With the North American International Auto Show in Detroit underway, Fiat has chosen a different venue to unveil the all-new Fastback SUV.
Previewed last month and relatively little publicized, the Fastback will serve as the brand’s flagship crossover/SUV, but only for South American markets, with production taking place at the Betim plant in Minas Gerais state, Brazil.
Using the same MLA platform as the Pulse, which now sits higher in Fiat’s range, the Fastback’s overall dimensions are 4,427mm, with a height of 1,545mm and a width of 1,774mm.
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Riding on a 2,533mm wheelbase, the Fastback only betters the Pulse by 323mm in length, and its boot can hold 516 liters with the rear seats up.
Styled almost identically to the Pulse when viewed from the front, but with a distinct coupé look and lowered roofline similar to the Audi Q3 Sportback, Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupe and BMW X4, hence its nickname, the Fastback also boasts a slightly different interior to match with its location relative to Pulse.
This includes more premium materials, a raised center console, the inclusion of a wireless smartphone charger and an electronic handbrake with Auto Hold.
The rest of the interior is no different from the Pulse, and the specification will offer three configurations; Audace, Impetus and Limited Edition from Abarth, which get more power but no mechanical changes to the chassis.
Up front, the Fastback’s engine options consist of two versions of the Brazilian-developed and turbocharged Firefly, which is used in various Fiat models, as well as the Jeep Renegade, Compass, Alfa Romeo Tonale and its twin, the Dodge Hornet.
However, like the Pulse, the Fastback only gets smaller units, namely a 1.0-litre three-cylinder engine that produces 92kW/200Nm on petrol or 96kW/200Nm on ethanol, and a larger 1.3, which delivers 132kW/270Nm and 136kW/270Nm respectively.
Despite having front-wheel drive and a claimed ground clearance of 192mm, the Fastback comes with two gearboxes; A CVT on the 1.0-liter engine, which will be nicknamed the T200 due to its torque output, and a six-speed automatic transmission on the 1.3, labeled T270.
For now, only the limited edition Abarth will run the T270 mill, while the T200 will be standard fare on the Audace and Impetus.
Now available in Brazil, prices start at R$129,990 (R$441,805) for the Audace, while the Impetus starts at R$139,990 (R$475,793). The limited edition Abarth meanwhile retails from R$149,990 (R509,781).
As mentioned, the Fastback, like the Pulse, Strada, Toro, Argo and Cronos, remains unique to South America and left-hand drive, meaning there’s no chance it will be available in South Africa anytime soon.
More information from motor1.com Brazil.
