Tipo The new FIAT Tipo wins the prestigious "AUTOBEST 2016" award

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Tipo The new FIAT Tipo wins the prestigious "AUTOBEST 2016" award

  • The new FIAT model receives Autobest's most coveted prize. The model was voted by an international jury panel of 26 motoring journalists from 26 different European countries.
  • With a total of 1492 points, FIAT Tipo overtook the other four finalists: the new Opel Astra, the new Hyundai Tucson, the Honda CRV and the Mazda CX-3.
  • Particularly appreciated was the car's value for money, which is a key concept in the strategy of the FIAT functional family.
  • FIAT is the only brand to have won the prestigious title no fewer than three times: in 2003 with Panda, in 2008 with Linea and today with the new FIAT Tipo.

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The international jury panel of Autobest – an independent organisation created in 2001 – voted FIAT Tipo "Autobest 2016". The accomplishment reasserts the model's vocation as a functional car which maximises value for money, this being a crucial concept in the FIAT functional family. The car is packed with what customers genuinely appreciate, with a simple range and a transparent commercial offer.

A jury of 26 motoring journalists representing 26 European countries and covering 91% of the continent's total population awarded 1492points to the car for thirteen different parameters, including design, comfort, running cost-effectiveness, driveability, price, service network, spare parts distribution, versatility and buy-back value. In brief, a car must be the best buy for most European customers in order to win.

This year, the new FIAT Tipo came first ahead of the other four finalists: the new Opel Astra, the new Hyundai Tucson, the Honda CRV and the Mazda CX-3. For the jury, FIAT Tipo is an outstanding product with all the ingredients needed to satisfy an average customer of Europe: design, engines, perceived quality, comfort, versatility and excellent price-to-quality ratio.

With the new Tipo's extraordinary accomplishment, no fewer than three FIAT models have won the coveted accolade, a record among the brands assessed by Autobest: the first was Panda (2003) and the second was Linea (2008). The award ceremony will take place next February in Milan. This will be the first gala after the jury was expanded to include eleven new members representing Austria, Belgium, France, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the UK.

Sales kicked off very successfully this month in Italy – remarkably, over one thousand contracts were sealed during the first dealership weekend event. FIAT Tipo will be launched in other countries by next spring in a total of 40 markets across the EMEA region.

It will be available at launch, in the UK, in hatchback and estate versions. A saloon version has not yet been confirmed for the UK.

“I am very much looking forward to the introduction of this excellent C-segment model next year,” says Sebastiano Fedrigo, head of brand, FIAT UK. “Beautifully styled and built to the highest standards, the car will bring a new dimension to FIAT’s model line-up and will, I am sure, attract a lot of interest from our customer in the UK.”

In detail, the new car 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.

The new car fits a reliable suspension layout for very accurate driving, brilliant road-holding and outstanding passenger comfort: independent wheels McPherson 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 true FIAT style, the new Tipo is packed with plenty of clever solutions that make life better for everyone on-board. Like the remarkably rich standard equipment and the availability of the Uconnect TM system with a 5" colour touchscreen display, 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, rear parking camera and the new TomTom 3D Touch navigation system.

The car's name – Tipo – sported on the badge is a celebrated designation that FIAT has used many times during its over one century of history. One of the models to carry the coveted name was the car of which nearly two million were made from 1988 to 1995 and which was awarded "Car of the Year 1989" also because of its versatile use, large interior space and compact exterior dimensions. The same winning features are found on the new Tipo, a practical, functional model which in perfect FIAT tradition ensures the best equipment-to-price ratio, this being the real value of any industrial product.

The new FIAT Tipo was designed in Italy by Centro Stile FIAT, developed in Turkey together with Tofaş R&D, which is one of FCA's largest research and development centres, and made in the Tofaşplant in Bursa –one of the world's best automotive factories which has received a World Class Manufacturing Gold Medal.
 
Our first new car was a 1990 Fiat Tipo 1.4 DGT. We loved it to bits. The new Tipo looks great, and as usual is lowly priced compared to its competitors. It will not have the same quality feel as the Golf etc, but it will be more than adequate.


Just like many brand the Tipo as less safe (incorrectly) due to the lack of driver safety aids (you know, those computers that do half the things on the driving test for you) id also say calling the Golf etc higher quality is just as much BS. I mean, what do they double dip the chassis to galvanise it? Is the painting process more thorough? Higher quality metal?

Or.. are you confused about the chrome air vent rings and electric motors to move the seats that aren't an option on the Tipo? Not 'quality' if you ask me.

I'd say they're built to the same standard and from the same materials.
 
Vw use more expensive interior plastics with the intention of giving the cars their legendary quality look and feel, which in turn makes potential customers part with more cash to own the cars, and make people think that vw is a premium product. Ultimately, they serve exactly the same function as a cheaper, less touchy feely (though probably more creatively styled) Fiat interior.

I must admit though, I would be interested to see the specs for the Tipo, given how it seems well kitted for such low prices.
 
I am being rude to Fiat and basing it on my Bravo which has dropped from 11K at 18 months old to 2.5K at 3.6 years! Its thee good old motor trade. I am sure the Tipo is a decent car, but it is not getting good reviews and the depreciation is likely to be high. You need to get a great deal fro it to pay and you need to be aware of the losses when you sell it on. I like Fiats, but I wouldn't invest in a Tipo unless I got a great buy, and, intended to keep it for at least 8 years at which point value for money will be coming back to OK. I have decided the Bravo will be worked hard and will take as many miles as I can throw at it for another few years and by then its annual cost will be OK. I will have to find a lot of money to replace it though. I have just bought a brand new Panda from Arnold Clark at a sensational discount. I am intending to keep it 10 years and it should be really cheap motoring on this basis. As its a 4x4 I hope depreciation will be more moderate!! (28% off list + no charge for the metallic blue)
 
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I have a friend who got a less than 1 year old Hyundai i40 business something trim. Jan 2015 plate. Got it in Jan 2016 for £16000. Go onto hyundais site, they cost about £28,000 new... you do the math. One year!!! Holy god.



Never pay the price on the website.

If you're buying new then dealers will knock thousands off to get your business. They might all be fiat dealers but they are all franchises trying to compete so they don't want to lose you to another dealer where you will buy the same thing cheaper.

When I bought my new car in sept 2015 it was over £6000 off and had other options already installed that would have added another few £k to the price.

If buying new the worst thing you can do is start speccing up a new car with all your own custom extras
 
Never pay the price on the website.

If you're buying new then dealers will knock thousands off to get your business. They might all be fiat dealers but they are all franchises trying to compete so they don't want to lose you to another dealer where you will buy the same thing cheaper.

When I bought my new car in sept 2015 it was over £6000 off and had other options already installed that would have added another few £k to the price.

If buying new the worst thing you can do is start speccing up a new car with all your own custom extras



That's quite good advice!

Have you ever used Carwow? I tried it with no intention of buying a new car, got 5 offers back. One was going to sell me a Lounge for 9000 new!!!

Hope it's still around when I get a new car. I'd say if I see a nice one at the dealer 1-2 year old that'd be the sweet spot of new-to-value ratio lol
 
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