The new four wheel drive Fiat Sedici made its UK debut at the La Dolce Vita show in London last weekend. This new 'crossover' model which is just going on sale in Italy now, offers car buyers a fresh choice in a crowded marketplace, carving out its own niche as a practical family car that brings with it all the benefits of a four wheel drive vehicle to this category for the first time.

First revealed at last December's Bologna Motor Show, the Sedici 4x4 quickly became designated as the 'Official Car' of Torino 2006 - the XX Winter Olympic Games which were held last month in Fiat's home city of Turin. It then took pride of place earlier this month at the Geneva International Motor Show where it headed a strong four wheel drive line-up, flanked on the stand by the smaller Panda 4x4 and the giant 'Oltre Fiat' showcar.

"We already have 3,000 orders just in Italy from a production of 20,000 in the first year," revealed Fiat CEO Luca De Meo during a press conference at the Geneva Motor Show at the end of last month. This had been achieved without announcing the official sale price or potential customers actually being able to test drive the car, he added. "We see it as the first popular SUV, meaning that because of price, and because of the running costs it will appeal to a wide range of potential customers that today drive smaller or more compact cars. For the first time in the market they will be able to offer themselves the practicality of four wheel drive technology and convenience of SUVs with compromising on what they are used to." In fact, since Italian Fiat dealers began taking orders a week later demand has been reported to be high, with this year's production allocation expected to be filled quite soon.

The Fiat Sedici marks a veritable leap in the compact SUV scenario because it is the result of a style and design approach whose distinguishing feature is freedom of choice. The new model is a fusion of different vehicle types: it combines the driving satisfaction and handling features of a compact Fiat with the off-road performance of an SUV (Sport Utility Vehicle).
 

The car's name says everything about its off-road proclivities: Sedici (sixteen) is what you get when you multiply 4x4 - the code used to identify four-wheel drive vehicles. Within the Suzuki-Fiat industrial project, the styling of Fiat Sedici has been jointly done with Italdesign, Giorgetto Giugiaro's design Company. The Fiat Sedici stands out from the herd of off-road cars due partly to certain stylistic features such as its innovatively designed tail-lights, its uniquely dynamic mid-line, its well-proportioned rump and the muscular bulk of its side inserts. The new model is available in two specifications (Dynamic and Emotion) with two power units (107 bhp 1.6 16v and 120 bhp 1.9 Multijet).

It is currently being marketed in Italy under the slogan “QUATTROXQUATTROXTUTTI”, and Italian pricing was released earlier this month. The 1.6-litre petrol version has been priced at 18,970 euros for the 'Dynamic' level, while the higher specification 'Emotion' version comes in at 20,470 euros. The 1.9 Multijet will sell for 21,970 euro (Dynamic) and 23,470 (Emotion). The Sedici will come backed up by a three year or 100,000km warrantee.

In one of its first few major public engagements outside Italy, the Fiat Sedici made its UK debut at 'La Dolce Vita', the Italian lifestyle show, which was held in London at the Olympia Exhibition Centre last weekend. Two examples were presented in the exhibition which seeks to bring a 'slice of Italy' to the heart of London city life. Also at the show was the new Fiat Panda Alessi which has been very well represented in London this month, as two of these stylish new versions of the tiny car, created by the renown Italian designer, are also on show in the capital at the Daily Mail Ideal Home Show, which is taking place just up the road at Earls Court.