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Fiat Tipo
Manufacturer	Fiat
Production	1988-1995
Assembly	Cassino – Piedimonte S. Germano (Frosinone), Italy[1] Betim, Brazil
Predecessor	Fiat Ritmo
Successor	Fiat Bravo/Brava
Class	Small family car
Body style(s)	3-door hatchback 5-door hatchback
Layout	FF layout
Transmission(s)	5-speed manual CVT (Selecta) 4-speed automatic[1]
Wheelbase	2540 mm (100 in.)
Length	3958 mm (155.8 in.)
Width	1700 mm (66.9 in.)
Height	1445 mm (56.9 in.)
Curb weight	1020-1230 kg (2248-2711 lb)
Related	Fiat Tempra Fiat Coupé Alfa Romeo 155

Second series Fiat Tipo 4 door (1993)

The Fiat Tipo was a small family car designed by the IDEA design house and produced by the Italian manufacturer Fiat between 1988 and 1995.

The Tipo was initially available only as a five-door hatchback. The car was made entirely out of galvanized body panels to avoid rust, and was built on a completely new Fiat platform. It also stood out, because of its boxy styling that gave it outstanding Tardis like packaging - rear passenger room being comparable to a Ford Granada, but in a Volkswagen Golf sized car. In 1989, the Tipo won the European Car of the Year award.

The car has been extremely popular in Brazil. It outsold the Volkswagen Gol, which had been the best-selling Brazilian car for over 20 years. Just the Tipo, the Fiat Mille and Fiat Palio have outsold the Gol.

Initially base (i.e.), DGT, S, SX and 16v trim levels were available. Power from 58 to 148 bhp came from 1.1, 1.4, 1.6, 1.8, 1.8 16v, 2.0, 2.0 16v petrol engines as well as a 1.7 diesel, 1.9 diesel and 1.9 turbo-diesel. The base engines were widely regarded as underpowered for the car, which was roomy for five adults with above average quality. As top of the range was the 2.0 sedicivalvole (16v). The Tipo was facelifted in 1993 and saw the addition of a three-door version, minor exterior changes (the two evolutions of the car can be differentiated by their slightly different radiator grilles and headlamps) and improved specification; safety features like stiffer panel, driver's airbag were added to the range. This saw new S, SX and SLX trim levels, as well as a new 2.0 GT model.

The Tipo finally ceased production at the end of 1995 and was replaced by the three-door Fiat Bravo, four-door Fiat Marea, five-door Fiat Brava. In Brazil, it only started to be produced that year, in a single trim, with a 1.6 8V engine with multipoint fuel injection, which offered a 10 ps increase compared to the old 1.6 ie, raising the power to 92 ps. Previously, the Tipo was imported from Italy and was available with three different trims that were closely associated with its engines: the basic 1.6 ie, the luxurious 2.0 8V and the sporty 2.0 16V Sedicivalvole. The Sedicivalvole gained its engine from the Lancia Thema, and with a much smaller and lighter bodyshell to house it, this power unit brought superb performance and handling, and a top speed of around 130mph which made it faster than the Volkswagen Golf GTI of that era.

It was a reasonably strong seller in the UK, initially winning plaudits for its innovative and practical design as well as its good handling. This was particularly positive news in the UK, where none of the "big three" carmakers (Ford, Vauxhall and Austin Rover) had launched a new car of this size since 1984. However, these three marques all had new Tipo-sized products within three years, and in later years the Tipo's popularity suffered.

The Tipo platform spawned five more cars. The first of these was the Lancia Dedra sedan in 1989, followed by the Fiat Tempra in 1990. The large family car Alfa Romeo 155, the coupé Fiat Coupé and the Lancia Delta Nuova were introduced in 1993.

Fan Clubs, there are several user communities in various countries:

• Czech republic and Slovak republic- http://www.fiattipo.net/
• Chile - http://www.clubfiattipo.com/ and http://www.clubfiat.cl
• Russia - http://www.tipofiat.msk.ru/
• Brazil - http://www.clubedotipo.com.br/
• Portugal - http://www.fiat-tipo-portugal.com/
• Germany - http://www.fiattipo.de/ and http://www.fiat-tipo.de/
• Hungary - http://www.tipo-tempra.hu/portal2/index.php
• Bulgaria - http://www.fiat-bg.org/
• Poland - http://www.tempra.org/