FIAT STRADA TURBO, RIGHT DECISION

The Fiat brand made a clear shot by adding two turbo versions of a 1-liter three-cylinder engine to the Strada portfolio, the Ranch and the Ultra. That’s right because, in the case of the Ranch, the increase in weight is only 17 kg, but the GSE 1.3 engine with 98/108 hp and 13.2/13.7 m·kgf gave way to the T200 with 125/130 and 20.4 m·kgf (200 N·m), the result of which needless to say: more performance and agility. That’s what I felt in the first few meters when driving it this week on the beautiful and charming island of Florianópolis.

The suggested public price of Strada Turbo is R$ 132,990 for both versions.

The inlet pressure provided by the BorgWarner turbocharger is a high 1.8 bar and the relief valve is electrically actuated under electronic management.

Mainly because the maximum torque of the 999 cm³ turbo engine occurs at 1,750 rpm instead of 4,000 rpm for the 1,332 cm³ engine with atmospheric aspiration. The resulting low-rev power is blistering. Once again it is demonstrated that the displacement of a turbocharged engine is a mere description, as it is as if it were an engine with a displacement 70% larger. Far from being a simple estimate, a “guess” is the equivalence factor established by the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) for purposes of framing the displacement classes for sports and touring cars.

If, for example, a turbo car competes in the 1,600 cm³ displacement class, its maximum displacement will be obligatorily 941.17 cm³ (1600 ÷ 1.7 = 941.17).

Forced loading of any engine has the merit of not losing power as altitude increases, at a rate of 1% per 100 meters. In Brasília, at 1,100 meters, every atmospheric aspiration engine loses 11% of power.

Still comparing the Strada Turbo with the 4-cylinder engine of 1,332 cm³ and atmospheric aspiration, the acceleration from 0-100 km/h was in 12 s, now it is in 9.8/9.5 s. The top speed of 165 km/h has been increased to 178/180 km/h. It’s literally another car, important especially if you’re carrying the maximum load of 650 kg. But there was an inevitable increase in consumption: city 12.4/8.8 km/l increased from 12.1/8.3 km/l and highway, from 13.9/9.9 km/l to 13.2/9.4 km/l;. Note that in all power, touch, performance and consumption numbers, the order in AE is gasoline first, alcohol after.

The marriage of the seven-speed CVT automatic transmission with the engine is correct. In automatic function (D) the gears reported as simulated by the brand, but simulated they have nothing are changed in succession, with defined and perfect changes. Sequential manual gear changes can be made either by the selector lever or by the paddles behind the steering wheel. There is no L position on the gearbox (only PRND), to obtain engine braking you have to downshift manually.

There is the Sport mode activated by a large red button on the right spoke of the steering wheel, inaugurated by the Pulse Abarth, which, in addition to changing the gearshift map to automatic, making them faster and holding them longer, changes the accelerator ratio and Steering assistance is less.

As the engine-transmission connection is by torque converters, the vehicle can be kept immobilized by the engine without risk of damage, contrary to what happens with clutches. And after releasing the brake, with the car immobile, there is a short lapse of time for the vehicle to move, a sign of neutral control.

Changes associated with the new engine

Due to the greater power and torque — it is the same as the automatic Pulse Impetus 200 Turbo — engineering has brought some changes to the chassis. The electric steering assistance has been recalibrated for greater robustness and safety, the suspension has had springs and dampers redefined and there are new brake calipers, which remain, floating, to handle the increased speed. longer evaluation is needed.

Edition 25 special series

Along with the introduction of the turbo engine on Strada, the brand celebrates Strada’s 25th anniversary with the special Edizione 25 series based on the Ultra Turbo 200. of the bicolor painting, in which the roof is black and the wheels are darkened.

The Edizione 25 series will be limited to 1,025 units and its suggested public price is R$ 135,990.

Conclusion

For the user, an indisputably better Strada. For the competition, more work ahead. because if Strada has already been the absolute leader in the Brazilian market for more than two years, reaching it has become more difficult now.