New Ritmo models appeal to budget buyers
Ateco has introduced a new base model Fiat Ritmo that opens up ownership to a new sector of cost-conscious buyers -- but at what expense?The local distributor of Fiat products, Ateco Automotive, has shifted the Fiat Ritmo downmarket with a new entry-level grade. Named Fiat Ritmo Dynamic, the new variants are priced at $24,990 for the petrol model and $29,990 for the diesel.
Buyers can choose either a naturally-aspirated 1.4-litre engine developing 66kW of power or a 1.9-litre turbodiesel developing 88kW to drive the Ritmo Dynamic. The different engines contribute to the lower landed cost of the car, relative to the higher-performance Ritmo Sport and Ritmo Emotion models. This lower landed cost has been passed on, in part, to consumers.
Figures from the manufacturer for the 1.4-litre 'FIRE' petrol engine amount to 66kW of power, 128Nm of torque and 6.7L/100km for combined-cycle fuel consumption. In performance terms though, that's a fair way short of the 110kW and 206Nm for the 1.4-litre turbocharged T-Jet engine in the higher-grade Ritmo variants.
It's a similar story with the 1.9-litre turbodiesel engine in the Ritmo Dynamic, which is 22kW down on the turbodiesel engine in the upmarket Ritmo models. With just two valves per cylinder, versus the four of the 110kW diesel, and developing 255Nm of torque, the Ritmo Dynamic's diesel is bound to be frugal rather than frenetic -- but it does allow Ateco to field a diesel Ritmo below the all-important $30,000 mark.
"The two new engines set new standards for performance and, as would be expected of the company that invented the common rail direct injection diesel engine, economy, with the new Ritmo JTD offering a remarkable economy, using just 4.3 litres per 100 km of fuel on the open road," says Andrei Zaitzev, General Manager for Fiat in Australia.
Of some importance, the Ritmo Dynamic is equipped with ABS, but the front brake disc rotors are smaller in diameter for the petrol model than any other Ritmo variant. The petrol-engined Ritmo Dynamic is, however, at least 90kg lighter than the other models in the range.
Standard equipment for the Ritmo Dynamic makes do without rear electric windows and the HVAC system includes air conditioning but not the fully automated dual-zone climate control of the Ritmo Sport. As for the wheels, the Ritmo Dynamic forgoes the alloy wheels fitted to Ritmo Sport and Emotion, bearing up under 7Jx16 steel wheels, fitted with 205/55 R16 tyres.
A lot of the niceties have dropped out of the base model's specification, including an illuminated vanity mirror for the front passenger, manual lumbar adjustment for the driver, a rear-seat centre armrest, the coolbox in the front-seat armrest and remote audio system controls on the steering wheel.
Outwardly, the entry-level Ritmo does without fog lights, chrome or body-coloured exterior door handles and a chrome exhaust tip.
The new variants leave buyers to make the decision, is it possible to live without the added kit if the car provides the majority of features that people want -- for the right price.
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