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.
 
re: The new FIAT Tipo wins the prestigious "AUTOBEST 2016" award

And it seems to be selling quite well so far in Europe!
 
re: The new FIAT Tipo wins the prestigious "AUTOBEST 2016" award

I like the new Tipo a lot! :cool:

Sadly, I doubt it will ever sell well in the UK as we as new car buyers seem transfixed with hatchbacks, MPVs and SUVs. :(

I used to own a Tempra and have always harboured a soft spot for Fiat saloons. :)
 
re: The new FIAT Tipo wins the prestigious "AUTOBEST 2016" award

I also doubt it will sell well in the UK for the simple reason that it has a Fiat badge on the nose. :(
 
re: The new FIAT Tipo wins the prestigious "AUTOBEST 2016" award

Personally, the design does nothing for me. :( Designed in Italy, they say, but it seems more Chrysler than Fiat to my jaded eyes.
 
re: The new FIAT Tipo wins the prestigious "AUTOBEST 2016" award

They've got the 3 Tipo's (Hatch, Saloon, Estate) on the homepage of fiat.co.uk with the facelifted 500S & new 124 Spider. I think the Tipo estate looks lovely in profile but they're all pretty attractive. It'd be nice if they did offer the saloon in the UK because I think, given the choice, a few people would take the saloon over the hatchback.
 
re: The new FIAT Tipo wins the prestigious "AUTOBEST 2016" award

This car is going to be competing in the Astra/Focus/Golf segment.

It's already hampered by being based on the Punto platform, ultimately it probably won't offer the ride/handling that it should be.

It has to be priced quite lowly to be tempting to a small proportion of people.
 
re: The new FIAT Tipo wins the prestigious "AUTOBEST 2016" award

These days, it's just another car with all the electronic bits that are responsible for 85% of breakdowns.
The Spanish don't like Fiats much, so I'm not sure how well it'll sell down here.
 
re: The new FIAT Tipo wins the prestigious "AUTOBEST 2016" award

Indeed, just another saloon car as said. From what I see, it doesn't excite me at all. I can only agree with all the others that have pointed out the negatives about the new tipo.
 
re: The new FIAT Tipo wins the prestigious "AUTOBEST 2016" award

The Spanish don't like Fiats much, so I'm not sure how well it'll sell down here.

Rather ironic, seeing as SEAT started off making Fiats under license before the cheapened vws they churn out now.
 
re: The new FIAT Tipo wins the prestigious "AUTOBEST 2016" award

Rather ironic, seeing as SEAT started off making Fiats under license before the cheapened vws they churn out now.
Maybe the Spanish liked Fiats back then, but few owned any type of motor vehicle in those days.
I hope you're not referring to my old Seat (VW) Ibiza, LOL.
Mrs SFB prefers it to the Tipo for obvious reasons, but she still drives the Tipo occasionally, probably to keep her biceps in shape.
 
re: The new FIAT Tipo wins the prestigious "AUTOBEST 2016" award

My mate has a 2011 Ibiza, and let's just say that it lacks the plushness of my Grande, lol!
 
re: The new FIAT Tipo wins the prestigious "AUTOBEST 2016" award

My mate has a 2011 Ibiza, and let's just say that it lacks the plushness of my Grande, lol!
Ours is a bog standard 2002 - 1400 cc model and we don't need 'plushness' in a shopping trolley, because that's really all it is.
Just like the Tipo, it'll never go rusty here and we've become accustomed to the engine and EPC warning lights coming on after every 3 start - stop sequences.:D
 
re: The new FIAT Tipo wins the prestigious "AUTOBEST 2016" award

Ours is a bog standard 2002 - 1400 cc model and we don't need 'plushness' in a shopping trolley, because that's really all it is.
Just like the Tipo, it'll never go rusty here and we've become accustomed to the engine and EPC warning lights coming on after every 3 start - stop sequences.:D

Fair enough, lol!
 
re: The new FIAT Tipo wins the prestigious "AUTOBEST 2016" award

I consider it to feel quite plush. Certainly, it has a far more expensive, quality feel than 1 mates ibiza and another mates mk2 focus.


I know you think it's quite plush but you have only driven 4 cars! It was okay at the time it was launched in 2006.

I moved from MK1 Focus Ghia to the GP Elegenza and I can definitely confirm the GP was not plusher then the MK1 Focus
 
re: The new FIAT Tipo wins the prestigious "AUTOBEST 2016" award

I know you think it's quite plush but you have only driven 4 cars! It was okay at the time it was launched in 2006.

I moved from MK1 Focus Ghia to the GP Elegenza and I can definitely confirm the GP was not plusher then the MK1 Focus

I may have only driven 5 cars, but I have been a passenger in a lot of others! My mates 2007 Focus Zetec was more expensive brand new than my Grande Eleganza, yet it has less equipment, and the interior is made of cheaper materials. :confused:

The aforementioned 2011 Ibiza is quite frankly shocking: I think the 2001 Daewoo Matiz SE Plus I owned had a better quality interior than that Seat!
 
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