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Tanink Ghana's Fiat Tipo: Born to be Sedan

By Myjoyonline.com | Kwakye Afreh Nuamah
Business & Finance Tanink Ghana's Fiat Tipo: Born to be Sedan
MAY 30, 2016 LISTEN

Tanink Ghana continues to show the way with the introduction of durable and affordable cars in the country.

This is the concluding part of my article on the fresh FIAT models the car dealership firm intends outdooring in the next few weeks.

In my previous writeup, I told you about the Fiat FULLBACK pickup.

This time, I will focus on the TIPO.
The model in brief
The all-new, four-door car, created from the beginning as a three-box sedan, embodies the "Born to be Sedan" concept which enhances the balanced, quintessentially Italian design to guarantee personality and style without forgoing functionality.

The 4Doors version went on sale at the end of 2015 and has already sold more than 37,000 units in the EMEA area: its success is based best-in-class passenger and luggage space combined with on an economical ethos, which have reopened the door to the medium-compact sedan market in many countries.

Thanks in part to these characteristics, the Tipo family has collected the prestigious Autobest "Best Buy Car 2016" award, chosen by a jury of 26 journalists from the most authoritative European car magazines. This accolade underlines the model's standout traits of design, quality, comfort and versatility and rewards an exceptional offering that is squarely focused on value for money, a crucial concept in Fiat's functional family strategy.

Good-looking and functional, Fiat Tipo4door combines a large load capacity (520 litres) with compact overall dimensions (it is 4.54 metres long, 1.79 metres wide and 1.49 metres high). The 2.64 metre wheelbase emphasises its excellent internal comfort. All this is enhanced by Italian design, inside and out, which makes the car unique in its segment.

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The new car fits a reliable suspension layout for very accurate driving, brilliant road-holding and outstanding passenger comfort: independent wheels McPherson type on the front axle and interconnected wheels torque beam on the rear. The two layouts are optimised to reduce weight and contribute in this way to improving the car's fuel-efficiency.

In the true Fiat style, the new Tipo is packed with a plenty of clever solutions that make life better for everyone on-board. Like the splendid standard features and the availability of the Uconnect TM system with a 5" colour touchscreen, hands-free Bluetooth system, audio streaming, text reader and voice recognition, AUX and USB ports with iPod integration, controls on the steering wheel and, on demand, a rear parking camera.

Designed to tackle future challenges, the new Fiat Tipo was designed in Italy by Centro Stile Fiat, developed in Turkey together with TofaÅŸ R&D, which is one of FCA's largest research and development centres, and made in the TofaÅŸ plant in Bursa – one of the world's best automotive factories which has received a World Class Manufacturing Gold Medal.

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Designed in Italy by Centro Stile Fiat and jointly developed with TofaÅŸ R&D, Fiat Tipo engaged a team of over 2000 people for nearly three years. The end result is a good-looking, functional car that combines amazing load capacity and compact dimensions in a sedan that is 4.54 metres long, 1.79 metres wide and 1.49 metres high. The 2.64 metre wheelbase emphasises its excellent internal comfort. All this is enhanced by stylish Italian design, inside and out, which makes the car unique in its segment.

Bold exteriors
More often than not, sedans are a spin-off of the corresponding hatchback with a third box added on, which can cause an overall imbalance in its appearance. The new Fiat instead is "Born to be Sedan" and characterised by a design in which the various sections are integrated in natural, streamlined manner to create a perfect compact sedan.

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Fiat Tipo interprets the three-box style elegantly with features like the sculpted, embracing bonnet with a central spine that stretches over the roof to create a continuous line. Similarly, the grille is joined as one with the light clusters. Chrome-plated segments draw an original graphic pattern on which the Fiat badge stands out. Finally, the headlights are integrated in the grille to bestow bold personality to the front end.

From the side, a distinctive line joins the front headlights to the rear light clusters, while the glazing conveys a dynamic effect which adds to the idea of roominess and provides large doors for easy access for driver and passengers. Aerodynamics which adds a sporty touch to the car stretches from the pillars to the roof, while the muscular wheel arches provide a feeling of strength and solidity.

Italian style is fully expressed in the rear with the harmonically sculpted third box that houses the bright light cluster surrounds. These design elements trace an unmistakable signature in the night when illuminated. The rear end is complemented by an integrated spoiler wrapped around the box which ensures good aerodynamics and a robust, protective bumper with thin, elegant integrated reflectors.

Worth mentioning is the car's excellent aerodynamic coefficient: 0.29 cx. Centro Stile Fiat used the best design practices of the entire FCA Group to achieve this result. In particular, the upper part of the car has optimised roof profile, windscreen curvature and body shape. Similarly, the lower part of Fiat Tipo expresses the best in terms of wheel coverage and side profile in plan. The side mirrors are specifically designed to obtain ultimate performance in terms of acoustics and aerodynamic efficiency.

The lighting also contributes to reaching the objective. For instance, in addition to the shape and position of the front bumper and the front wings, the integrated rear light clusters improve the aerodynamic performance between wheels and undercarriage. All these features are to the advantage of performance, acoustics and fuel-efficiency of the new Fiat Tipo.

Ergonomic, functional and quiet interiors
The interiors were designed starting from real customer needs and enhancing functional elements with a sophisticated touch of style. Examples are the crescent dashboard, which is the distinctive element of the car. It encompasses the central area and splits the dashboard volumes into two half-shells (one of which is more textured and tactile, while the other is more functional and technical) to make the whole visually lighter and to accent the roominess of the passenger compartment at the same time.

The inside of the car is particularly quiet and hushed also as a result of the level of soundproofing achieved by applying state-of-the-art solutions, such as the ample use of noise-deadening material, air flow optimisation and the exclusive use of metal sets to increase rigidity in the main fixing points of mechanical parts, chassis, engine and suspensions.

According to the trim levels, various interior configurations are available with different materials and colours to satisfy a wide array of requirements.

Top-in-class roominess and load capacity
Evolution of the sedan concept where everything contributes to top-notch occupant comfort without penalising load capacity, Fiat Tipo has a large, bright passenger compartment which is extraordinarily liveable and affords superior comfort in terms of ergonomics and room to the driver and passengers.

In brief, welcoming and practical, Fiat Tipo is a car for relaxed and comfortable trips. In order to reach this objective, designers implemented the most modern ergonomic criteria to define the parameters which measure the car's capacity to respond to the needs of well-being and comfort on-board. The final result is the excellent fundamental ergonomics: liveability, driving posture, space reconfiguration, accessibility and visibility.

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In detail, five adult passengers can travel in comfort in Tipo (the seats are designed for passengers up to 1.88 metres tall in the front and in the same time up to 1.80 metres tall in the back). Legroom is also top-in-class: there are 1.07 metres between the edge of the front seat and the passenger's heel and 934 centimetres for the rear seat (the latter value is typical of higher segment cars). Not least important, the middle rear seat has plenty of legroom to make any trip pleasant even for adult occupants.

Strengths of Fiat Tipo 4door include a large, easily accessible boot, one of the most capacious of the segment (520 litres), which can be exploited to the max by folding the split rear seat (60/40), entirely or in part to carry particularly long objects.

Further contributing to the maximum comfort goal are the many storage compartments and the excellent driving ergonomics.In particular, the driving position is one of the strengths that places the new Fiat at the top of its class. Merit for this goes to the perfect vertical alignment between steering wheel, gear stick and pedal board which ensures practicality and ease of use. Furthermore, the angular position of the steering wheel gives the driver a feeling of sportiness, just as the perfect arrangement of the controls (climate control system, radio and control panel) which can be easily reached by the driver without diverting the eyes from the road. Passengers also enjoy superlative comfort, as demonstrated by the perfect shape and foam density of the rear seats, which may comfortably accommodate three adults.

Another strength of the new Fiat Tipo is the presence of many compartments with a variety of shapes and capacities(totalling no less than 12 litres) for satisfying all needs. Easily reachable by driver and passengers, these compartments are perfect for storing personal objects, smartphones, game consoles, bottles, coins and much more. Furthermore, there is a media centre for connecting devices in front of the gear lever.

Reliable, fuel-efficient engines
According to the markets, customers can choose two petrol engines (1.4 Fire 95 HP and 1.6 E.torQ 110 HP) or oneMultijet II turbo diesels (1.3 95 HP). All engines are combined with front-wheel drive and five- or six-speed manual gearboxes, except for the 1.6 E.torQ which is coupled to a six-speed automatic transmission, for smooth and comfortable drivingin all situations.

The petrol engines: 1.4 16v Fire 95 HP and 1.6 E.torQ 110 HP

Solid and reliable, the 1.4 16v Fire is the entry-level petrol engine of the new Fiat Tipo. This engine delivers 95 HP at 6000 rpm and reaches maximum torque of 127 Nm at 4500 rpm. The engine, combined with a six-speed manual gearbox, is a straight-four with overhead twin camshaft and direct valve control.

Implementing an optimised fluid-dynamic intake system, it is characterised by particularly high volumetric efficiency across the entire operating range, which translates into brilliant performance and cost-effective running at the same time. Equipped in this way, the new Fiat Tipo reaches a top speed of 185 km/h and accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 11.5 seconds.

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The 1.6 litre E.torQ delivers a power of 110 HP and a maximum torque of 152 Nm. Exclusive components have been implemented on this light-weight engine to deliver high torque also at low rpm and to contribute to the goal of increasing fuel efficiency. The graphite coated pistons are optimised to reduce friction and weight. The forged steel connecting rods and aluminium oil sump further contribute to reducing weight.

Combined with a six-speed automatic transmission, which ensures smooth and comfortable driving in all situations, the 1.6 E.torQ 110 HP engine allows Fiat Tipo to reach a top speed of 192 km/h and to accelerate in 11.2 seconds.

1.3 litre MultiJet II: diesel engine at their best
The new Fiat Tipo engine line-up features one turbo diesels – a 1.3 litre–implementing second-generation Multijet technology, which ensure enjoyable driving, great fuel efficiency and low running costs.

Authentic benchmark of the small displacement diesel engine category, the 1.3 16v MultiJet II of the new Fiat Tipo fits a small, sophisticated variable geometry turbocharger, which allows the engine to deliver higher torque at lower rpms to the benefit of performance and fuel efficiency. In Europe, the 1.3 16v MultiJet II of the new Fiat Tipo is Euro 6 compliant and implements a great deal of features aimed at slashing fuel consumption and emissions.

Combined with a manual five-speed gearbox, the 1.3 16v MultiJet II of the new Tipo delivers 95 HP at 3750 rpm and reaches a maximum torque of 200 Nm at only 1500 rpm. Top speed is 180 km/h and acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h takes place in just 11.7 seconds. On the combined type-approval cycle, the new Tipo 1.3 16v MultiJet II consumes just 4.2 litres/100 km and emits only 110 g/km of CO2.

The turbo diesel of Fiat Tipo is the third-generation Common Rail Multijet II injection system, the high-tech solution for controlling high injection pressures, whatever the engine speed and the injected fuel quantity. In practice, the engine introduces small amounts of fuel (pilot injections) to optimise noise and emissions and, with the main injection, manages the injected quantity of fuel necessary to provide the performance required by the driver, ensuring particularly smooth engine operation in all situations.

More specifically, the innovative injectors can manage up to eight injections per cycle and implement increasingly advanced strategies for optimising combustion, such as Injection Rate Shaping (IRS), in which the two consecutive main injections are so close that they generate a continuous, modulated fuel delivery profile in the cylinders. These methods improve the combustion process to the benefit of silent running and of low particulate and nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions. The new injection system is made even simpler and more reliable by implementing a less complex construction of the injectors.

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Furthermore, the MultiJet II engines implement plenty of features to reduce fuel consumption and emissions. These include a smart alternator, which modulates energy delivery according to actual demand and battery charge state, an optimised engine cooling circuit for faster warm-up and a variable displacement oil pump capable of adjusting the oil flow rate and reducing power draw.

Likewise, the exhaust gas treatment system implements close-coupled DPF technology to achieve an efficient integration between the oxidation catalyst and the particulate trap (CCDPF). The compactness of the component reduces exhaust back pressure, with consequent benefits in terms of fuel-efficiency and lower CO2 emissions. A further advantage of the proximity between particulate trap and turbocharger outlet is to have higher gas temperatures at particulate filter inlet on average, which reduces the amount of fuel needed to regenerate the filter, resulting in a further consumption reduction.

The oxidation catalyst is integrated in the new NSC (NOx Storage Catalyst) which, by implementing a specific chemical formula and sophisticated injection management software strategies, can reduce NOx emissions by 60%, making a decisive contribution to achieving Euro 6 emission limits.

The integration of the two components reduces the weight of the exhaust system and improves its overall efficiency. Combined with the CCDPF is a highly evolved dual exhaust gas recirculation circuit (EGR). The second circuit, which complements the particularly compact EGR module fitted on past models, takes exhaust gas downstream of the DPF and cools it in a dedicated device. The goal is to accurately control the combustion process to the advantage of reducing NOx emissions and boosting fuel-efficiency.

Always connected with Uconnect™
Designed to complement the driving experience and perfectly integrated in the car's general style, the UconnectTM system stands out in the middle of the dashboard. Three versions are available according to trim level and market: Uconnect™ Radio, Uconnect™5’’.

The first level includes LCD screen, AM/FM radio and a Bluetooth hands-free system. The second level (Uconnect™5’’) has a large 5” touchscreen allowing to access and activate a great array of functions without diverting the driver's gaze from the road: features include analogue and digital (DAB) radio (the latter in markets where available) and the possibility of connecting all the most common multimedia devices (media player, iPod, iPhone, smartphone) via the USB port and Aux-in connector. Furthermore, the Bluetooth technology can be used with enabled smartphones to stream music and to make hands-free phone calls. Finally, the Uconnect™5’’ system is provided with SMS reader for reading text messages received on compatible telephones using "text to speech" technology.

Finally, two sound system levels are available according to the Uconnect system fitted on the car. The first, standard with Uconnect™ Radio, features a 160 watt system with two 165 mm full-range speakers in the front doors and two 130 mm full-range speakers in the rear doors. Uconnect™ instead fit a second level 220 watt system with two 19 mm tweeters in the dashboard, two 165 mm mid-woofers in the front doors and two 130 mm full-range speakers in the rear doors.

Safe, dynamic driving
To guarantee occupant safety, Fiat Tipo has a rigid, light monocoque built with ample use of high-strength steel and structural adhesives combined complete with full safety equipment. Furthermore, driving accuracy, excellent road-hold and high comfort are ensured by the reliable suspension layout chosen for the car.

Safety
According to the markets, the new Fiat Tipo is equipped with up to six airbags, fog lights with cornering function and Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS), which informs the driver if the tyre pressure is low and ESC (Electronic Stability Control).

The sophisticated ESC cuts in when conditions approach the limit, when vehicle stability is at risk, and helps the driver regain control. The ESC implements several very useful functions, such as:

ASR (Anti Slip Regulation): the system uses the brakes and engine control system at any speed to optimise traction allowing Fiat Tipo to tackle low grip surfaces with ease.

Panic Brake Assist (PBA): in case of emergency braking, the system applies the maximum brake force to achieve the shortest stopping distance.

Trailer Sway Control (TSC): the system reduces swaying of the trailer to improve control in tricky towing conditions. It monitors car directionality with respect to the trajectory and applies alternating pressure on the brakes to slow it down and if the pressure increases on one of the front wheels to balance swaying of the trailer.

Hill Start Assist (HSA): the system holds the brake locked for approximately two seconds to facilitate starting without requiring to press the pedal brake or apply the handbrake.

MSR (Motor SchleppmomentRegelung): in case of excessively abrupt downshifting in poor grip conditions, the MSR function intervenes by restoring engine torque and preventing the wheels from locking and slipping.

Electronic Rollover Mitigation (ERM): this function cuts in when a wheel is lifted off the road. In case of extreme dynamic conditions, the ERM helps to re-establish stability and regain control of the car.

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Traction Control System (TCS): this function reduces the risk of drive wheel slippage during acceleration from a standstill or at slow speed by applying the brakes to the single wheels which are losing grip. The system can be partially deactivated by pressing a specific button.

Brake light activation in case of deceleration: this function activates the brake lights for one second or more when the Hill Start Assist or the ESC systems are activated.

Body and suspension
The four-door Fiat Tipo has a light-weight, rigid monocoque body made with ample use of high-strength steel (approximately 80% of the total) and structural adhesives. The most important features of the body is the use of advanced hot-pressed high-strength steel for the lower part of the body. The overall result is excellent vehicle dynamics and remarkable strength in the event of a collision, while reducing weight at the same time.

One of the objectives that designers were set when developing Fiat Tipo was to create suspensions capable of offering performance comparable to that of superior class cars. In other words, they were asked to provide mechanical solutions which guaranteed a very smooth and accurate drive, brilliant road-hold and the highest level of passenger comfort. Two layouts previously used on other Fiat models were appropriately revised and updated to achieve this result.

On the front, Fiat Tipo fits an independent wheel McPherson layout updated to make it lighter and more efficient.The geometric and elastic-kinematic properties are optimised to reduce the loss of camber and to increase maximum side acceleration and road-hold as a consequence. The front anti-roll bar is connected to the suspensions via composite material connecting rods which increase filtering of vibrations and road roughness for top-notch travelling comfort.

On the rear axle, the new Fiat compact sedan is equipped with an interconnected wheel torsion beam suspension, which was also updated with the goal of reducing weight by using high-strength materials. The particular torsion profile allows to obtain stabilising stiffness and optimal roll without needing to use an anti-roll bar to achieve the goal.

A practical, simple, high-value range
The new Tipo is a functional car which maximises value for money – this being a crucial concept in the Fiat functional family – and is packed with what customers genuinely appreciate, with a simple range and a transparent commercial offer. This is confirmed by the range of special packs available for the car.

The range for the entire AME area is described below. Market-specific differences are provided to satisfy single country needs.

The Fiat Tipoline-up will up to up to a maximum three trim levels, three engine versions (the 1.4 Fire 95 HP and the 1.6 E.torQ 110 HP petrol engines and the 1.3 MultiJet II 95 HP turbo diesel, two transmissions (five or six speed manual or six-speed automatic, the latter on 1.6 E.torQ only), a palette of various body colours (solid and metal), two alloy rim patterns (16" and 17”) and four different interior configurations.

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Standard equipment on all versions includes: manual climate control system, UConnect radio with MP3 player and USB and AUX-in ports. Additional features from the second trim level up include Bluetooth on the UConnect radio, leather steering wheel with controls and cruise control (the latter for some markets only).

Exclusive Mopar branded accessories and services
Maximising functionality to further increase value for customers and make the car unique: this is the goal of the accessory and service range dedicated to the Fiat Tipo made by Mopar, the brand of reference for services, customer care, genuine spare parts and accessories for FCA brands.

More in detail, the accessories which will be available soon for the new Fiat compact sedan are all top-quality products which perfectly match the technical and style features of the new car for full, complete customisation. For example, the cargo organiser and the luggage fastening kit are available to protect and exploit the large boot of the new model and allow safe, tidy transportation.Moreover, for the whole family's leisure needs, the Fiat Tipo catalogue includes roof bars for installing sport equipment transportation systems (such as bicycles, surf boards, skis, snowboards etc.). Also available is a tow hook for trailers, caravans and more which in addition to the wiring fitted on the hook itself is provided with a 13 pin connector to power the electric devices (tail lights, brake lights and direction indicators) of the trailer. Finally, the Mopar accessory range includes a car cover and mats, all specifically designed for the new car.

The Operations & Logistics Manager of Tanink Ghana, Mr Fred Nyame, describes the TIPO as a perfect car for the corporate class and families.

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