Fiat Coupé: the Type 175 two-door of the 1990s

The Fiat Coupé, Type 175, also known officially as the Coupé Fiat, was a two-door, four-seat coupé manufactured by Fiat between 1993 and 2000. It was introduced at the Bologna Motor Show in December 1993, with exterior design by Chris Bangle at the Centro Stile Fiat and an interior by Pininfarina.

Fiat Coupé at a glance

History of the Fiat Coupé

How the design was chosen

The Coupé made headlines in motoring magazines during 1992, when spy photographs showed the car testing. Fiat had decided to build a new coupé on the old Tipo platform at a time when the Pininfarina factory was suddenly idle after the Cadillac Allanté project failed around 1990. Two designs were put forward, one by Fiat’s in-house Centro Stile team and one by Pininfarina, and the Centro Stile proposal by Chris Bangle unexpectedly won the management over. Pininfarina’s design was later accepted by Peugeot, which adopted it as the 406 Coupé in October 1996.

Engines and chassis

At the launch in January 1994 the Coupé came with a 2.0-litre 16-valve four, in turbocharged form with 190 PS and normally aspirated with 139 PS. Both were later versions of Fiat’s twin-cam design inherited from the Lancia Delta Integrale. In 1996 Fiat added a 1.8-litre 16-valve engine of 131 PS, not sold in the United Kingdom, a 2.0-litre five-cylinder 20-valve of 147 PS and a 2.0-litre 20-valve turbo of 220 PS, along with a revised grille, steering wheel, leather door panels, a new centre console and an analogue clock in place of the digital one. The turbocharged four- and five-cylinder versions used a Viscodrive limited-slip differential to counter the understeer of a powerful front-wheel-drive car. Suspension was independent all round: MacPherson struts and lower wishbones on an auxiliary crossbeam at the front, trailing arms on a subframe at the rear. Right-hand-drive production for the United Kingdom and other markets began in early 1995.

Limited Edition and later changes

The 1998 Limited Edition was identified by a body kit, titanium grey wheels, fuel cap, rear lamp cups and mirror casings, and red Brembo front calipers. Inside it had push-button starting, Recaro seats with red leather inserts, Sparco pedals and a titanium grey dashboard; mechanically it added a six-speed gearbox for the first time, a strut brace and red engine covers. It was built in black, red, Vinci Grey, Crono Grey and Steel Grey, each with a badge carrying its individual number by the rear-view mirror. Fiat had suggested about 300 would be made, but the final number was much higher, with figures up to 1400 mentioned. In 1998 the 20-valve engine gained a variable inlet system raising output to 154 PS, and a Turbo Plus version was offered with a package close to the Limited Edition. Early in 2000 a final 1.8-litre edition with different leather seats, a white speedometer and 16-inch BBS wheels was sold in mainland Europe. The 20-valve turbo reached 100 km/h in 6.5 seconds, or 6.3 in Turbo Plus form, and 240 km/h, or 250 km/h with the later six-speed gearbox. Production ended in December 2000 after 72,762 cars, with no direct successor planned.

Design and features

• Centro Stile design: Chris Bangle’s exterior won over Pininfarina’s competing proposal.
• Turbo engines: 190 PS for the 16-valve four and 220 PS for the 20-valve five.
• Viscodrive differential: a limited-slip unit on the turbocharged versions.
• Independent suspension: MacPherson struts in front, trailing arms behind.
• Limited Edition: six-speed gearbox, Recaro seats and a numbered badge.

Fiat Coupé versions

• 2.0 16V: 139 PS normally aspirated.
• 2.0 16V Turbo: 190 PS.
• 1.8 16V (1996): 131 PS, not sold in the United Kingdom.
• 2.0 20V: 147 PS, later 154 PS with a variable inlet system.
• 2.0 20V Turbo: 220 PS and 240 km/h.
• Limited Edition and Turbo Plus: six-speed gearbox, body kit and Recaro trim.

The Coupé used the platform of the Fiat Tipo and was sold alongside the Fiat Barchetta roadster. More cars are in the Fiat collection.

Sources

• Fiat Coupé, English Wikipedia: design history, engines, Limited Edition, performance and production figures