Fiat Auto South Africa has announced the launch of the trendy new Fiat Palio II and Siena II – the newest and latest contenders in the increasingly important compact car segment.

Locally, the outgoing previous series Palio and Siena have performed well since introduction in 2000. Since then and the phasing out of the current models at the end of 2004, some 30 000 Palios and Sienas have been sold in South Africa, with the Palio hatch having dominated the sales at around 20 000 units. 

The new Palio II comes with a fresh personality, with extensive improvements to the design, functionality, equipment and ergonomics. They reinforce the company’s brand values and image, with the emphasis on becoming an even more competitive player in the local market.

“The new Palio II and new Siena II compete with the latest in style, reliability and value,” explains Giorgio Gorelli, managing director of Fiat Auto South Africa. “With these new models we have a more extensive product range that continues the emotional positioning of the brand.”

Production of the new Palio II and new Siena II continues at the Rosslyn plant, offering a convincing challenger specifically designed to suit local conditions. “It’s a car made in Africa for Africa,” Gorelli says.

Building on the platform of trendy style, keen pricing and impressive reliability, Fiat Auto South Africa believes that the new Palio II and Siena II will become even more popular contenders in the fiercely contested small car sector.

The local release represents only the second country after Brazil to receive the new Palio II and new Siena II, indicating the significance of this introduction, and South Africa’s front-line position on a global scale.

Further elevating the importance of these models is the fact that the new Palio was awarded the Car of the Year 2004 title in Brazil, facing off against a brace of extremely competitive challengers. “Fiat Auto SA aims to lead the segment with the new Palio II and new Siena II in terms of style, reliability and affordability,” Gorelli concludes.

EXTERIOR DESIGN

The new Palio II and Siena II represent a major step forward on the design front, building on the styling themes introduced with Fiat’s latest products. In creating an even more compelling range, Fiat called on the expertise of world famous Italian designer Giorgietto Giugiaro and his renowned Italdesign organisation.

Giugiaro has enjoyed a long and proud association with the Fiat brand, having played an integral part in the success of numerous models, including the Uno – a groundbreaking car that created an entirely new motoring segment when it was launched in the 1980s.  Voted the ‘Car Designer of the Century’ by an international jury, Giugiaro was an obvious choice in the restyling of these popular models in the Fiat stable.

Guided by comprehensive market research amongst existing Palio and Siena owners, Giugiaro extended his design expertise to the new Palio II platform. In the process, he created an attractive car that stands out from the crowd, yet remains comfortable, practical and lively.

Designed to meet the requirements of a highly diversified buying public, yet with the emphasis on youthful appeal, the new Palio II and Siena II are characterised by a bold new appearance with typical Italian style and flair.

The front, in particular, emphasises the car’s more appealing, modern and eye-catching execution. It results in a thoroughly modern design that is as fresh and up-to-date as they come. Larger rounded headlights incorporate a tapered wrap-around effect, along with a neatly scalloped lower element narrowing towards the attractive new grille, superb with its characteristic Fiat Centenary badge. The headlights are distinguished by a small circular indicator flanked by a large dipped beam lens, with the focused stare of the inset main beam giving the car a notably more assertive look.

The front bumper adds further touches of flair to the mix, neatly following the contour of the headlamps, with the lower air intakes opting for a sporting three-element design.

This appealing front end treatment alone gives the new Palio II and Siena II a significantly more modern appearance, complemented by the endearing side profile of the hatch model, with a slightly more conventional approach used on the sedan version.

Using a bold C-pillar creates a strong visual line that leads into the attractive, slightly cheeky rear of the Palio II. New tail light clusters and a more athletic design for the tailgate and rear bumper enhance the fashionable visage, giving this chic hatchback a modern, trend-setting character – both in three and five-door guise.

The Siena II maintains its practical booted configuration, but benefits from an extensive redesign that gives it a conspicuously more modern look while retaining a commodious boot capacity that is rated among the best in class.

Adding to the upmarket look, all models are fitted with colour-coded bumpers, and newly designed wheels while body colour mirrors and side skirts define the more exclusive derivatives. Newly designed door handles have been introduced across the range with a pull function for increased safety in the case of an accident.

INTERIOR STYLE

Modern interior trim has been specially selected for the South African models, and the specific segment each model competes in. ‘Artiste’ cloth is featured in the new Palio GO!, ‘Bromac’ fabric in the new Palio II and Siena II EL models, and an upmarket ‘Casino’ textile that is exclusively reserved for the range-topping ELX specification.

The new Palio II and new Siena II boast competitive levels of space throughout, with new seat designs contributing further to the welcoming accommodation and good overall comfort levels. A wide variety of storage areas are offered in the cabin, while the neatly laid out instruments and controls provide easy access and effective ergonomics.

Both the Palio II and Siena II offer a high level of flexibility through the fold-down rear seat – a single-piece version on GO! models, with a useful 60/40 split included on the Palio II and Siena II EL and ELX derivatives.

In the case of the Palio II, standard boot capacity is rated at 290 dm3, extending to 650 dm3 with the seat folded.
 

Generous load capacity remains the overriding virtue of the Siena II, with an impressive 500dm³ boot volume in standard configuration, extending to a massive 920 dm3 when the rear seat is tumbled out of the way. In addition the dashboard is now darker in colour and new fitted premium quality carpets complete the internal renovation.

EQUIPMENT

A high level of standard specification had been adopted for the new Palio II and Siena II range, extending from the entry-level models right through to the top of the range versions.

The emphasis is on offering a high-value proposition in this crucial segment, further distinguishing the Palio II and Siena II from their competitors.

GO!

Positioned as the entry model in the Fiat range, the new Palio GO! is specifically aimed at the younger buying market who demand trend-setting style matched with affordability. They chose to make a statement in terms of image, while remaining within the constraints of a pragmatic budget, and now with the new Palio GO! they can get a richly equipped small car.

Available in a choice of three and five-door body styles, the GO! continues to meet the requirements of young and first-time buyers, as well as those with a youthful spirit.

Despite its entry-level status, the Palio GO! offers an impressive level of standard equipment, which enhances the overall value-for-money proposition this model presents. Accordingly, the GO! comes standard with tinted windows, intermittent two-speed windscreen wipers, internally adjustable external mirrors and pre-wiring for radio and antenna fitment.

Additional security is provided with key-operated central locking and the Fiat CODE rolling code immobiliser – both of which ensure a significantly higher level of protection than is normally enjoyed in this segment. Practicality is enhanced with the inclusion of a heated rear window, rev counter, halogen headlights, a 12-volt power point and luggage compartment lighting.

The standard 155/80 R13 tyres are fitted to steel rims, with full wheel covers adding to the stylish and modern character of the Palio GO! models.

EL

The next step up is the EL specification on the Palio II three and five-door, as well as the Siena II sedan. Further equipment fitted as standard includes remote-operated central locking, a rear window wiper on the Palio II models, as well as colour coding for the mirrors, side skirts and door handles.

Interior additions comprise electric front windows, driver airbag, a rear ashtray, power steering with height adjustment for the steering wheel, a digital clock, front and rear grab handles, air-conditioning, an illuminated glove box, passenger sun visor with mirror, door pockets, driver’s left footrest and a sophisticated silver finish for the centre console. Trimmed 14-inch steel wheels and 175/65 R14 tyres are standard on the EL models.

ELX

Emphasising its positioning as the flagship of the extended range, the five-door Palio II ELX and four-door Siena II ELX are the most lavishly equipped, gaining electric rear windows and a radio with front-loading CD and four-speakers.

Externally, the upmarket chrome grille treatment and front fog lights can also distinguish the Palio II and Siena II ELX. 14-inch alloy rims and 175/65 R14 tyres fitted to the most expensive Siena II ELX, with larger sporty 15-inch alloy wheels and substantial 195/50 R15 tyres in the case of the top-line Palio II, complement this further.

SAFETY

All models feature height-adjustable front head restraints, a third high-level brake light, rear fog lights, side impact bars in all doors, anti-submarining seats, a collapsible steering column and a full-size spare wheel.

Fiat’s Fire Prevention System (FPS) is also included as standard. This system cuts the fuel supply and the electronics of the car in the event of an accident, thereby reducing the chance of a fire breaking out on impact. In addition, EL and ELX models benefit from the fitment of a driver’s airbag, as well as height-adjustable front seatbelts with pretensioners to provide additional occupant protection.

PERFORMANCE AND ECONOMY

Two lively, reliable well-proven petrol engines are retained in the latest incarnation of the Palio II and Siena II, headed by the 1.6 16v. This 1581cc four-cylinder engine employs a twin overhead camshaft, four valves per cylinder and Magneti Marelli electronically controlled multi-point fuel injection to generate 74 kW of power at 5 500 r/min, matched to 140 Nm of torque at 4 000 r/min.

Spirited performance is assured from this engine, with a 0-100 km/h acceleration time of 11,1 sec, linked to a maximum speed of 184 km/h. Nevertheless, fuel efficiency remains highly competitive, with a combined cycle fuel consumption figure of just 8,0 l/100 km. Constant driving at 90 km/h produces a consumption figure of 6,2 l/100 km, rising to 8,1 l/100 km at a steady 120 km/h.

The 1.2 eight-valve engine offers a good balance between drivability and economy. This 1 242 cc unit is credited with 54 kW of power at 6 000 r/min, along with 102 Nm of torque at 3 250 r/min.

This contributes to a thoroughly respectable 0-100 km/h time of 13,5 sec and a top speed of 164 km/h. In the combined cycle the 1.2 consumes 7,8 l/100 km, with constant-speed consumption pegged at 5,9 l/100 km and 7,9 l/100 km at 90 km/h and 120 km/h respectively.

STEERING, SUSPENSION AND BRAKING

All models fitted with power-assisted steering as standard incorporate a hydraulic rack and pinion system, while a mechanical version is used on the standard models. Overall manoeuvrability is enhanced with a compact turning circle of just 10,4 m.

The suspension system for the front-wheel drive Palio II and Siena II features independent MacPherson struts with lower wishbones anchored to a subframe, with additional control provided by the integrated anti-roll bar.

At the rear, a torsion beam axle is employed with longitudinal trailing arms and a stabilizer bar. Hydraulic telescopic dampers with a double-acting function complement the helical coil springs used all round.

Braking is taken care of by a hydraulically controlled dual-circuit system, using 240 mm ventilated front discs on the 1.2, and larger 257 mm versions on the 1.6 16v models. Drum brakes are utilized at the rear with self-centering linings and automatic wear adjustment.

Process & Manufacturing

Various facility upgrades have been introduced in the Rosslyn plant to improve manufacturing processes as well as the quality levels for the production of the Fiat Palio II and Siena II.

The number of quality gates has been increased. In the Bodyshop area, the new Palio II and Siena II sheet metal components and mobile parts are dimensionally certified. A quality team from Fiat Auto Brazil is dedicated to the control of body part dimensional accuracy for the South African market.

PALIO AND SIENA TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION