| The model year 2004 Stilo has received a mid-life
facelift with the 5-door saloon receiving most of the treatment with a
redesigned tailgate and revised rear light cluster arrangement giving
the rear end a more sophisticated and harmonious appearance while accentuating
its sense of solidity. A circular logo is now set in the centre of the
tailgate (3 and 5 door versions).
The 2004 model year Fiat Stilo has received a mild mid-life facelift |
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The new model offers a broad and diverse range of power units. This includes
three petrol engines and four common-rail turbodiesels - one being a Multijet
- with different attributes. The new Fiat Stilo range introduces the latest
addition to the Fire family: the 1.4 16v unit that develops a maximum
power output of 95 bhp (70 kW) at 5,800 rpm and a torque of 128 Nm at
4,500 rpm. Fiat Stilo 3 door versions equipped with this engine can reach
a top speed of 180 km/h (178 km/h for 5 doors and 176 km/h for the Multi
Wagon), accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 12 seconds and cover a kilometre
from a standing start in 33.8 seconds).
The fuel consumption figures are amongst the best in the segment: 8.2
l/100 km over an urban cycle, 5.5 l/100 km for an extra urban cycle and
6.5 l/100 km over mixed routes. On the Multi Wagon version, the values
are 8.7 l/100 km - 5.8 l/100 km - 6.8 l/100 km, while for the 5 door version
they are 8.5 l/100 km - 5.7 l/100 km - 6.7 l/100 km.
One of the briefs given to the designers allocated to the Fiat
Stilo project was to create a suspension capable of higher-category performance
levels. The system had to ensure great driving ease and precision, outstanding
roadholding and the best possible passenger comfort.
The sliding roof of the 3-door Stilo extends quite far back |
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Hence the choice of two efficient tried and tested layouts that work very
effectively due to the attributes of the new chassis. The front features
an independent MacPherson strut configuration refined through the adoption
of numerous improvements. The rear configuration is an interconnected
wheel (semi-independent) suspension with a torsion beam, a solution already
adopted on higher category cars. A folded sheet steel torsion beam that
ensures ideal torsional rigidity for the suspension together with an anti-roll
bar that is very light due to a hollow cross-section, help in the car's
handling. It also has good driving stability because hydraulic bushes
attach the axle to the body and create a toe-in effect on bends.
On the passive safety front, the Fiat Stilo offers 8 airbags,
the front two being Multistage. As far as active safety is concerned,
the car boasts four disc brakes and offers all the braking and traction
control devices available on the market today. ABS with integral electronic
brakeforce distributor EBD; ASR, to limit wheel slip during acceleration
and MSR to modulate brake torque while shifting down; EVA and HBA devices
to help the driver brake fully in emergencies; a sophisticated ESP device
that controls car dynamic stability electronically on bends. The options
list also includes Xenon headlights that offer significantly better visibility
than conventional beams under all weather conditions.
Cutaway of the Fiat Stilo |
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The second new arrival to the engine range is the powerful 140 bhp 1.9
Multijet, the forerunner of the second generation of common-rail power
units (16 valve JTD engines with Multijet technology) that the Fiat Group
introduced to the world for the first time in 2002. The turbodiesel develops
a power output of 140 bhp (103 kW) at 4,000 rpm and a generous torque
of 305 Nm at 2000 rpm. The Fiat Stilo 1.9 Multijet 140 bhp (3 door) has
a top speed of 203 km/h (200 km/h for the 5 door and Multi Wagon), accelerates
from 0 to 100 km/h in 9.7 seconds and covers a kilometre from a standing
start in 30.9 seconds.
Despite these searing performance figures, the fuel consumption is low:
the saloon returns 7.6 l/100 km over an urban cycle, 4.2 l/100 km over
an extraurban cycle, 5.4 l/100 km for a mixed cycle, while the figures
for the 5 door and Multi Wagon versions are 7.8 l/100 km - 4.4 l/100 km
- 5.6 l/100 km respectively.
These two new power units are complemented by six more engines that were
already available on the current range: The 103 bhp (76 kW) 1.6 16v delivers
its maximum power output at 5,750 rpm and the maximum torque of 145 Nm
at 4,000 rpm. The 1.8 16v develops a maximum power output of 133 bhp (98
kW) at 6,400 rpm and a maximum torque of 162 Nm at 3,500 rpm. 2.4 20v,
with Selespeed or manual gearbox, that packs a punch of 170 bhp (125 kW)
at 6,000 rpm and a maximum torque of 221 Nm at just 3,500 rpm. The 1.9
JTD delivers 80 bhp (59 kW) at 4,000 rpm and a torque of 196 Nm at 1,500
rpm. The 115 bhp (85 kW) 1.9 JTD differs from the 80 bhp version by having
an intercooler and variable geometry turbine. It offers a maximum torque
of 255 Nm at 2000 rpm.
The revised Stilo offers a brand new approach to interior outfitting
and utilisation of space allocated to passengers and luggage. It packs
all the practicality and flexibility of an MPV into a normal 5-door saloon
or estate which is possible due to seats that split (1/3 - 2/3) and fold
down or, on 5-door and Multi Wagon versions, can slide and are reclinable.
The seats can adapt to the features of any passenger and all load situations:
the passenger seat can even be folded down to form a table. This makes
the luggage compartment hugely versatile because it can offer a different
load capacity and even a different shape as and when required.
The revised Stilo offers a brand new approach to interior outfitting and utilisation of space |
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Customers can choose between three vehicles with different styles
- 3 or 5-door saloon and Multi Wagon and eight engines - 95 bhp 1.4 16v;
103 bhp 1.6 16v; 133 bhp 1.8 16v; 170 bhp 2.4 20v; 80 bhp 1.9 JTD; 115
bhp 1.9 JTD and 140 bhp 1.9 Multijet. There are five gearboxes - four
manual and one Selespeed, four specifications - Actual, Active, Dynamic
and Abarth and 13 body colours - 7 are totally new for each of which interior
trim is available in different colours and fabrics.
The Fiat Stilo has sold more than 350,000 units throughout Europe within
the car's lifetime of two years - The 5-door version, launched in September
2001, has sold 175,000 while the 3-door has sold 125,000. These results
were complemented by sales of 50,000 units for the Multi Wagon version
that made its debut in November 2002.
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