Fiat's new-age Golf rival exposed

Its cover was supposed to remain intact until next month’s Paris motor show, but Fiat’s all-new Stilo replacement (read: Bravo) has been caught with its pants down via these leaked images.

Take a good, long look at the car, because it’s an almost certain starter for the Oz market. The Bravo should land here sometime next year, with pricing expected to start around $25K.

Fiat passenger cars recently returned to local shores after a 17-year hiatus with the launch of the Punto. The brand plans to supplement its range with additional models over the next three years.

The Bravo will be one of the key additions to the Fiat line-up as it strives to achieve 5000 annual Australian sales by 2009.

As appealing visually as the smaller Punto, the stylish Bravo will be pitched into the compact hatchback category against the likes of the Volkswagen Golf, Peugeot 307, Mazda 3 and Corolla.

Euro sources suggest the Bravo will debut a new series of turbocharged petrol and diesel engines, including a 1.4-litre petrol turbo unit with around 120kW.

Codenamed Project 198, the Bravo will be produced in partnership with Austrian contractor, Magna Steyr. This is a first for the Italian carmaker, as Fiat has never previously hired a non-Italian contractor to develop a new model.

Fiat Australia boss David Stone was upbeat about the brand’s prospects at the recent Punto launch, suggesting it would eclipse (in terms of local sales) Italian counterpart Alfa Romeo within two years.

Mr Stone said the rapid growth of the small-car segment and increasing take-up rate of diesel vehicles would work in Fiat’s favour as it strives to achieve its bold sales targets.

He emphasised that a wave of fresh product would be a key element in the Italian marque’s push to establish itself against well-entrenched opposition.

“The Stilo replacement (ie Bravo) will definitely happen -- that will be a car that is slightly larger than the Punto,” he said. “And the 500/Cinquecento will be an iconic car, and that will add to the sales figures too.”