Fiat Idea


The Fiat Idea is a five-door, five passenger, front-engine, front-wheel drive, high-roof mini MPV manufactured and marketed by Fiat for model years 2003-2012 — over a single generation with one intermediate facelift.
Internally designated the Type 350, the Idea was FCA's first entry in the compact MPV market, sharing its platform with the second-generation Fiat Punto ; exterior design by Fabrizio Giugiaro at Italdesign and interior design by Fiat's Centro Stilo. The monovolume design is noted for its centrally located instrument cluster, and high H-point, reconfigurable seating — with reclining, sliding and folding rear seating.
The Idea debuted at the 2003 Geneva International Motor Show, followed a year later by an upscale rebadged variant, the Lancia Musa. Both were manufactured at Fiat's Mirafiori plant and were superseded by the Fiat 500L. Production continued through MY 2016 in Brazil, including the Adventure model, a front-drive variant with increased ground clearance, and styling elements resembling an off-road vehicle.
The Idea nameplate is an acronym for Intelligent Design Emotive Architecture.

Design

The Idea was conceived as a compact, mono volume MPV — i.e., to integrate the handling and compact size of a B-segment car under four meters in length with the increased height, flexible seating, cargo configurability and versatility of an MPV.
The Idea's rear seats combine 40:20:40 split/folding and 60-degree-reclining backrests with a 60:40 split, folding and sliding seat base — the rear seats slide forward or rearward to prioritize cargo or passenger space, recline for comfort lounging, as well as fold and tumble for maximum cargo. The front passenger seat folds flat to receive tall items and 25 storage compartments are distributed throughout the cabin. The Idea's seating was designed using biometric principles developed by Antonio Dal Monte at the Italian National Olympic Committee's sport medicine institute.
Standard features included six airbags, Isofix attachments, automatic door locks, fire prevention system, ABS braking with brake force distribution, and anti-slip regulation system to limit wheel slip in cases of reduced grip, traction control, electronic stability control, hill-holder, electric speed-sensitive power steering system, 0-20-40 split rear seating, and a headlight delay system marketed as Follow Me Home.
Optional features included a panoramic sunroof, parking sensors, and dual-zone climate control.

Engines

The Fiat Idea engines are all Euro 4 compliant. The petrol engine is the 1.4-litre 16 valve, available with five- and six-speed gearboxes, and the diesel 1.3-litre 16 valve MultiJet units, with or. All of these engines can be matched with a clutchless 5-speed sequential manual shift with a selectable, fully automatic mode — as an automated manual gearbox marketed as Dualogic.
ModelEngineDisplacementPowerTorque
1.2 Fire 16VI41242 cc at 5,000 rpm at 4,000 rpm
1.4 8VI41368 cc at 6,000 rpm at 3,000 rpm
1.4 FIRE 16VI41368 cc at 5,800 rpm at 4,500 rpm
1.3 16V MultijetI41248 cc at 4,000 rpm at 1,750 rpm
1.3 16V MultijetI41248 cc at 4,000 rpm at 1,750 rpm
1.6 16V MultijetI41598 cc at 4,000 rpm at 1,500 rpm
1.9 8V MultijetI41910 cc at 4,000 rpm at 1,750 rpm

Brazil

The Brazilian version of the Idea was launched in late 2005. The engines available are the new 1.4-litre 8-valve Fire engine and the latest version of the GM-sourced Powertrain 1.8-litre 8-valve engine. Both have flexible fuel technology, which lets the driver use either gasoline or ethanol.
This version has increased height compared to the European version. The dashboard derives from the Fiat Palio Mk. III, and adapted to the Fiat Idea. Options include a panoramic glass roof as an option, marketed as the SkyDome.
The Idea is exported in two different trim levels and it has four airbags, anti-lock braking system with EBD; parking, rain and lights sensor, security laminated glass, the SkyDome, 15" alloys, Bluetooth phone system, and leather seats among other features.
Over 170,000 Ideas have been sold in Brazil since its launch.
In 2010, the Idea received another facelift with a new front, rear, and door handle.

Idea Adventure

The Idea Adventure is a mini crossover version launched in September 2006 in São Paulo, Brazil. Chiefly featuring cosmetic revisions to the Idea, the Adventure has a revised suspension, tires are Pirelli Scorpion 205/70 R15, a body moldings, 15" alloys, interior mods like the white instruments, and standard safety equipment which features double front and side airbags, ABS brakes with EBD. In 2009, the entire Adventure line was equipped with a locking differential. The line was rebadged as Adventure Locker.