The new 5-door Fiat Bravo goes on sale in the UK on 30 June. It marks Fiat’s return to the second largest segment of the UK market, which equates to almost 600,000 cars per annum or some 25% of the total. Within this sector, 5-door hatchbacks – such as the new Fiat Bravo – account for 75% of total sales.

The New Bravo was created in just 18 months from design ‘freeze’ to production. To achieve this record-breaking development time, Fiat employed new, groundbreaking, state-of-the-art Computer Aided Design (CAD) and Computer Aided Engineering (CAE) systems of unprecedented power and complexity, allowing the development of this new hatchback to be undertaken almost entirely through virtual analysis and engineering.

So sophisticated is the computer software involved, that not only could Fiat’s engineers simulate every aspect of the Bravo’s structural, dynamic, NVH and accommodation characteristics to a level of unprecedented detail, but they were also able to create a virtual production-line to ensure consistently outstanding component and build quality.

The benefits of these all-encompassing developments in virtual design and engineering are clearly evident in every aspect of the new Fiat Bravo, from consistently high build quality and class-leading passenger accommodation, to superior driving dynamics, minimal NVH levels and, of course, outstanding safety provision.

New Bravo has been awarded a maximum 5-star rating for adult occupant protection in the gruelling Euro NCAP crash test programme. Achieving 5 stars for adult occupant safety, 3 stars for child protection and a further 2 for pedestrian protection, the new Fiat recorded 33 points, placing it among the leaders of its category in terms of passive, active and preventive safety.

Twelve versions of the new 5-door Bravo, priced from £10,995 to £15,495 on-the-road, will be available from launch, embracing five trim levels – Bravo, Active, Active Sport, Dynamic and Sport. Augmenting an interior design founded on the fundamental pre-requisites of class-leading space, exemplary build quality, and visual and tactile sophistication, the new Fiat’s equipment specification has been carefully considered to simplify and enhance life on board. ABS anti-lock braking, remote central locking, driver and passenger front and side airbags, electric front windows, a CD player, Dualdrive electric power steering and Follow Me Home headlamps are fitted as standard, even within entry level models.

This comprehensive equipment package is further boosted by a range of innovative, safety and comfort enhancing options such as dual-zone climate control, cruise control, rain, parking and tyre pressure sensors, a SkyDome glass sunroof occupying almost the entire Bravo roof area, a CD system – with subwoofer – that can play MP3 files, and Blue & Me mobile phone and MP3 player connectivity with steering wheel controls.

The new Fiat goes on sale in the UK with a choice of five powerplants, one of which is an all-new 1.4 litre T-Jet 150 bhp turbocharged petrol engine, making its debut in the Bravo. This is the first example of a new family of turbocharged petrol units developed by Fiat Powertrain Technologies to combine the sporting performance and low NVH characteristics of a petrol engine with fuel economy comparable to a diesel unit and CO2 emission levels which readily comply with increasingly stringent European regulation.

Through cubic capacity downsizing allied to the adoption of the smallest possible turbocharger, Fiat’s responsive new 150 bhp 1.4 litre T-Jet engine combines performance equal to or better than a conventionally aspirated 1.8/2.0 litre petrol engine, but with a reduction of between 10% and 20% in fuel consumption and emissions. These advantages are especially useful, given the importance of the fleet market, where taxation plays a major role.

The future addition to the range of a 120 bhp version of this outstanding new unit, with performance equal to or better than a conventionally aspirated 1.6 litre petrol engine, together with significant fuel consumption reductions, will increase the new Bravo UK model range to 15 versions later this year.

In addition, Bravo may be equipped with a 90 bhp version of Fiat’s lively 1.4 litre 16-valve Fire petrol engine, as well as 120 bhp 8-valve and 150 bhp 16-valve versions of the company’s widely acclaimed 1.9 litre common-rail direct injection MultiJet turbodiesel.

The 1.9 litre 8-valve 120 bhp MultiJet unit is mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox, while all other engines are mated to 6-speed manual transmissions.

With a 5-star Euro NCAP safety rating to its name, the new Fiat Bravo builds on an already impressive safety portfolio with the full range of braking, traction control and stability systems available on the market today: ABS anti-lock brakes, complete with electronic brakeforce distribution, ASR to limit wheel spin during acceleration, MSR to modulate engine brake torque whilst changing down, and a sophisticated ESP to control vehicle stability through bends. Vehicles fitted with ESP also benefit from hydraulic brake assistance and a Hill Holder function to facilitate smooth hill starts.

Source: Fiat