers, grille and sheet metal changes to wings and bonnet. Also in 1991, the direct injected diesel engine was equipped with a variable geometry turbocharger ("VNT").[6] Another facelift was released in June 1993.

Production ended in December 1996, and Fiat left the large family car segment. The Bravo/Brava based Marea small family car debuted at the same time as the Croma ceased production.

Engines

[edit]

The Croma was available with a variety of petrol and diesel engines, most of the petrol units coming from Fiat's Twin Cam engine family.

Base models had a single cam 1,585 cc four-cylinder engine rated at 83 hp (61 kW) and the larger 1,995 cc, "Controlled High Turbulence" (CHT) engine rated at 90 hp (66 kW), followed by two fuel injected 2.0 litre twin cam powerplants, one with 120 hp (88 kW) and the other a turbocharged and intercooled version rated at 155 hp (114 kW).

The later 2.5 L V6 petrol unit was from Alfa Romeo, but as with the 1.6 L engine it was not available in all markets. The 2.0 CHT model was designed specifically to provide low fuel consumption under light and medium loads thanks to two separate inlet manifolds of different diameters.[7] The Fiat Croma CHT was one of the very first cars in volume serial production with variable intake ducts.[8]

The Fiat Croma was also the first passenger car in the world to have a direct injection Diesel (Turbo D i.d.) engine, going on sale in 1988.[5][9] The 1.9 L fitted with a turbocharger with direct injection produces 92 hp (68 kW). It joined the 2,499 cc unit supplied by Iveco, with a normally aspirated version giving 75 hp (55 kW) and a turbocharged one with 115 hp (85 kW). The latter version replaced the original 2,445 cc with 100 hp (74 kW).

Diesel engined variants of the Croma were not marketed in the United Kingdom.

Petrol

[edit]
Model Engine Displacement Power
1.6I4 SOHC 8V1585 cc83 hp (61 kW)
CHTI4 DOHC 8V1995 cc90 hp (66 kW)
CHTI4 DOHC 8V1995 cc101 hp (74 kW)
i.e.I4 DOHC 8V1995 cc113 hp (83 kW)
i.e.I4 DOHC 8V1995 cc115 hp (85 kW)
i.e.I4 DOHC 8V1995 cc120 hp (88 kW)
i.e. 16VI4 DOHC 16V1995 cc137 hp (101 kW)
i.e. TurboI4 DOHC 8V1995 cc150 hp (110 kW)
i.e. TurboI4 DOHC 8V1995 cc155 hp (114 kW)
V6V6 SOHC 12V2492 cc160 hp (118 kW)

Diesel

[edit]
Model Engine Displacement Power
Turbo D i.d.I4 SOHC 8V1929 cc92 hp (68 kW)
DieselI4 SOHC 8V2499 cc75 hp (55 kW)
Turbo DieselI4 SOHC 8V2445 cc100 hp (74 kW)
2500 TDI4 SOHC 8V2499 cc101 hp (74 kW)
2500 TDI4 SOHC 8V2499 cc115 hp (85 kW)
2500 TDEI4 SOHC 8V2499 cc105 hp (77 kW)

Second generation (2005–2010)

[edit]
Second generation
Overview
Model code194
Production2004[10]–2010 (LHD)[11]
2005–2007[citation needed] (RHD)
AssemblyItaly: Cassino, Frosinone
DesignerGiorgetto Giugiaro at Italdesign
Body and chassis
Body style5-door wagon
PlatformGM Epsilon platform
RelatedCadillac BLS
Opel Signum
Opel Vectra
Saab 9-3
Powertrain
Transmission5- and 6-speed manual
6-speed automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase2,700 mm (110 in)
Length4,755 mm (187.2 in)
4,783 mm (188.3 in) (facelift)
Width1,775 mm (69.9 in)
Height1,600 mm (63 in)
Chronology
SuccessorFiat Freemont
Fiat Croma (2006)
The ignition key between the seats shows that the Croma shares its platform with the Saab 9-3

In March 2005, Fiat introduced the second generation Croma: a large high-roof, six passenger, crossover wagon with an upright tailgate, with styling by Italdesign.

Reflecting Fiat's short term joint venture with General Motors, the new Croma, internally designated the Type 194, used an extended variant of the GM Epsilon platform sharing components with the Opel Vectra, Opel Signum and Saab 9-3. It was presented at the Geneva Motor Show in spring 2005 and went on sale in Italy in June of that year.

Aware of its lack of image in the upper market segments, Fiat opted for developing a "Comfort Wagon",[12] an automobile with design elements of both estates and large MPVs, instead of developing a standard large family car like the previous model. To underline this niche, Italdesign produced a one-off Croma 8tto V Concept featuring a Maserati V8 engine and top-of-the-line exterior and interior appointments.[13][14]

Its height of 1,600 mm (63.0 in) falls between that of the Mitsubishi Grandis and Ford S-Max large MPVs (1,655 mm (65.2 in) and 1,660 mm (65.4 in) respectively) and SEAT Altea XL (1,525 mm (60.0 in)). In February 2007, Fiat UK announced that the Croma would no longer be generally available in the United Kingdom, after less than 900 had been sold in 2005.

The car was still offered, but only on special order, with right-hand drive models manufactured to customer specifications.[clarification needed] Production of the second generation Croma ended at the end of 2010 and the car was replaced by the Dodge-based Fiat Freemont.

Croma pre-facelift interior

Safety

[edit]

The Croma features seven airbags, anti-lock braking system, electronic brakeforce distribution, and received a five star Euro NCAP crash rating for adult occupant protection:

Euro NCAP test results
Fiat Croma (2008)
Test Score Rating
Adult occupant: 34 StarStarStarStarStar
Child occupant: 39 StarStarStarStar
Pedestrian: 6 Star

Facelift

[edit]
Facelifted Fiat Croma

The Croma received a facelift in November 2007, and was termed the Nuova Croma, featuring a revised grille, headlights, rear bumper, as well as interior changes, now designated a "Station Wagon" rather than "Comfort Wagon".[15] The Nuova Croma was only sold in mainland Europe, excluding the United Kingdom.

Engines

[edit]

The Croma was manufactured at Fiat's Cassino factory with three trim levels and five engine options. As with the chassis, petrol engines were supplied by Opel, beginning with the brand new evolution of the Family 1 Ecotec 1.8 L with 140 hp (103 kW), followed by the torquier L850 Ecotec 2.2 L with 147 hp (108 kW).

Most examples featured Fiat's own Multijet engine, available in three variants 1.9 L with 8 valves and 120 hp (88 kW), 1.9 L with 16 valves and 150 hp (110 kW), and the range topping, five-cylinder 2.4 L 20V with 200 hp (147 kW). The diesel engines were fitted with a standard six-speed manual gearbox, a six-speed automatic was also available and was standard on the 2.4 engines.

Petrol

[edit]
Model Engine Displacement Power Torque
1.8 MPI 16VDOHC 16V I41796 cc140 hp (103 kW) at 6300 rpm175 N⋅m (129 lb⋅ft) at 3800 rpm
2.2 MPI 16VDOHC 16V I42198 cc147 hp (108 kW) at 5800 rpm203 N⋅m (150 lb⋅ft) at 4000 rpm

Diesel

[edit]
Model Engine Displacement Power Torque
1.9 MultiJet 8VSOHC 8V I41910 cc120 hp (88 kW) at 4,000 rpm280 N⋅m (207 lb⋅ft) at 2,000 rpm
1.9 MultiJet 16VDOHC 16V I41910 cc150 hp (110 kW) at 4,000 rpm320 N⋅m (236 lb⋅ft) at 2,000 rpm
2.4 MultiJet 20VDOHC 20V I52387 cc200 hp (147 kW) at 4,000 rpm400 N⋅m (295 lb⋅ft) at 2,000 rpm

References

[edit]
  1. ↑ "Curiosidades Tipo". Fiat Tipo Portugal. Archived from the original on 5 March 2012. Retrieved 30 December 2013.
  2. ↑ "Octane Model Specs". Classicandperformancecar.com. Archived from the original on 11 March 2012. Retrieved 1 August 2012.
  3. ↑ Autocar Test Update 19 August 1987
  4. ↑ Baghetti, Giancarlo (17 December 1987). "Che diesel volete?" [Which diesel do you want?]. Auto Oggi (in Italian). 2 (54). Verona, Italy: Arnoldo Mondadori Editore: 19.
  5. 1 2 Mastrostefano, Raffaele, ed. (January 1989). "Le nostre "stelle"" [Our "stars"]. Quattroruote (in Italian). Vol. 34, no. 399. Milan, Italy: Editoriale Domus. pp. 90–91.
  6. ↑ "Turbo Pioneer". honeywell.com. Archived from the original on 4 May 2012. Retrieved 22 January 2014.
  7. ↑ Letrou, Jean-Claude (January 1986). "Fiat Croma: En quête d'image" [On a quest for image]. L'Automobile Magazine (in French). Neuilly-sur-Seine, France: Societé des Editions Techniques et Touristiques de France: 34. ISSN 0758-6957.
  8. ↑ Pulvirenti, Rosario (6 August 2005). "Fiat Croma". OmniAuto.it (in Italian). Archived from the original on 22 August 2017. Retrieved 30 May 2026.
  9. ↑ "Air technologies - Heritage". fiat.com. Archived from the original on 8 August 2013.
  10. ↑ "FIAT ePER VIN: ZFA19400002000003". pekidi.com. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
  11. ↑ "Fiat Croma uit productie; het einde van een tijdperk". autoedizione.nl (in Dutch). 17 January 2011. Retrieved 6 April 2011.
  12. ↑ Car Reviews: First Drives: Fiat Croma - Autoexpress
  13. ↑ "2005 Fiat Croma 8tto V by Giugiaro Italdesign". story-cars.com. Retrieved 11 June 2026.
  14. ↑ Veenstra, Jaap (7 March 2005). "Giugiaro's Croma concept heeft een V8" [Giugiaro's Croma concept has a V8]. autoweek.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 11 June 2026.
  15. ↑ "Nuova Fiat Croma". italiaspeed.com. Retrieved 13 November 2007.
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Fiat_Croma&oldid=1361618205"