Fiat Croma (194) 2005-2011

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The new Fiat Croma

In brief

Fiat presents the new Croma, an evolution of the Station Wagon concept, which will be on the market in the Summer. Designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro and built in the Cassino plant, south of Rome, the new Fiat revives the name of the former model which was a benchmark among medium-high range saloons from 1985 to 1994, and of which over 450,000 were built. Like the earlier model, the new Croma stands out for the "substance" of the concepts it embodies:

* generous interior roominess for outstanding comfort;
* technological innovation in the field of diesel engines;
* superior quality for a mass produced model.

The new Croma was designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro, and it introduces an original "stylistic" formula with innovative architecture and intelligent features. As the designer explained: "In the last 20 years, technological progress and market expectations have evolved rapidly. We just have to think of safety and the work involved in inserting airbags in the most effective points, the services offered by electronics in terms of individual comfort, active and passive safety, and of information. I would say that, compared to the 3-box model of 1985, the new Croma has basically taken onboard the lessons learned with people-movers - tall cars on which the space can be interpreted freely according to circumstances - while it maintains the image of a very comfortable saloon": in other words a Comfort Wagon.
This premise has created a highly original car that leads its class in certain areas. For example, where access is concerned, thanks to the flat floor and raised H-points at the front and rear. But the car fears no comparison in terms of roominess, as we can see from the generous space above the passengers' heads, the distance between the rows of seats (the best in its category) and the raised driving position that guarantees better control over the road and better external visibility. In addition to the fact that the glazed area on the new model is one of the best in its segment (3.254 m2) and guarantees excellent acoustic and vibration comfort, thanks to careful analysis of the passenger compartment and special suspension setting. And finally, certain outfits propose an innovative modular system for the luggage compartment which adapts perfectly to a wide range of individual needs.
Together these features make it the roomiest car in its segment: the new Croma comes with one bodywork version, 475 centimetres long, 177 cm wide and 160 cm high, and a wheelbase of 270 cm, measurements that translate into an extraordinary amount of interior roominess. The new model is in line with the best competition where length and width are concerned, but about 10 centimetres higher, and it is the best in its segment in terms of interior dimensions.
Original outside, spacious and silent inside. The new Croma is a car born to cater for people with different needs, tastes and lifestyles, but who all share the desire for a comfortable car. And for those looking for unbeatable performance, the Croma offers the powerful 200 bhp 2.4 Multijet engine (combined with the 6-speed sequential automatic transmission), which leads its class with a specific power output of 83 bhp/litre.
It is where the engines are concerned that the new Croma reveals the second aspect of its "substance": in addition to the two sparkling petrol engines (the 2.2 16v that delivers 147 bhp, and the 1.8 16v delivering 140 bhp which will be available after the launch), the model proposes three Multijet turbodiesel engines (the 120 or 150 bhp 1.9, and the new 2.4 litre unit that delivers 200 bhp), yet another demonstration of Fiat Auto's technological superiority in this field. The Fiat Group has set numerous records in the field of diesel cars, starting with the Croma TDI which was the world's first direct injection diesel car back in 1986.
The new Croma is offered with 5 different gearboxes to exploit the performance of its engines in full; all the engines meet EU Stage 4 emissions standards, and the diesel units are fitted with particulate filters. All the petrol engines are combined with 5-speed transmissions, with the option of the sequential automatic transmission on the 2.2 16v, and all the diesel engines have 6-speed gearboxes (the sequential automatic unit is offered as an alternative on the 150 bhp 1.9 Multijet, and as the standard unit on the powerful 200 bhp 2.4 Multijet 20v).
The third aspect of "substance" is quality. The quality standards on the Fiat Croma are extremely high, and were set at the very early stages of the project. During the various stages of experimentation, prototypes covered over 3 million kilometres, to test the car in all road and climatic conditions. The manufacturing processes at the Cassino plant were tested earlier than usual in the development of the project, and process verification was carried out right on the plant's assembly lines. Quality controls, which were already high, were raised even higher by the introduction of a 100 km test drive for 100% of the pre-production cars.
In other words, everything is in place to ensure that the success of the previous model is repeated. The new Croma plays the same trump card that has proved a winner in the past: listening to customers and creating the product on the basis of their wishes. In other words, the new Croma responds to the first and most important demand made by every customer when it comes to buying a new car, by offering "value for money" first of all, expressed in an extensive range with numerous outfits that allow a wide choice of customisation and advantages that increase progressively with the higher specification levels. For example, if he chooses the second outfit, the Dynamic, the customer benefits from an advantage equal to 40% of the value of the additional features present on this version.
Every outfit has been designed with the right level of equipment, with materials chosen specifically to create an ideal, comfortable ambience modelled to the customer's requirements; one example will suffice: the vast glazed surface of the double opening sunroof that is standard equipment on some versions. Each outfit is upholstered with a different fabric, in two shades (dark grey or beige), and there is also the option of leather, this too in a choice of two shades.
To guarantee the best price-content ratio, the combination of outfits that the new Croma customer can choose from are all excellent value for money and above all, they all reflect a concept of the car which Fiat has played a significant part in launching and developing: the generously sized but functionally elegant saloon. The new Croma sets off these winning features with numerous sophisticated devices and systems that make it a new benchmark for its segment. They include: ESP, Xenon headlights, large "aspherical" rear-view mirrors, and as many as nine airbags (in the field of safety); the advanced satellite navigation system (CONNECT Nav Plus) and the Hi-fi system with eight speakers and sub-woofer (in the field of entertainment and info-mobility), Cruise Control and a sequential automatic transmission (for stress-free driving), 4 special 16" and 18" alloy wheel designs which impart an individual stylistic personality to the car.

2005 Fiat (Nuova) Croma #1

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Styling and originality

The car is proposed with one type of body, and it transmits a sense of solidity, sturdiness and roominess. This impression is confirmed by the measurements: it is 475 cm long, 177 cm wide and 160 cm high, with a wheelbase of 270 cm, and the result is an extraordinary amount of roominess on board. Very briefly, the new Croma is in line with the competition where length and width are concerned, and about 10 centimetres higher, while it is well above the average for this segment in terms of interior dimensions.

A distinctive design by Giorgetto Giugiaro

Disregarding existing types of cars, the Fiat Croma proposes the new formula of the "Comfort Wagon": it is not a people-mover because it has the imposing, penetrating front of a luxury saloon (Cd of 0.28); it is not an SUV or an MPV because it is not as tall, and has significant overhangs so as not to compromise the elegant balance of the volumes; and finally, it is not a conventional station wagon because it is not the result of the extension of a 3-box body and it does not terminate with a vertical tail.
The new model represents an innovative type of extremely comfortable saloon, a new formula that is born from the position of the second row of seats, which are at an optimal height with respect to the ground, allowing passengers comfortable access; they do not have to climb up or down, but simply move over horizontally, helped by the fact that the sill is lower, almost level with the floor at that point, providing plenty of foot room between the seat and the door pillar. What is more, the greatest coefficient of roominess was given to the driver and the front passenger, who have plenty of room in all directions, with micrometric adjustment of the seat/steering wheel ratio and perfect visibility, all but eliminating any blind spots.
Comfort is therefore the most striking element of the new model, as Giorgetto Giugiaro explained: "When we studied the car in the early days of the project, we started with the coefficients for the passengers and I drew on the experience gained with the Maserati Buran research prototype, which I had conceived in 2000 as a compact, luxury limousine with a sliding second door. In fact I used the same roominess and access coefficients. I remember presenting the Buran to Giovanni Agnelli on the Lingotto test track, and he was very much in favour of the philosophy of offering as much space as possible for passengers to move about. Nor would I underestimate the aesthetic impact of the mew model: it is elegant and prestigious, a vehicle that confirms quality features that will certainly be appreciated on the market."
The large overhangs - the car is 261 mm longer than the previous model, having increased from 4495 to 4756 mm - has resulted in a drastic tapering of the front volume, and a penetrating aerodynamic profile. This is why the light clusters are positioned at an angle, while it is the large grille that gives the car its important, elegant status, accentuated by the way the grille trim is incorporated optically into the frame of the air intake under the bumper. A deep "V" that climbs from the grille to the windscreen pillars creates a central depression that animates and strengthens the bonnet. And the design of the bumpers breaks with tradition because it is not horizontal where they meet the sheet metal, but has a sinuous line that merges into the light clusters and grille. The foglights are located in the lower part, between the three air intakes.
From the side, the styling took into account the possible blind spot at the rear, and added a large quarterlight which makes the passenger compartment more panoramic, particularly on the version with the transparent sunroof. The attention that went into the aerodynamics almost meant that the bulges that protect the wheelarches are not semicircular, but dissolve into the headlights and the bonnet at the front, and into the lights and the boot lid at the rear. The sides have a slight break in the upper part, aligned with the door handles and there is a recess at the bottom, above the sill which protrudes to protect the doors. Like the front, the rear end is also of a generous size to accommodate the panoramic rear window and a wrapround boot lid that is easily opened with a handle; the luggage compartment itself is decidedly capacious. To give balance to the whole, the rear light clusters extend horizontally, partly on the boot and partly on the body; the break between the bumpers and the boot lid continues on the side. And finally, the registration plate is positioned in the bumper which is shaped to protect the corners of the car.

Created "for" and "around" man

The new Croma boasts an unbeatable amount of space inside and class-topping roominess. The lines that run inside the passenger compartment are harmonious, well balanced with those on the outside, and, together with the generous glazed area of 3.5 m2, they create a welcoming, luminous cabin, which provides plenty of room and a higher level of comfort than you would expect from a conventional Station Wagon in terms of ergonomics and space for the driver and passengers. The term "comfort" applied to a car indicates a light, luminous environment which guarantees both excellent domination of the road for those in the front seats, and a perfect view for rear seat passengers. Total immersion in nature, which the new model guarantees unreservedly, in fact, amplifies this effect thanks to the large double sunroof. With this sunroof, the glazed area reaches an amazing 5 m2, or 75% of the entire surface area above the waistline. That is not all, the concept of "comfort" also means being seated with plenty of space all around in a comfortable, quiet environment.
So the Fiat Croma was created "for" and "around" man, welcoming and practical, a car in which to experience relaxing moments and comfortable journeys, enjoying a concrete, diffused sense of wellbeing on board. In order to achieve this goal, from the early stages of the development of the new model, the engineers adopted the latest ergonomic criteria to define the parameters that measure a car's ability to provide wellbeing and comfort on board. The end result is the excellent values achieved by the Fiat Croma for the basic ergonomic functions: roominess, driving posture, access, visibility and reconfigurable space. These have always been winning qualities and they are even more important today, when we spend more time in our cars. There is a growing trend towards higher (and thus roomier) segments, and the average height of the population is increasing. This is why the new Croma offers a comfortable environment to people of all shapes and sizes. On the front seats, for example, the driver can raise or lower his seat and adjust the height and rake of the steering wheel to obtain an excellent roominess coefficient and an ideal driving position (catering for drivers from 1.50 metres to about 2 metres tall). And even if the driver is very tall, there is still plenty of room for an equally large passenger to sit comfortably behind him. The width at shoulder height on the front seats is 1,425 mm, and 1,400 mm at the rear (both values are the best in this category). The coefficient of roominess is one of the best in the segment at 97.6 percentile, a value that refers to both the front and the rear seats.
In line with the exterior styling, the new Croma proposes classical and extremely comfortable elements with updated dimensions that increase the luminosity, and allow airbags to be mounted. The materials used to upholster the facia and door panels comes in a choice of treatments, from shiny to opaque, depending on the specification. The front and rear door panels with their large armrests, controls and services are identical, which underlines the attention paid to passengers on the second row. The rear part of the passenger compartment offers outstanding comfort where both leg-room and squab position are concerned. There are numerous closed storage compartments and the front seat folds down into a table to carry large loads or to act as a work surface (standard on the top-of-the-range version).
Comfort is also assured by the numerous interior customisation alternatives: both seats are height-adjustable; the position of the steering wheel, (which adjusts for height and reach) and of the pedals, positioned centrally in front of the driver's seat; the gearshift on the facia where it is easier for any driver to manoeuvre; the instruments are practical, accurate and easy to read; the multifunction display provides access to various menus (with submenus) that speak the motorist's language and offer a host of functions plus a trip computer; a climate control system with dual-zone control of temperature and distribution makes a significant contribution to on-board well-being. Lastly, a radio with CD player (and an MP3 player as an option) offers an excellent sound system tailored to the vehicle and complete with six speakers.
And finally, the Fiat Croma has a capacious luggage compartment, which expands when the seats are folded down. It is already one of the largest in its category (500 litres), but when still more space is needed, the rear seat folds down completely to provide an extraordinary loading capacity of 1,610 litres up to the roof. There is also an optional modular shelf, level with the bottom of the rear panel, which covers the well of the luggage compartment to create a flat loading area. The storage space beneath, which is 16 cm high and protected from prying eyes, can be used for various items (laptop, briefcase, etc.). And when the entire storage capacity is required, the shelf can be positioned on the bottom of the well, to exploit the loading capacity in full.

2005 Fiat (Nuova) Croma #2

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Technology and Innovation

Diesel engines: the history of a Fiat success

Beneath very individual styling, the new Croma hides a comprehensive range of excellent engines, which embody advanced technologies and generous performance. The three Multijet turbodiesel engines deserve a separate mention and they are joined by two powerful, smooth petrol engines, all of which respect the strict Euro 4 emissions standards.
Taking the petrol engines first: the 1.8 16v (available after the launch) delivers a maximum of 103 kW (140 bhp) and peak torque of 175 Nm (17.8 kgm) at 3,800 rpm. The 2.2 delivers 108 kW (147 bhp) at 5,800 rpm and peak torque of 203 Nm (20.7 kgm) at 4,000 rpm. The top speed is 210 km/h and it accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 10.1 seconds (when the engine is combined with the sequential automatic transmission the values are 205 km/h and 10.7 seconds respectively). Excellent performance in other words, but consumption is low: 11.5 l/100 km in the urban cycle, 7 l/100 km in the out-of-town cycle and 8.6 l/100 km in the mixed cycle (with the automatic transmission the values are 13, 7.8, and 9.7 l/100 km). Both engines are available with 5-speed gearboxes (the sequential automatic transmission is also available with the 2.2 16v).
Now we can consider the three Multijet turbodiesel engines (a 1.9 delivering 120 or 150 bhp, and the new 200 bhp 2.4), all combined with 6-speed transmissions (including the automatic unit available on the 150 bhp 1.9), jewels of modern engineering which confirm Fiat Auto's leadership in this field. When it developed the Multijet system, the Fiat Group set an important new record in the field of diesel engines, made possible by the huge amount of expertise accumulated since 1986, when the Croma TDI was launched, the world's first direct injection diesel-engined car. For those years it was a brilliant result, the first important step forward towards more efficient combustion in the field of diesel engines for cars. Thanks to this technology, which other manufacturers soon adopted, diesel-engined cars were able to guarantee both better performance and lower consumption. One problem remained: the excessive noise made by the engine at low speeds and in "speed transients".
This is where the history of the Unijet starts, or rather the search for a more evolved direct injection system, which could drastically reduce the problem of noisy combustion. After a few years, this research produced the Unijet, but it also brought other advantages in terms of performance and consumption. There were only two possible ways of solving the problem: passive acceptance, isolating the engine to prevent the sound waves from spreading, or working actively to eliminate the problem at source, developing an injection system that could reduce combustion noise. Having chosen the second strategy, the Fiat engineers immediately concentrated their research on the "Common Rail" principle, excluding other high pressure injection systems after careful analysis. The other systems did not allow the pressure to be managed independently of the rpm and the engine load, nor did it envisage pre-injection, the two strengths of the Unijet.
The theory that the engineers started to analyse was both simple and ingenious, the fruit of work done by researchers at Zurich University, which had never been applied on a car. By continuing to push diesel fuel into a tank, pressure builds up inside the tank, which thus becomes a hydraulic accumulator, or "rail", in other words a reserve of pressurised fuel, ready for use. Pre-industrialisation of the Unijet, the system developed by Magneti Marelli, Centro Ricerche Fiat and Elasis on the basis of the Common Rail principle, began three years later, in 1990. This stage was concluded in 1994, when Fiat Auto decided to choose a partner with great experience in the field of injection systems for diesel engines. The project was therefore sold to Robert Bosch for the final part of the work, i.e. completion of the development process and industrialisation.
In October 1997, eleven years after the Croma TDI, another record-setting car went on the market: the Alfa 156 JTD equipped with a revolutionary turbodiesel engine that gave hitherto unimaginable results. The cars equipped with this engine were incredibly quiet, with a sparkling response on a par with that of a petrol engine and performance levels that were 12% higher than those of a similar pre-combustion engine, as well as 15% lower consumption. The success of the Alfa 156 with the JTD engine was immediate, and very soon not only was it being used on other Fiat Auto models, but numerous other car-makers were adopting similar engines. Now it is the turn of the second generation of JTD engines, the Multijet multivalve units.

The Multijet system, secret of second generation JTD engines

The underlying principles of second generation turbodiesel engines remain the same, i.e. the Common Rail, high injection pressure and electronic injector control. But one extra feature has been added: during each engine cycle, the number of injections increases over and above the current number of two. In this way, the same amount of diesel is burnt inside the cylinder but in several portions to achieve smoother combustion. The advantages include lower running noise, reduced emissions and a 6-7% increase in performance. All this comes with a level of engine efficiency that improves car handling still further.
These results are not to be underestimated, particularly if it is remembered that they are obtained with an engine that represents an incredible leap forward from prechamber diesels and even improves on first generation JTD engines.
The secret of the Multijet engine lies in the control unit that governs the electric injector opening and closure system (and also in the injectors themselves). The crucial element is the electronic control unit itself that can perform a set of injections that may be very closely spaced. Fiat Auto's researchers developed the part (together with the injectors) especially for this application. It is designed to deliver the multiple injections that assure more accurate control of pressures and temperatures developed inside the combustion chamber and also more efficient use of air taken into the cylinders. This enables further goals to be achieved: quieter combustion, reduced emissions and increased performance.
The Multijet system is underpinned by long years of research. Our engineers began by resolving the problem of the limits imposed by the control units. Then they went on to map the benefits they could achieve by plotting different multiple injection sequences (two secondary injections very close to the main injection; one secondary injection not too close to the main injection plus two closely-spaced secondary injections; one secondary injection and then two main injections close together after a certain period etc.) against different engine service conditions: in the idling region; with low loads and low rpm; with high rpm and moderate load; with low rpm and high load etc..
The study revealed the potential of the system and showed that great benefits are achievable in all cases, though these tend to focus on one field or another according to the type of sequence chosen and the engine service area targeted. In some cases, for example, the priority is to reduce start-up times and fume levels, in other cases it is to increase torque and reduce noise while in others it is to reduce emissions and ensure a quieter drive. And now this research strand has led to the creation of the Multijet engines, including the brand new 200 bhp 2.4 JTD Multijet 20v which debuts on the new Croma.

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The 200 bhp 2.4 Multijet 20v

Derived from the familiar 2.4 JTD 10 valve "Common Rail" engine, the new 20-valve unit has 5 cylinders in line, with a bore of 82 mm and stroke of 90.4 mm. It is the most powerful engine in the JTD multivalve family with Multijet technology, with a specific power of 83 bhp/litre.
The new engine offers numerous advantages. First of all, during the heating stage, it is from 3 to 6 decibels quieter, depending on the rev speed and ambient temperature. It is also extremely powerful (147 kW - 200 bhp at 4000 rpm) with a generous torque (400 Nm - 40.8 kgm at 2000 rpm).
There are four valves per cylinder, activated via hydraulic tappets and rocker arms directly by the twin overhead camshaft. Several changes were made to the new turbodiesel engine to boost performance and engine torque at low speeds, and to eliminate noise and vibration. For example, the "Common Rail" system adopted on the 2.4 JTD Multijet 20v envisages two new automatic control strategies for the setting and balance of the injected diesel fuel, which reduces noise and vibration.
The engine includes a number of new components: the cylinder head with hydraulic tappets at the con rods and a steel propeller shaft, and the piston with a hollow core to carry the cooling oil to the journal and con rod bearings which are made of a new material. The exhaust and intake manifolds are also new: the former is of a special high yield material, while the latter is made of pressure die cast aluminium.
The electronic EGR exhaust gas cooling system has also been modified; the lubricating circuit has a new oil pump and an external air/oil heat exchanger to cool the oil, and the water pump on the cooling circuit is new. In other words, a long list of improvements and changes that have produced a reliable, powerful engine that is sparing on fuel. Excellent results, achieved thanks to different engine control settings, an increase in the direct injection pressure from 1350 to 1400 bar, and new turboblower settings.
The turboboost is provided by a KKK 2080 turboblower with a variable geometry turbo that helps to improve power delivery, but also generates very high torque at low engine speeds. In fact, 90% of peak torque is available between 1750 and 3500 rpm. These figures translate into extremely enjoyable driving and brilliant performance: the new Croma has a top speed of 216 km/h and accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 8.5 seconds. And fuel consumption remains low: 8 l/100 km in the mixed cycle, 11.5 in town, and 6 out-of-town. In addition to which the new 200 bhp 2.4 JTD Multijet 20v adopts a new 6-speed sequential automatic transmission, a compact light device that incorporates the control unit in the gearbox, which was designed paying particular attention to consumption. On one hand, the use of low friction oil has boosted efficiency, while on the other, the sixth speed has been calculated particularly for use on the motorway.
Finally, the 2.4 JTD Multijet 20v (like the other two Multijet engines in the range) respects Euro 4 legislation and offers a particulate trap (DPF), a "for life" system that eliminates fine dust and does not need additives to regenerate it.

The 150 bhp and 120 bhp 1.9 Multijet

Both have 4 cylinders in line, a bore of 82 mm and stroke of 90.4 mm; the first delivers 150 bhp (110 kW) at 4,000 rpm and peak torque of 320 Nm (32.6 kgm) at 2,000 rpm; the second delivers 120 bhp (88 kW) at 4,000 rpm and peak torque of 280 Nm (28.6 kgm) at 2,000 rpm. Changes were made to both engines to boost performance, engine torque at low speeds and to reduce noise and vibration. For example, the Common Rail system includes two new strategies for automatically calibrating and balancing the diesel injected to lower noise and reduce vibration. And both engines are equipped with variable geometry Garrett VGT 17 turbines. With the 150 bhp 1.9 Multijet engine, the Fiat Croma has a top speed of 210 km/h, and accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 9.6 seconds (the values for the 120 bhp 1.9 Multijet are 195 km/h and 11.3 seconds respectively). In spite of this brilliant performance, fuel consumption is limited: 8.2 l/100 km in the urban cycle, 4.9 l/100 km out-of-town and 6.1 l/100 km on the mixed cycle (7.9, 5 and 6.1 are the values for the 120 bhp 1.9 Multijet).

A pleasure to drive and travel in

The Fiat Croma surrounds the driver and passengers with technologies that ensure outstanding acoustic and climatic comfort. The result is a muted, enveloping environment, free from vibration thanks to the careful soundproofing of the car and the outstanding torsional and flexural rigidity of the bodyshell. The Fiat Croma also offers an automatic "dual-zone" climate system, a suspension system that makes the new model even easier to handle and "isolate" it from the road, electro-hydraulic power steering that simplifies every manoeuvre, a powerful braking system that is effective in all situations, tyres designed specifically for superb comfort and maximum safety, comfortable, functional seats, a huge panoramic opening sunroof, a modular luggage compartment and numerous storage compartments. In other words, the new model is unbeatable where comfort is concerned.

NVH comfort

The Fiat Croma has achieved a high standard of comfort which translates into quiet, vibration-free driving. The quietness of a car is expressed by the conversability index and this is an excellent 65% at 140 km/h on the new model. This result was made possible both by the usual package of sound-deadening elements and the introduction of no less than 18 expandable partitions (they are positioned inside the boxed elements where they prevent noise from propagating and isolate the passenger compartment from the outside world), and by an innovative windscreen. The 2 sheets of glass are separated by a film of PVB plastic, adopting multiply technology to enhance acoustic comfort. The different properties of the multiply material result in optimal damping of the sound waves: the noise inside the passenger compartment is attenuated, particularly in the 200 kHz frequency band (the wave frequency in which the most annoying noises occur on the road). Vibration is limited by a particularly rigid bodyshell structure. Flexural rigidity is excellent at 960 daN/mm, while torsional rigidity is 100,600 daNm/rad (outstanding on a car with a tailgate). Particular attention was also paid to the rigid attachment of all the mechanical organs: for example, this made it possible to obtain a vertical vibration frequency for the steering wheel above 38 Hz. This was enhanced by the large sections of the main boxed elements and the presence of a "torsion box" that connects the 2 wheelarches behind the rear seats.
The suspension on the Fiat Croma was designed to achieve the highest possible levels of comfort and handling, with MacPherson struts at the front and 4-link Multilink suspension at the rear, and comfort is excellent on all types of surface. Handling is precise and immediate, on a par with the best competition in this segment. The level of comfort is equally high on the front and rear seats, in all conditions. The front suspension system is supported by a frame which is anchored elastically to the chassis, to separate the incoming stress from the frequencies of the housing, and to improve the perceptible acoustic response in the car when the front wheels negotiate an obstacle. The rear suspension is supported by a subframe that is anchored rigidly to the structure to optimise the precision of the response of the rear end, guaranteeing immediacy and stability.
Comfort on the road is guaranteed by the outstanding flexibility and generous suspension excursion. The rear springs are of the variable flexibility type to maintain the frequency of the housing as constant as possible, and to adapt to the many possible load configurations. The damper system was designed to optimise driving comfort on surfaces with repeated rough patches, and a basically symmetrical setting was chosen. In order to limit rolling on the Fiat Croma, and to make the car more agile in spite of its size, the understeer of the centering was limited and neutralised, by adjusting the stabilising ratio of the front and rear bars.

Front suspension

The front suspension adopts a MacPherson layout and it is mounted on a hydroformed steel frame. The system is independent and the dampers act as both damping and bearing elements, working together with a transverse link to guide the hub during oscillation. The advantages of the MacPherson system are its small size and the possibility of adjusting the changes to the suspension trim under load. It also made it possible to achieve the best possible compromise between handling and comfort right at the design stage.

Rear suspension

The Fiat Croma incorporates a Multilink suspension system into the rear axle with four links (three transverse and one longitudinal) connected to a supporting frame to guarantee excellent dynamic comfort. Multilink suspension technology is the best available today and solves the problems related to longitudinal and transverse forces independently. For example, lateral forces are absorbed by the three transverse links. The length, layout and rigidity of the wheel supports were specially designed to maintain the wheels in an optimal position under load, thus influencing the behaviour of the car when cornering.
And thanks to its longitudinal and transverse links, the Multilink system allows extremely precise vertical movements of the wheels, while at the same time limiting longitudinal and transverse displacement; this makes for excellent roadholding. And finally, light alloys were used extensively to improve the suspension behaviour, in particular for the front and rear pillars, and the aluminium front transverse link.

2005 Fiat (Nuova) Croma #4

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Electro-hydraulic power steering (EHPS)

The power steering system on the Fiat Croma is of the electro-hydraulic type, and its intervention varies with the speed of the car and the steering lock. The power steering is programmed to decrease its effect as the speed increases. This means that the driver can turn the wheel very easily when parking, but maintain a safe contact with the road at high speed. In practice, the system varies the hydraulic power assist (number of pump revolutions) according to the steering rotation speed and the vehicle speed, providing more assistance for parking and very low hydraulic assistance at high speed. And because the system is only triggered during steering manoeuvres, it is also advantageous in terms of fuel consumption over a conventional hydraulic system that is always driven by the engine.

Passenger compartment

Every outfit is available with two interior environments, one is Dark Grey and known as London, the other is light and called Ghibli. The colour combinations regard the fabric on the seats and the door panels, the lower part of the facia and the panels, as well as the carpeting in the interior and in the luggage compartment.
The large facia has a generous console at the centre which groups together the main controls: for the infotainment, the climate system and the gearshift. The facia also contains a large closed 11-litre glove compartment.
There is a generous unit between the 2 front seats with numerous storage compartments, that incorporates the 3-litre "cold-box", which can be cooled with air from the climate system. Other compartments have been created in the front and rear door panels, bringing the total volume of storage space to about 24 litres. And finally, on the top-of-the-range version, there is a large armrest on the rear seats, which includes 2 extractable glass holders, the rear door panels are fitted with privacy curtains and all the windows in the rear of the car have tinted glass.

Climate system

There is a choice between a conventional manual climate system, and an automatic system with dual-zone control of the temperature and the air flow: this means that the driver and front passenger can choose not only individual temperature settings but also which air vents the air will issue from. This climate system includes an automatic/manual recirculation function, radiation sensors with an "equivalent temperature" control strategy and a combined air and dust filter. The air is conveyed into the passenger compartment through 4 adjustable vents on the facia and a central diffuser which distributes the air efficiently inside the car without bothersome direct jets of air. There are 2 more swivelling vents on the console for rear passengers. And the air for the front and rear footwells travels through special ducts. The total net area of the vents and ducts is an amazing 4.6 sq dcm approximately.

Seats

The front and rear seats on the Croma were designed to guarantee the highest level of comfort for every passenger percentile. This was made possible by working closely with the best Italian specialists in ergonomics and sports medicine. And on all versions of the Fiat Croma, the driver's and front passenger's seats have 4 adjustments as standard: longitudinal, squab rake, lumbar and vertical. The most lavishly equipped outfit offers two more adjustments: one tilts the whole seat, while the second folds the squab of the front passenger seat down into a horizontal position to produce a flat surface 2.7 metres long from the luggage compartment to the facia.

Luggage compartment

The capacity of the new Croma's luggage compartment can be expanded from 500 litres in the closed boot itself, to 1610 litres up to the ceiling with the rear seats folded down.
The luggage compartment also has an extremely regular shape: a great deal of attention was focused on it at the design stage to optimise the space in the boot without penalising the suspension geometry, allowing the motorist to exploit the interior space better and making it more versatile. The contents of the luggage compartment are also protected from prying eyes by a curtain that slides level with the bottom of the windows.
The rear seats fold down separately (40-60%)
The loading floor of the car can be set at two different levels, making the luggage compartment even more practical. In the higher position the boot is divided into 2 areas, the lower being 16 cm high for more fragile, smaller items, while the upper area, level with the bumper, serves for larger items. With a simple manoeuvre, the shelf can be repositioned on the bottom of the luggage compartment to produce a single loading area.

Panoramic sunroof

The Fiat Croma is made all the more enjoyable by the optional large opening sunroof (approximately 1.5 m2); this sunroof covers up almost the entire area of the roof and comprises two glass panels: a fixed rear panel and an electrically opening front panel. Inside there are two sunshades that slide independently towards the rear of the car.
The panoramic sunroof gives occupants a completely new relationship with the surrounding environment, enjoying the luminosity and the sense of freedom that this large glazed surface provides. When the driver wants more light inside, the system lets him keep the sunroof closed but the blind underneath open. If, on the other hand, he likes the feeling of driving "in the open", the front glazed panel and sunblind can be opened completely in just seven seconds, to produce a real "window onto the sky".

Braking system

In line with the high active safety targets, the new Croma is equipped with highly effective, extremely modular braking systems.
First of all, the braking system incorporates the most sophisticated electronic and mechanical aids - ABS, EBD, ESP, HBA (with ESP) and a Hill-holder (with ESP) - and it is of the power-assisted hydraulic type, with 2 independent cross-over circuits (each circuit controls one front wheel and the diagonally opposite rear wheel) to guarantee braking and stability even if one circuit should fail.
The entire range is equipped with discs all round, ventilated at the front (and at the rear on the Multijet 1.9 16v and 2.4 20v versions). Because of the different weights and power deliveries of the various engines, the braking systems also vary.
1.9 Multijet 8v and 2.2 MPI 16v engines:

* Ventilated disc, diameter 285 x 25 mm;
* Teves brake callipers with piston diameter of 57 mm;
* TRW rear brake calliper diameter of 41 mm;
* non-ventilated disc 278 x 12 mm.

1.9 Multijet 16v and 2.4 Multijet 20v engines:

* Ventilated disc diameter 305 x 25 mm;
* TRW brake callipers with piston diameter of 60 mm;
* TRW rear brake callipers with piston diameter of 41 mm;
* ventilated brake discs 292 x 20 mm.

These features guarantee a braking distance of between 36.2 and 36.9 metres, depending on the versions (from a speed of 100 km/h), an excellent result.

2005 Fiat (Nuova) Croma #5

[dracu777]

Tyres

All the tyres for the Fiat Croma have been designed to optimise performance in all situations, paying particular attention to comfort but also to the ability to maintain the trajectory on corners and the capacity to absorb obstacles.
The tyres adopted are: 205/55 R16 (with sheet metal wheels) - 215/55 R16 (with alloy wheels) - 215/50 R17 (with alloy wheels) - 225/45 R18 (with alloy wheels).

Class-beating safety

The outstanding level of safety on the Croma is guaranteed by structural measures designed to ensure that the passenger compartment cell will not deform in a crash, by a standard outfit of 7 airbags and by active safety devices that include ABS and ESP.

Passive safety

In this context, the Fiat Auto engineers have analysed all possible types of accident (head-on and side-on impact, overturning, nose-to-tail and fire), taking into account the different speeds at which a crash may occur, the different types of obstacle and the protection of occupants with very different physical characteristics. Some facts and figures that underline the enormous commitment that the company put into making the new Croma one of the safest cars in its segment: 18,000 hours of calculation, 120 crash tests, 100 crash simulations on a HyGe sled, 200 tests on components and subsystems, 10 new types of performance specifications and test procedures, 8 co-design suppliers with specific structures for passive safety (2 of whom were involved exclusively in the design and development of the safety devices).
The tests performed developed a crumple-zone cell to protect passengers in a head-on impact: the front structure is made up of 3 longitudinal load lines comprising front struts of high yield material, a mechanical frame in the lower part and 2 further small beams level with the wing that deform to block the stress from the upper part of the vehicle.
The magnesium crossbeam positioned between the two front pillars under the facia, guarantees a strong link between the pillars and with the floor, which it is connected by two steel reinforcements. This architecture contributes significantly to preventing deformation in the whole front part of the passenger compartment during both head-on and lateral impact. It also acts as a support structure for the steering column, and minimises the tendency of the steering wheel to retract and rear up in all types of frontal impact.
Structural changes were introduced to the following to protect occupants in a side impact:

* the central pillar, made of sheet metal with a very high structural resistance and filled with structural foam in the area of greatest flexion. This means that the pillar transfers most of the impact force to the sill and the roof frame;
* the floor, adding 2 seat crossbeams that unload some of the impact force on the opposite side of the car;
* the roof, inserting a transverse strut near the 2 central pillars;
* the doors, inserting a boxed crossbeam in the waist area and longitudinal bars made of material with a very high structural resistance. For rear impact, particularly at low speed, the presence of a "crash box" crossbeam that is screwed in place guarantees limited damage and easy repairs. What is more, to ensure that the fuel supply system is not damaged, the structure was successfully subjected to the test envisaged by the strict Japanese legislation. The structural efficiency of the bodyshell was obtained in part thanks to the use of special steel for over 40% of the weight.

Where restraint systems are concerned, the Croma offers:

* 2 dual stage front airbags (standard); when impact is of medium intensity, the electronic control unit only activates the first stage of the airbags, preventing the influx of energy that is not necessary to protect the occupant. But with very strong impact, the control unit activates both stages to absorb the occupant's high kinetic energy before he or she hits the steering wheel or the facia;
* front seat-belts with pre-tensioners and load limiters;
* decentralised supplementary sensors in the engine bay to detect head-on impact. These deceleration sensors (ECS - Early Crash Sensor) are positioned on the ends of the headlight crossbeam, near the light clusters, and they help the main electronic control unit to speed up airbag activation compared to a conventional system, particularly in the event of offset impact;
* driver's side knee airbag (standard): the area under the steering column has always been the most dangerous for the knees, but it is rendered innocuous both by the use of the knee-bag and by an electric steering lock, which has allowed the ignition key to be moved from its usual position on the side of the steering column to a characteristic position on the central tunnel console. Polypropylene foam energy absorbers have also been adopted to protect the steering column and the adjacent fusebox;
* a "passive" anti-whiplash device on the front head restraints, made up of a "rocker arm" mechanism, that acts between the upper part of the squab and the head restraint itself. In the event of a rear impact this exploits the thrust of the occupant's back on the seat squab to move the head restraint forward, this further reducing the horizontal distance between the head restraint and the passenger's neck compared to the static condition defined by the styling;
* front seat-belt sensors (Seat-belt reminder);
* manual switch to disengage the passenger airbag;
* front side airbags (standard); they are of the chest type and together with the door panels they protect critical parts of the body such as the ribs and abdomen. Installing them in the seats is a guarantee of greater efficiency at all times;
* curtain-bags (standard): they are activated together with the sidebags, and they inflate between the occupant and the side of the car, preventing the head from coming into contact with highly intrusive objects. Because they inflate from the front pillar towards the luggage compartment, curtain-bags protect both front and rear passengers;
* rear side airbags (optional): the sidebags are of the chest type and together with the door panels they protect critical parts of the body such as the ribs and abdomen. Installing them on the sides of the seat squabs always guarantees maximum protection at all times.

Active safety
The new Fiat Croma is fitted with the most sophisticated electronic and mechanical active safety systems:

* ABS: anti-wheel lock system.
* EBD: electronic brake effort distribution.
* ESP: active control of the longitudinal and transverse dynamics of the vehicle.

On versions powered by the 147, 150 and 200 bhp engines, ESP is standard equipment and includes the following supplementary systems:

* ASR: limits drive wheel slip when accelerating, to prevent power oversteer or understeer and improve acceleration when surface grip is poor.
* MSR: prevents engine lock when decelerating, opens and closes the throttle valve, gradually adapting the braking effort of the engine to the situation at a given moment.
* HBA: electronic hydraulic braking assistant, which automatically increases the pressure of the braking circuit during panic braking.
* Hill-holder: an automatic device to release the brakes after a hill stop.

The sophisticated ESP device (Electronic Stability Program) intervenes when conditions are close to the limit, when the car's stability is at risk, to help the driver to control the car. ESP constantly monitors tyre grip on the road, both longitudinally and laterally, and if it detects a tendency to skid, the system intervenes to recover direction and stability. Sensors measure the rotation of the car around its vertical axis (yaw speed), the lateral acceleration and the steering lock set by the driver (which indicates his chosen direction). It compares these data with the parameters processed by computer and uses a complex mathematical model to establish whether the car is taking a corner within the grip limits, or if it is about to skid at the front or the rear (understeer or oversteer). To recover the correct trajectory, the system generates a yaw contrary to the one that is causing the instability, braking the relevant wheel (inside or outside) individually and reducing the engine power (by adjusting the throttle valve). This is the peculiar feature of the device developed for the Fiat Croma. The brake adjustments are modulated so that they are as smooth as possible (and will not disturb the driver) and the reduction in engine power is also limited, to guarantee excellent performance at all times and superbly enjoyable driving. The ESP system is always engaged.
The Hill Holder is an integral part of the ESP device, assisting the driver on hill starts. It intervenes when the ESP control unit detects a change in the inclination of the car through the longitudinal acceleration sensor on the floor under the passenger seat. During a hill start, the control unit prepares to cut in when first gear is engaged and the clutch and brake pedals are depressed. The pressure on the front callipers is maintained for about 1.5 seconds after the brake pedal is released, allowing the driver to set off more easily. On downhill starts with first gear engaged, the Hill Holder is not activated. The same is true for hill starts in which reverse is engaged: downhill the system is activated, whereas uphill it is not activated.

2005 Fiat (Nuova) Croma #6

[dracu777]

Quality and substance

The Fiat Croma is a car that embodies substance and quality. It is the fruit of a "robust" project for which the company drew on its best resources and most sophisticated methodologies. The result is a reliable, quality car, which boasts exclusive equipment in the field of safety and comfort, backed up by a long list of dedicated services. All these features make the new Croma a car that is outstanding value for money, thanks to the combination of contents, running cost and trade-in value.
First of all, "quality" is what the customer perceives immediately from the harmony that the car transmits, at first glance and first touch. This perception is confirmed by the excellent performance, obtained thanks to state-of-the-art engines and superb overall comfort: from the handling to the acoustics, the loading space and the interior finish, the colours and the embossing. To satisfy the demand for quality, the team that worked on the Croma project adopted a very strict engineering process based on a solid platform that had a very clear goal: to create a new class of car that would pool the advantages of different types of car: the roominess of a people-mover, the loading space of a station wagon, and the styling and dynamism of a saloon. In this sense, the term "quality" applied to the new Fiat model reflects a working philosophy, a practical choice that has produced a car that is 100% dependable, immediately and uncompromisingly.
The Fiat Croma is an innovative car, born under the sign of quality. And it sets very high quality standards, which were pursued from the first stages of the project. That is not all. The quality is also expressed in the choice of materials, and the attention to detail, as well as in the overall results and the way the many skills involved in the Croma project were combined. We cannot overlook the fact that during the various experimental stages, the prototypes travelled over 3 million kilometres to test the car in all types of road and climate conditions. The manufacturing process at the Cassino plant was tested in advance of the normal development procedure, and the process verification was performed directly on the plant's assembly lines, And finally, the high quality controls were raised even higher by the introduction of a 100 km test drive for 100% of the pre-production cars.
In other words, the new Croma is another step forward for Fiat in its striving after quality, a value that we find in the Cassino plant which is one of the leading players in the entire process.

The Cassino plant

The plant in Cassino (Frosinone), where the Fiat Croma is built, is a centre of excellence in the worldwide automotive industry. In 1972 Fiat chose the city, which lies south of Rome and is famous for its historical Benedictine monastery, as the site for an advanced manufacturing plant. From the start, the Cassino plant played an important role: it was here that the Robogate system was introduced for the first time, before it became the mainstay of the automation of car plants all over the world. It was here that Fiat decided to invest in technology and quality for the Fiat Croma, developing an innovative manufacturing model specifically for the new car, based on a balanced mix of advanced automation and human intervention to control the quality which supports the technology on the Fiat Croma. Today, Cassino represents the state of the art among car manufacturing plants the world over. There is no other plant in Europe of a similar technological or organisational level in terms of manufacturing processes and techniques.
The plant is located in central Italy, and it is also located centrally with relation to the other Fiat Auto manufacturing plants in the country; it stands in an area of 2,033,072 square metres. The plant includes panelling, painting and assembly shops, while much of the site is occupied by Fiat Auto suppliers, which are thus perfectly integrated in the manufacturing process and ready to intervene directly in the various stages. The Cassino plant currently has a workforce of about 3500 Fiat Auto employees, whose average age is 45. The working day is divided into two shifts, 5 days a week. Since it was inaugurated in 1972, the Cassino plant has built numerous important Fiat models (in 2004 it celebrated 6 million cars manufactured since it opened), and today it builds the Fiat Croma and Fiat Stilo. It has a manufacturing capacity of more than 250,000 cars a year, at a daily rate of about 1000 cars, almost one a minute.
The Cassino plant has evolved constantly, from a conventional manufacturing layout to the Robogate and the highly automated plant, right up to the new manufacturing model, known as the "integrated modular plant", which is the most advanced system in the automotive industry.
When the Fiat Stilo went into production, the manufacturing process at the Cassino plant was completely reorganised, with an investment of almost Euro 400 million and over one thousand days of training for the plant's workforce. This transformation was based on the interaction of different factors:

* complete re-engineering of the manufacturing process;
* reorganisation of the line to respect the highest ergonomic standards;
* a new organisation of activities on the line;
* introduction of the digital UTE (Elementary technology unit), created by extensive computerisation of the entire manufacturing process.

These four big changes played a decisive role in improving the capacity of the manufacturing process, which translates into greater manufacturing precision and better product quality.

The re-engineering of the manufacturing process and innovation for quality

The re-engineering of the manufacturing process optimised work on the assembly line in terms of quality and efficiency. It regarded the panelling and assembly areas in particular, although the whole process was re-engineered: every single step was made more efficient. A great deal of space is reserved for quality controls: during the entire process, each Fiat Croma is subjected to over 200 checks, most of which are electronic.
1) Panelling. This is an essential area for the quality of any car, and one where a high degree of automation is decisive to guarantee the quality of the product. The level of the technology is evident from the figures: 437 spot welding robots, 18 continuous seam welding robots, 916 welding guns, a total of 280 actions. Manufacture of the Fiat Croma caused numerous innovations to be introduced in this area: 43 Comau NH4 robots; 45 Comau H4 robots; 12 Comau M1, S2 and X1-500 robots: 14 CO2 welding stations; 25 Tucker pin welding stations; 107 suspended manual welders; 5 fixed welding machines. In all there are 12 specific automatic assembly lines, 2 specific semiautomatic lines and 12 manual islands.
In 2004, about 100 new NH4, H4, M1, S2 and X1-500 welding and handling robots were added to those already in use. They are equipped with electric motors and electric welding guns which guarantee a hotter, cleaner, and therefore better quality spot weld. Each Fiat Croma receives 4,208 spot welds (2,858 of which automatically), 32 indirect spot welds, and 173 Tucker pins are applied, 3,215 mm welded by strong CO2 MIG welding and 700 mm by braze welding. The panelling shop also includes two opto-electronic second generation laser control stations for the chassis and the bodyshell. They are both of the "single tool" type and work on-line, on both the Croma and the Stilo. This dual control guarantees the perfect geometry of the car skeleton; the check performed on the chassis before the bodyshell check is important because it must guarantee the quality of a part that will influence the engineering, and it is essential to guarantee precision in the shapes and proportions because the excellent agility, driveability and roadholding depend on them.
To this we must add the innovation of the "single tool" system. This is a Fiat Auto exclusive, and it verifies the geometry of the chassis and bodyshell separately from the support on which they travel, so that any geometrical errors in the support will not affect the laser measurement. It is a solution that represents a real element of excellence in the manufacturing system of the new model, because it has practically eliminated any possibility of incorrect measurements during the laser control.
The "Open gate" system that replaces the earlier Robogate system guarantees even more precise subassembly and assembly of the sides, as well as more precise welding, because of the ease with which the mechanical arms of the robot can move inside the bodyshell. The "Open gate" systems were designed specifically for the Fiat Croma and Fiat Stilo. And finally, at Cassino, spot welds sealing is verified by ultrasonic sensors. The sensors test the spot welds and certify or reject the quality of the weld on the basis of the spectrum of response.
2) Assembly. Significant innovations have also been introduced during the assembly of the Fiat Croma in Cassino. First of all, the bodyshell conveyor system was re-engineered, introducing the auto-motor technology into the assembly process to eliminate annoying background noise and to obtain optimal comfort in the workplace. Control units with a new generation electro-pneumatic lift system have also been introduced, to improve the coupling of the mechanical parts to the bodyshell during the assembly of the bodywork.
And finally, the preparation and spreading of the glue on the windows of the new model is carried out by a latest generation robotised system. And to avoid mistakes when picking components, the glass is chosen by computer and a multifunction display. Bodyshell bonding is entrusted to the sensitive hands of the workers who ensure that the glass is in the correct position whatever the condition of the process.

2005 Fiat (Nuova) Croma #7

[shine_clot]

A bit short...

[dracu777]

A bit short...

And your contribution is....a bit pointless.

[Duell]

The Nuova Croma, the Station Wagon interpreted by Fiat

06/11/2007

The model in brief
The Nuova Croma makes its debut, the Station Wagon as Fiat sees it, a car full of innovation and substance, with new styling and a more rational range. It can boast both second generation Multijet engines and a lavish array of comfort, safety and infotainment equipment.
The Nuova Croma is a benchmark for its segment, with an amazingly roomy interior, and an excellent level of ‘well-being on board’ however long your journey is, thanks to equipment worthy of a flagship that is now the standard outfit, and above all for the original ‘styling’ formula inherited from the previous model – the ‘Comfort Wagon’ concept – that makes it, once more, the roomiest car in its segment.
With its even more dynamic look, the Nuova Croma immediately communicates a new approach to the car. It was designed to meet the needs of European society, where there is a growing trend among ‘new families’ (young families with children) to pay more attention to substance, and to demand safety and reliability from the family car: all at an accessible price. Which is why the new model is ideal for people who need space, practicality and low running costs during the week for professional reasons, and demand a good-looking, comfortable, safe station wagon for their free time, to that they can travel with the whole family in complete peace of mind.


Revamped dynamic exterior styling
With its elegant, distinctive styling, the Nuova Croma is even more dynamic thanks to a number of styling changes introduced by the Fiat Style Centre. To start with, consistent with the Fiat ‘family feeling’ introduced with the Grande Punto and reiterated on the Bravo, the front of the Nuova Croma features original drop-shaped headlights with distinctive Italian styling, highlighted by a stylish burnished finish; the design of the front air inlet and the grille with its wide links and Crome Shadow painting, is also new.
There is a new rear bumper, very similar to an air extractor, which gives the car a sportier look, and the same dynamism conveyed in the side view by the new light clusters, together with the wings, rear spoiler and new sideskirts. Last but not least, the model’s elegant look is underlined by the combination of polished black pillars with new chrome detailing on the window frames and rubbing strips.
The interior of the car has also received a number of styling changes that underline the typically Italian refinement (new cloth or leather upholstery for the seats and an original Wenghe-effect treatment of the mouldings) as well as a new steering wheel and a richer, more elegant instrument panel.


Class-beating access and roominess
The Nuova Croma is available with one bodywork version, which is one of the roomiest in its class; 478 centimetres long, 177 wide, 160 tall, and with a wheelbase of 270 cm, measurements that translate into an extraordinary amount of space inside.
The model’s distinguishing features are the generous amount of headroom for passengers, and the space between the seats (the best in its category), while the raised driving position guarantees excellent control over the road and better exterior visibility, even for rear passengers.
Thanks to the flat floor and the raised front and rear H points, it is extremely easy to get in and out of the car. What is more, the new model has one of the largest glazed areas in its market bracket (3.254 m2), and guarantees excellent acoustic and vibrational comfort, thanks to painstaking analysis of the passenger compartment and specific suspension calibration.
Another strong point of the Nuova Croma is the modular luggage compartment with its loading volume of 500 litres that becomes 1,610 litres up to the roof with the rear seats folded down. The luggage compartment is fitted with a practical Cargo box system that exploits all the available space: a removable shelf the same size as the luggage compartment that creates a continuous floor, level with the bumper ledge, to simplify loading and unloading. It also acts as a cover for a lower storage area 16 centimetres high, where fragile or valuable items can be stowed away from prying eyes. The lid of the cargo box can also be stored on the bottom of the well to increase loading capacity.


Exclusive equipment and solutions to travel in maximum comfort
The raised driving position and ergonomic controls make travelling in the Nuova Croma particularly enjoyable. And there are numerous exclusive accoutrements to choose from: a brand new DVD player, the Blue&Me™ system (also available in the NAV version), the ‘Interscope Sound System’ Hi-Fi and CONNECT Nav Plus. The Nuova Croma also proposes the best the market can offer in terms of automatic devices that help to reduce the fatigue of driving, for example Cruise Control, a rain sensor, parking sensor, tyre pressure sensor and Follow-me-home headlights that stay on for a few seconds. We should also mention the ‘adaptive cornering’ function of the front foglights, that are activated automatically with the dipped beams on the basis of the steering angle.
And finally, to raise the level of comfort even higher, the Nuova Croma adopts a reliable, tried and tested suspension system, with MacPherson struts at the front and Multilink suspension at the rear, tyres designed specifically to enhance comfort and safety, and electro-hydraulic power steering that makes all manoeuvres more comfortable.

[Duell]

Powerful, elastic engines that respect the environment
Original outside, spacious and quiet inside. The Nuova Croma is the Station Wagon from Fiat, designed for people with very different needs, taste and life styles, but who all share one thing: they want their car to be comfortable. And for people who also want exciting performance, the Croma offers the powerful 200 bhp 2.4 Multijet engine (combined with a 6-speed automatic sequential gearbox), which tops its class for specific power: 83 bhp/litre.
The Nuova Croma comes with two sparkling petrol engines (140 bhp 1.8 16v and 147 bhp 2.2 16v, the latter not available in Italy) and three Multijet turbodiesels (120 or 150 bhp 1.9 and 200 bhp 2.4) which reiterate Fiat Group Automobiles’ superiority in the field of diesel engines. All the engines meet EU Stage 4 emission standards, and the diesel units are fitted with particulate filters. They are offered with 5 different gearboxes that exploit the engine performance in full; all the petrol engines are combined with 5-speed transmissions, with the option of sequential automatic transmission on the 2.2 16v, and all the diesel engines have 6-speed gearboxes (the sequential automatic unit is offered as an alternative on the 150 bhp 1.9 Multijet, and as the standard unit on the powerful 200 bhp 2.4 Multijet 20v).


Class-beating safety
The Nuova Croma was designed and built to achieve the highest safety standards, and has been awarded the prestigious five-star NCAP rating that puts it at the top of its class, thanks to an array of sophisticated devices that are standard equipment on the model, starting from passive safety features such as: 2 ‘dual stage’ frontal airbags, 2 side airbags at the front, 2 curtain-bags and a knee-bag for the driver (rear sidebags are available on request).
The new Fiat Station Wagon behaves predictably at all times, thanks to the sophisticated electronic devices it incorporates to control dynamic behaviour: from braking to drive. They include ABS with EBD (Electronic Brake force Distribution) and, above all, ESP (Electronic Stability Program) which is standard throughout the range. The ESP on the Nuova Croma incorporates a number of additional features: ASR (Anti Slip Regulation) which limits drive wheel slippage when road grip is poor; MSR (Motor Schleppmoment Regelung) which intervenes if the driver changes down too abruptly, to return torque to the engine and prevent excessive dragging of the drive wheels; HBA (Hydraulic Brake Assistance), electro-hydraulic brake assistance, which automatically intervenes during panic braking; and finally, the Hill-holder that helps the driver on hill starts.

A broad, comprehensive range for a car of ‘substance’
The Nuova Croma is a car of substance that comes in an extremely comprehensive range. Different solutions are offered on different markets, but they all offer the same value for money. In Italy, for example, the range includes a choice of 4 engines (the 2.2 petrol engine is not available), 5 outfits (Classic, Active, Dynamic, Emotion and Must), 10 bodywork colours, and 4 interior environments, available in a choice of cloth, Castiglio and two types of leather.
We must not forget that the Nuova Croma range offers every customer, no matter how demanding, a choice between different options and accessories which may underline the model’s practicality and versatility, or cater for the customer’s practical and emotional demands. The Nuova Croma is perfect not only for the modern family, but also for businesses and professionals. And as a result, Fiat Automobiles Financial Services proposes a range of purchasing solutions and use formulae aimed specifically at these customers.

[LeonOfTheDead]

my father owns a 2007 model year, it's a quite good car, in this two cases:
you are a man 45-65 years old, with not a particular passion for cars, but you need a good one because you drive at least 40.000 km a year for job
you are a 25 year old father looking for a lot of space for children and luggages, again, you are not so inetersted in cars, but you don't have money to waste.

i am sure there are better cars on the market, better looking, better performing but not better pricing.

[IBrake4Rainbows]

It's a bit of a Subtle rebrand - It's now a Station Wagon, as opposed to a Luxury hatch.....

How does that work?

[LeonOfTheDead]

i'm not very happy with its bravo-style front, but i need to see it for real

[Thanas]

I like it.