25.09.2004 The pumped-up Stilo Uproad muscled its way into the party at the Paris Mondial de l'Automobile this week, the chunky new model from Fiat taking centre stage

The latest member of the Stilo family, the chunky Uproad, joined the ever-expanding range at the Paris Mondial de l'Automobile yesterday.

First came the mid-size Stilo hatchback in 3 or 5 door format, then came the highly-regarded Multiwagon estate, before the start of this year saw a cosmetic brush-up applied the 5-door, while new engines were introduced across the range.

Now the unashamedly pumped-up looking Stilo Uproad muscles its way into the party, a vehicle Fiat hope will cash in on the growing market popularity of 'Crossover' vehicles, and at the same time give the Stilo range a slightly harder edge.

The Uproad is based the superbly space efficient Multiwagon. This model's rakish lines have make it one of the prettiest and most harmonious looking estate cars on the market. The new model beefs up this flowing shape, with big aggressive bumpers, body panels, aluminium protection plates, and a jacked up ride height.

A single Uproad was presented yesterday by Fiat in Paris, the car, finished in an eye catching metallic colour shade, grabbing attention as it sat on a large, slowly revolving turntable right in the centre of the display, surrounded by the other members of the Fiat family.

This new vehicle aims to portray a no-nonsense image, its swages of dark grey plastic protection on the lower flanks, contrasting with the metallic paint-finished surfaces. The front bumper is wrapped in a covering moulding, which neatly gives way to reveal body-colour coded spoiler slats, a visual detail that is highly effective. Guarding the lip of the spoiler and the underside from damage is a ribbed, flush-fitting aluminium undertray.

The plastic-effect continues down the car's sharply sculptured flanks. A long sill cover rises at either end to wrap into bulbous wheel arch mouldings. The effect continues at the rear with plastic panels to protect the C-pillar, themselves rising tapering into the aluminium roof bars.

At the rear, the traditional parallelogram-shaped Fiat logo has given way to the new-family look round badge which is moulded into the tailgate, just below the rear screen. Chasing down, the tailgate area is once again given the cladded treatment, while below an aluminium plate curves under the body.

The Uproad has been jacked up, and now sits on attractive, rugged looking 17-inch alloy wheels which look like they are about to burst out of the wheel arches. They feature a large Fiat-logo centre boss, and are covered in 225/15 Goodyear Eagle tyres. Between the chunky spokes of these wheels can be glimpsed large 4-pot Brembo brake calipers, visual evidence of a braking upgrade, and a new addition to the Stilo.

Inside, the Uproad shows off its new fascia materials, while check fabrics used on the seats and door panels reflect the show car's exterior colour scheme. This car was loaded with all the usual higher-specification options, including a large glass-roof and, inevitably for a vehicle designed as a Crossover, SatNav.

by Edd Ellison in Paris