Fiat have just launched a facelifted version of the Strada pick-up which offers a new engine option and a host detailed of detailing improvements to enhance this popular, dynamic workhorse. The New Strada, which goes on sale in Italy tomorrow, is built at the main Fiat Automòveis plant located at Betim in Brazil.

The versatile Fiat Strada is the highly popular, market leading pick-up in South America with achieving sales of 45,000 units in 2005. It is sold across the world as well as a number of selected European markets, including Italy and Germany. In the former it racked up 3,000 sales last year and Fiat are confident that this improved version can continue an upward trend.

The Strada pick-up is one of the Project 'World Car' family of low-cost vehicles, a range that is completed by the Palio (hatchback), Siena (saloon) and the Palio Weekend (estate). These models have all been facelifted recently with new styling and engines. Fiat has now further refreshed the Strada, taking care to retain its dynamic personality and the inherent features it offers which are usually associated with a car. Visually the New Strada is identifiable immediately by its new sturdier, ribbed bumpers which draw their chunky moulded cues from the bumpers used on the new Palio Weekend and Adventures models. At the rear the hinged tailboard is activated via a handle incorporated into the Fiat badge while aluminium tread plates are mounted on the chassis. The New Strada has new exterior door handles and a new frame, featuring four longitudinal bars which arching up onto the roof panel, protecting the rear window which has an integrated high-level brake light. The New Strada sits on 14 inch wheels shod with 175/70R tyres (the Adventure has 180/70R tyres).

Inside, close attention has been paid to both the ergonomics and the comfort. New materials are used for the seat covering and door panels with overall soundproofing improved. The seats are now vertically (as well as horizontally) adjustable. The instruments in front of the driver have been made visually clearer, while an extra 30 mm space located behind the seats on the long cab version allows for the storage of smaller items.
 

The dimensions of the New Strada remain virtually unchanged: it is 4,444 mm long, 1,664 mm wide, 1,525 mm high and has a 2,718 mm long wheelbase. The cargo bay is 1,693 mm long (1,393 mm in the versions with the long cabin) and 1,220 wide (1,070 mm between the wheel protrusions). The whole bay is lined with a tough new plastic protective cover and sturdy hooks that allow loads to be safely secured or for the perimeter to be fitted with a temporary drainage cover (available from Fiat Accessories). Useful loading area capacity is 705 kg (685 kg for the long cab version) while the tailboard, which opens to 90 degrees, can support 300 kg. Maximum load capacity is 1,000 kg. Volume is 1,100dm3 for the short cab and 800dm3 for the long cab.

The 1.3-litre 16v Multijet is now available across the New Strada range, and in fact the pick-up will only be available on the main European markets with this powerplant. Fitted with a turbocharger Fiat's highly acclaimed compact diesel engine puts out 85CV (62.5kW) at 4,000rpm and 200Nm (20.4kgm) of torque at 1,750rpm in this application. This powers the New Strada to a top speed of 165km/h and a 0-100k/h time of 13.5 seconds.

Active safety features include a dual-system brake servo, ABS with EBD and 257mm front brake discs (228 mm rear drums); while passive safety implementation includes driver and passenger front airbags, anti-intrusion lateral bars, a reinforced rigid body structure and FPS (Fire Prevention System).

The New Strada comes in two trim levels (Strada and Adventure) two bodies (long and short cabin), and 11 body colours (7 metallic). The New Strada Adventure (only available with the long cab option) has a much more aggressive style and ably serves to fulfil a leisure-time 'lifestyle' role, as happy to be transporting surfboards or jet skis as it is to be lugging heavy loads such as aggregates or bricks. The Strada Adventure has colour-coded bumpers and powerful quad-foglights at the front, mounted in vertically positioned clusters. It also features as standard the longitudinal bars at the rear of the cab, central locking, 175/80 tyres on 14 in wheels, and a radio with CD player. These are all options on the Strada while further options for both specification versions include electric door mirrors, climate control and CD changer (the last one only an option on the Adventure).