Three names are available to you.
Fiat discontinued the Punto in 2005. A new hatchback, the Argo, was introduced in South America in 2017. The Cronos subcompact sedan was followed in 2018, and now a crossover is also joining the fray. The Project 363 B-segment model was previously previewed in Brazil.
It’s simply called the SuvFiat for the time being because the Stellantis brand is asking fans to choose the final name at https://suv.fiat.com.br/. There are only three choices: Tuo (Domo) and Pulse. When the new B-segment crossover goes on sale in Brazil in September, the name that gets the most votes will be a badge.
Fiat claims that the crossover rides will be on a platform called “MLA”, rather than the MP1 underpinnings. Although it is not clear how these architectures are related, Fiat claims MLA (no Jaguar Land Rover’s) provides more performance, robustness and comfort. It increases safety and introduces mechanical components that are not available in other products.
The Motor1.com Brazilian colleagues expect the small crossover to have a turbocharged, 1.0-liter three cylinder engine. It is based on the Argo 1.0 Firefly unit. The engine is expected to produce 125 horsepower and just over 200 Newton-meters (147-pound-feet) torque through a six speed automatic transmission. A 1.3-liter naturally-aspirated engine with 109 horsepower and 139 Nm (103lb-ft) will be available for the less-expensive versions. This is sent to the road via a CVT type gearbox.
The styling is inspired by the Argo and Cronos but with more rugged accents that are suitable for the vehicle’s crossover nature. The faux exhaust tips are becoming a common feature in non-performance mainstream cars. However, the exterior design is well executed by Fiat.
The flagship version is shown here with a contrasting roof and two-tone alloy wheels. Full-LED headlights are also included and there’s a chrome bar that runs across the width of the front. It is not known what the interior will look like, so it will be interesting for Fiat to show the differences between the crossover and its sedan and hatchback cousins.
We expect the official premiere to take place within the next few months.