Fiat Automòveis will pull the wraps
of an exciting and dramatic "off road" concept coupé,
dubbed as the FCC Adventure, when the 24th Salão Internacional
do Automóvel opens it doors in Sao Paolo, Brazil this
week. The Fiat Concept Coupé (FCC) Adventure draws
attention to the locally built range of models which are
marketed under the "Adventure" banner, and are promoted
for genuine rough terrain use.
The FCC Adventure closely follows in line with Fiat
Auto's latest thinking as the carmaker moves into the
"off road" market segment with cars such as the new
Sedici and the Panda tiny 4x4. Controversial showcars
which emphasise the Italian firm's arrival in this
category are the order of the day and the eye-catching
new FCC Adventure will mirror the impact made by the
huge Iveco-based "Oltre Fiat" showcar which was created
by the design team at Fiat Centro Stile in Turin and
which made such an impressive entrance at last year's
Bologna Motor Show in the hands of brand CEO Luca De Meo.
The FCC Adventure was developed entirely by Fiat
Automòveis and built in Brazil, and it offers clear
thinking towards an "off road coupé" which matches the
latest fashion trends and raw style with serious
all-terrain capability. Fiat Automòveis have a great
tradition of creating wild showcars for the Salão Internacional
do Automóvel: at the last edition, held in 2004, they
presented a dramatically bodykitted 5-door Stilo model.
This wild new concept car is also based on the Stilo and
it is fitted with the five cylinder 2.45 litre engine
drawn from the Stilo Abarth which delivers 167 bhp. It
is front wheel drive with new independent suspension at
all four wheels and adjustable shock absorbers housed in
tough springs designed to withstand the most rigorous of
tests. The front of the FCC Adventure is characterised
by its chunky spoilers which steeply rise into the high
bonnet line and are captured by an angular front grille,
fitted with rows of segmented aluminium inserts. Four
powerful headlights and two large foglights add to the
overall effect.
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Large front wheelarches includes air exits to the rear on
each side and the front quarter light and side windows
plunge down behind the line of the wheelarches, keeping up
the off road effect, but at the same time adding in the
feeling of this being a more sporty coupé. The rear
wheelarches also house narrow, vertical air outlets while
the large single rectangular exhaust exit is mounted above a
broad, ribbed aluminium protection plate.
The spare wheel is position almost horizontally, recessed
into the tailgate which in turn gives way to a huge rear
spoiler incorporating a traditional high-level stop-light.
Streamlined roof bars, chunky colour-coded door mirrors, and
a polished 'areo' style aluminium fuel filler cap add
further detailing, while the whole vehicle sits squatly on
new 18-inch alloy wheels fitted with 285/60 Pirelli PZero
tyres.
The FCC Adventure is finished in a metallic burnt orange
paint while the lower portion of the front bumper, side
skirts, roof bars, rear spoiler and rear apron are in
silver. The new metallic finish is called "Tricoat" a
special paint which has the effect of changing the colour of
the vehicle depending on the light, from yellow up to deeply
intense red. The rear apron sections meanwhile are embossed
with the 'FIAT' letters on either side. Inside the much
revised Stilo-based cockpit, which features new sports
seats, is re-trimmed in black, with contrasting orange seat
inserts and edging, rally-derived 5-point safety belts and a
painted central dashboard section. The new steering wheel is
also finished black and yellow and has an alumiunium frame
and 'FIAT' printed in large letters in the recessed centre
section.
by Claudio Perlini
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