GM Fiat Small platform

Main article: List of GM platforms
GM Fiat Small platform
Overview
Manufacturer Fiat Group
General Motors
Production 2005–present
Body and chassis
Class Subcompact car
Layout Front-engine, front-wheel drive / four-wheel drive
Chronology
Predecessor Fiat B-platform

The Small Platform[1] or SCCS platform (Small Common Components and Systems platform), was jointly developed by Opel and Fiat for subcompact, front wheel drive and four wheel drive cars. It was first used on the Fiat Grande Punto, which was unveiled in 2005. Vehicles based on this platform are assembled in Italy, Germany, Spain, Serbia, Turkey and Russia.

Specification

Developed from 2002 in Turin, Italy, by Ulrich Schmalohr the engineer head of Opel (subsidiary of General Motors) and Giorgio Cornacchia head-project of Fiat Auto[2] the Small platform was designed to be adaptable for Fiat Group and General Motors cars, and is rumored to be used in future Chrysler vehicles as well. All components are totally new, and were made to be adaptable to more types of vehicles (including hatchback, sedan and MPV). The frame makes heavy use of high-strength steel. The front suspension uses MacPherson struts, while at the rear it has a semi-independent strut with torsion beam (except on the Fiat Doblò, which has bi-link rear suspension).

The platform offers compact transverse engine at the front with front-wheel drive, but it also supports four-wheel drive (4WD). It was designed to be suitable for a wide range of applications, from basic ones to sportier vehicles like the Alfa Romeo MiTo,[3] Abarth Grande Punto/Punto Evo and Opel's OPC versions. The 4WD version of the platform underpins the Jeep Renegade [4] and the Fiat 500X,[5] both assembled at Fiat's Mirafiori plant.

The Small platform has a wheelbase of 2,511 mm (98.9 in) in the standard version, which is used on the Fiat Punto (199), Opel Corsa D, Alfa Romeo MiTo and the LAV vehicles built by Tofaş: Fiat Fiorino and Qubo, Citroën Nemo and Peugeot Bipper.

Long wheelbase version

The long wheelbase version is adopted by the Fiat Linea sedan models, Opel Meriva B, Fiat Doblò (with related twin Opel Combo D) and the recent Fiat 500L.[6][7] Thanks to the interchangeable modules the basic platform is suitable for vehicles of differing lengths up to 4.74 metres (15.6 ft) (Fiat Doblò Maxi[8]).

The first vehicle built on the LWB platform was the Fiat Linea, with a wheelbase of 2,603 mm (102.5 in), and later the Opel Meriva B with a wheelbase of 2,644 mm (104.1 in). At the end of 2009 Fiat re-engineered the LWB platform with a new bi-link independent rear suspension for the new Doblò[9] (second generation, and related Opel Combo D). The LWB platform of the Doblò has a wheelbase of 2,760 mm (108.7 in) for the standard version and 3,110 mm (122.4 in) for the Maxi (extra long) version.

A wide range of engines have been combined to this platform, including the two-cylinder 0.9 L TwinAir, the three-cylinder petrol 1.0 L GM TwinPort, the four-cylinder petrol 1.2 L and 1.4 L Fire produced by Fiat including the recent 1.4 L Multiair, 1.2 and 1.4 L GM TwinPort, 1.6 L GM TwinPort. Diesel engines include 1.3 L, 1.6 L and 1.9 L Multijet units and the 1.7 L CDTi Isuzu Circle L engine.

Vehicles based on Small platform

References

  1. ↑ "The new product plan Fiat and the three italian platform". Borsaitaliana.it.reuters.com. 2009-02-09. Retrieved 2010-12-02.
  2. ↑ "Fiat-General Motors insieme nelle utilitarie". Archiviostorico.corriere.it. 2009-12-24. Retrieved 2012-05-22.
  3. ↑ "Alfa Romeo MiTo based on the same platform of Grande Punto". Omniauto.it. 2003-12-15. Retrieved 2012-02-28.
  4. ↑ "First Italy-built Jeep has GM platform roots". sae.org. 2014. Retrieved 2016-03-11.
  5. ↑ "2016 Fiat 500X: The Jeep Renegade's Brother By the Same Mother". caranddriver.com. 2014. Retrieved 2016-03-11.
  6. ↑ Lienert, Paul (2012-02-02). "First Fiat 500L Photos Released". edmunds.com. Retrieved 2013-06-07.
  7. ↑ Zach Bowman RSS feed. "Fiat 500L, MPV version of 500". Autoblog.com. Retrieved 2012-02-28.
  8. ↑ "Fiat Doblò Cargo Maxi". Parkers.co.uk. 2011-11-03. Retrieved 2012-02-28.
  9. ↑ "Fiat Doblç specification" (PDF). Retrieved 2012-02-28.
  10. ↑ "Opel Adam First Drive". edmunds.com. Retrieved 2013-04-09.
  11. ↑ Eisenstein, Paul (4 March 2014). "Small is Big as Jeep Unveils New Renegade". The Detroit Bureau. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
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