First revealing details of Fiat's new SUV 4x4, developed in collaboration with Suzuki, a brand which has technical partnerships with General Motors, have emerged. At the same time, respected Italian automotive magazine Quattroruote has presented images regarded as being very close to the definitive styling.

Named the ‘Fiat Sixteen’, the car will make a public debut at Frankfurt IAA in September before making its dynamic debut at the Winter Olympic Games held in Turin. The Fiat Sixteen is a cross between a supermini, an SUV and an MPV, and has been designed to combine beneficial characteristics from all three classes. The interior will be functional and well built, offering tremendous headroom and excellent levels of space.

Whereas the development of the 4x4 system and other mechanicals was entrusted almost entirely to Suzuki, a brand itself legendary for small budget 4x4 offroaders, Fiat were left to concentrate on the diesel engines and a majority of the financial backing. The exterior styling between the Fiat and the Suzuki is expected to be different, with the Fiat being chunkier in its bumper treatment.

Both SUVs will be built in Hungary, at the Magyar Suzuki Corporation factory in Esztergom, near Budapest. Central Europe is already an exceptionally important and very successful market for Fiat. Their market share in 2004 was 9.8%, this in fact being more than that of Opel (9.8%), Peugeot (7.3%), Toyota (6.2%), Ford (5.2%) and Citroen (4.7%).
 

Suzuki are themselves also a key player in this market, being positioned between Ford and Citroen with a market share of 4.9% in 2004.

Measuring 4 meters 10 cm in length, entry level versions of the Sixteen will come with front-wheel drive. The optional four-wheel drive system is non-permanent, with the choice to switch to front-wheel drive via a switch near the gearlever. Fiat and Suzuki expect the cheaper 2wd versions to account for 80% of their SUV sales.

The platform is based on a lengthened version of the new Suzuki Swift, with the front suspension being independent with McPherson struts and rear suspension being interconnected. Available engines will be 1.5 and 1.6 litre petrol units, pumping out 99 and 107 bhp respectively. A 120 bhp Fiat 1.9 Multijet diesel engine will also be offered, and is likely to be the most popular power unit. The diesel will come fitted with a six-speed manual gearbox offering strong performance.

Journalists who have driven the Suzuki variant as a prototype are reportedly very enthusiastic about the car’s nimble and sure-footed handling.