Fiat Croma

The Fiat Croma is a car of the middle class of the car manufacturer Fiat. He was the first passenger car diesel engine with direkteinspritzendem.

By the end of 1984, the first generation of the Croma was presented, which was built from mid- 1985 until the summer of 1996. In spring 2005 a completely redesigned Croma public was presented. Its production was discontinued in late 2010.

• 2.1 facelift
• 2.2 engines 2.2.1 gasoline
• 2.2.2 diesel

Croma (Typ 154, 1985-1996 )

Fiat Croma (1985-1991)

History

The end of 1984 presented Croma is the successor of Argenta (or 132). He was part of a joint venture with the then not yet the Fiat Group company Alfa Romeo, Fiat and Lancia subsidiary Saab jointly with car models Alfa Romeo 164 (1987-1997), Lancia (1984-1994 ) and Saab 9000 (1985-1998) developed. The market launch in Germany began in the fall of 1985.

On a visual level existed between the models of Fiat, Lancia and Saab are great similarities, while the Alfa Romeo had in common with these models only the chassis and technology. Because of this, some parts of the four vehicle types were interchangeable. So, for example, fit doors of the Fiat Croma and Lancia Thema also for the Saab 9000, different solutions of the attachment of the door strips, however, were found with respect.

Also you went at Croma and theme in terms of occupant safety other ways as for example in the 9000 Fiat revised in its models -. Before the facelift at Croma and from the second series on the subject - the basic body completely and put the passenger cell made from stable, whereas in the original Saab, jointly designed bodyshell by more bracing and "improvements " (such as side-impact protection bars in the doors ) has been strengthened. Various suspension parts ( camber plates, struts, etc. ) are also interchangeable with the vehicle types, even the windshield of Croma and subject are identical to the Saab 9000th

TD i.d.: The first diesel direct injection engine

Fiat was the first manufacturer from spring 1987 for its car models with the 1.9 TD id Croma had a diesel direct injection engine on offer. Until then, this engine was only offered in commercial vehicles such as the Fiat Ducato, since the smoothness did not match the comfort standard for passenger cars. This is because the ignition delay in engines with direct injection is longer than in chamber engines.

In collaboration with the Fiat subsidiary Magneti Marelli electronic injection control was developed at Fiat Research Center in Naples, which enabled a smoother running engine. Such fuel injection timing and quantity could be optimized to the speed and load conditions of the engine adjusted by appropriate sensors and actuators. The engine used in the Croma had a displacement of 1929 cc and made 68 kW (92 hp). However, this aggregate was initially available only on the Italian market, since you wanted to rule related to the foreign markets with the development potential teething problems.

This was in the episode but as a great marketing error out, as this opportunity was missed to distinguish itself as the inventor of the pioneering technology of direct injection. In Germany, Audi is therefore established as the first manufacturer of this type of motor in the public consciousness. In fact, Audi had about the same time accelerating its development on diesel direct injection engine, but made ​​ready for production only after Fiat. The introduction of legally protected TDI seal this misconception is largely preserved in the public consciousness to this day. Equally, however, it is known that the Fiat group the first common rail diesel engine ever made ​​in 1997 to the market.

Body

The Fiat Croma had a by Giorgio Giugiaro ( Italdesign ) designed five-door notchback body, but with a large tailgate. Giugiaro came with it after the then stylistic requirements for a vehicle of this class, without compromising on the practical advantages of a hatchback. A similar solution has been selected imported Daihatsu Applause in the middle of 1989.

Standard disposal of Croma on the German market via front electric windows, power steering and central locking. Through the use of galvanized sheets the not infrequent in previous models provided perfect corrosion problems could be sustained prevented.

Facelift

In the spring of 1991, the Croma was first revised.

Both externally and in the interior of some was Changed, the car got a new, more favorable flow front ( fenders, hood, bumper, lights and grille ) and a new rear end ( tail lights, bumper and plastic cladding between the lights on the tailgate ). The basic body was not changed optically, the innovations were only bolted parts. The interior has been completely changed, it was a new interior. Also, the display fixtures of modern times have been adjusted. On the German market thus fell off the carburetor and other cat -less vehicles, as well as the 1.6 he. The base model now introduced the 2.0 8V injection engine with 115 hp dar. beneath the outer shell of the Croma got a significantly reinforced body, the passenger compartment has been completely redesigned to enhance the occupant safety.

Mid-1993 was carried out another little facelift, which was externally to recognize primarily the new grille, which now got along without the central transverse brace. In the course of this revision now came the engines 2.0 16V ( with Bosch Motronic ) and 2.5 V6 with the famous Arese six-cylinder engine of Alfa Romeo. The V6 in the Croma was a 12V and almost identical to the V6 engines of the Alfa 155 In addition, the security has been improved by the introduction of a driver airbag.

Drive

The vehicle had front-wheel drive and a manual five -speed manual or an automatic transmission, first with three and after the facelift with four speed levels available.

Motors

During the construction period the following engines were available:

Success and resonance

The Croma was quite chalked up impressive sales figures in the 1980s. However, as of 1990, the sales figures were particularly in Germany decreased significantly after the magazine Auto Motor und Sport had conducted a crash test with a number of European vehicles of the upper middle class. In this the car cut off unexpectedly bad. There is in this respect are reasonable, that part not suitable vehicles were used for these crash tests. In the case of the Fiat Croma is a dubious vehicle have been used from the pre-production, whether from alleged bad faith of the German tester or due to sloppiness at Fiat, who provided the vehicle is available to be seen.

Despite the series clearly reinforced passenger compartment with a revision in the spring of 1991 and the subsequent introduction of a driver airbag in 1993, the reputation of the Croma was ruined, and the poor image was - wrongly - especially in the German market receive.

Regardless of the vehicle had but certainly exhibit advantages in comparison to its competitors. Thus, the Croma was the first passenger car, the possessed from 1988 on a diesel engine with direct injection. The high-performance engines, a 2.0 turbo with 150 hp or a 2.5 -liter V6 with 159 hp, was extremely remarkable for its time. The equipment was with electrically adjustable and foldable door mirrors, air conditioning, a large tailgate and a headlight cleaning system, ABS, fog lamps and an operable from inside Central compared to competitors on a very high level - at that time not self-evident.

Unlike its sister models of Alfa Romeo, Lancia and Saab Fiat was priced as a class also lower the level of equipment, in the middle class, positioned. Its main competitors in the German market were mainly the VW Passat, the Opel Vectra and the Ford Sierra. However, the Croma offered very good space and was offered in comparison to German manufacturers at very competitive prices.

From Croma until August 1996, some 450,000 copies were made ​​. Since Fiat Lancia brand, and the inward end of 1986 Alfa Romeo within the Group, since 1969, already had two brands of vehicles of upper-middle- class, 166 no direct successor after the end of construction in favor of the models Lancia Kappa and Alfa Romeo at market introduced.

Only in June 2005, a new model under that name in cooperation with General Motors, brought based on a common platform with the Opel Vectra C, on the market.

Croma (Typ 194, 2005-2010 )

Fiat Croma (2005-2008)

In March 2005, was unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show a new vehicle from Fiat Croma with the name. It was jointly developed with General Motors (GM) and based like the Opel Vectra C and Signum its offshoots on the Epsilon platform.

The model was originally designed as a Lancia and was developed in cooperation with Saab. Both brands had previously collaborated together in the past. A visible indicator is the ignition switch, the Saab - typical is located on the center console between the seats, because it could not be otherwise arranged for technical reasons. Within the framework of cooperation between General Motors and Fiat petrol engines were taken over by the GM subsidiary Opel, Diesel Engines, however, are Fiat 's own developments.

It was decided to take the vehicle into the portfolio of the Fiat brand and to offer as a second generation of Croma. This was offered in contrast to the full album as a combination.

The Croma II was available in June 2005. However, he could not achieve high sales in Germany, since September 2005, only about 700 vehicles were ordered. Across Europe, about 36,000 copies of the Croma sold until February 2006, with sales this year, particularly strong in Italy increased ( only 2117 units in February 2006).

The Croma was available with engines up to 147 kW (200 hp) and could be ordered with many genuine Yamaha Extra options. Unlike the first Croma, which was assigned according to criteria of the time even the upper middle class, the second model was a full size car.

In the Euro NCAP crash test in October 2005, the Croma reached five stars.

Facelift

In early 2008 received a major overhaul of the Croma, through which the relationship was more pronounced with the Fiat Bravo. In appearance, the vehicle had thus dynamic. The interior has been upgraded with higher quality materials.

The production of the Croma was set end of 2010 without replacement.

Interior

Motors

Gasoline

The petrol engines come from GM. (Adam Opel GmbH)

Diesel

The diesel engines are an in-house development and can be used up on the 2.4 JTD even with GM and Opel and Saab.