he Fiat Croma is the name used for two automobiles produced by Italian automaker Fiat, one a

large family car built from 1985 to 1996 and the other a cross-over wagon built from 2005 to 2011.
The first generation was made available in hatchback/liftback style only, and a second generation
was made available in estate/wagon style only.

First generation (19851996)

Overview

Production

19851996

Designer

Giorgetto Giugiaro

Body and chassis

Class

Large family car

Body style

5-door liftback

Platform

Type Four platform (Tipo Quattro)[1]

Related

Saab 9000
Lancia Thema
Alfa Romeo 164

Dimensions

Wheelbase

2,660 mm (104.7 in)

Length

4,495 mm (177.0 in)

Width

1,755 mm (69.1 in)

Height

1,425 mm (56.1 in)

Curb weight

1,095 kg (2,414 lb) approx

Chronology

Predecessor

Fiat Argenta

Successor

Fiat Marea

1987 Fiat Croma CHT

The original Croma (Type 154) was a five-door notchback liftback penned by Giorgetto
Giugiaro of Ital Design and built on the Type Four platform, which was designed in cooperation
between several companies and was also used for the Saab 9000, Lancia Thema and Alfa
Romeo 164.[2] Although the other models were executive cars, the Croma was marketed in
the large family car segment, replacing the Fiat Argenta in the Fiat lineup.
The Croma was the first large car produced by Fiat to feature a transverse-mounted engine and
front wheel drive.[3]

Facelift

Fiat Croma (after 1991 facelift)

Fiat Croma rear

The Croma received a light facelift for 1988, first shown in Frankfurt in September 1987. The
black plastic between the rear lamps was now ridged rather than smooth, the lower portion of the
bumpers were body-colored, and the turn signals received clear glass rather than amber.[4] A
more significant facelift in 1991 with new front design including changes to the lights, bumpers
grille and sheet-metal changes to wings and bonnet. Also in 1991 the direct injected diesel engine
was equipped with a variable geometry turbocharger ("VNT").[5]
Production ceased in 1996, and Fiat abandoned the large family car segment. Because
the Bravo/Brava-based Fiat Marea small family car dbuted at the same time, it is sometimes
said that the Marea replaced the Croma, but in fact Fiat never had a large family car after the
Croma (until the resurrection in 2005), and Fiat eventually abandoned this segment of the
worldwide market altogether.

Engines
The Croma was available with a variety of petrol and diesel engines, the former from the Fiat
DOHC engine family. Base models had the 1585 cc, 83 PS (61 kW) and 1995 cc, 90 PS (66 kW)
"Controlled High Turbulence" (CHT) powerplants, followed by two fuel injected 2.0 L units, one
with 120 PS (88 kW) and the other a turbocharged and intercooled version giving 155 PS
(114 kW). The later 2.5 L petrol V6 unit was from Alfa Romeo, but as with the 1.6 L engine, was
not available in all markets. The 2.0 CHT was designed specifically to provide low fuel
consumption under light and medium loads thanks to two separate inlet manifolds of different
diameters.[6]
The Fiat Croma was the first passenger car in the world to have a direct injection Diesel (Turbo D
i.d.) engine, in 1986.[7] Other diesel engines were the Fiat's 1.9 L fitted with a turbocharger
with direct injection, giving 92 PS (68 kW), and the 2499 cc unit supplied by Iveco, with a normally
aspirated version giving 75 PS (55 kW) and a turbocharged one with 115 PS (85 kW). This one
replaced the original 2446 cc with 100 PS (74 kW). Diesel engined variants of this car were not
marketed in the UK.
Petrol

Diesel

Model

Engine

Displacement

Power

Model

Engine

Displacement

Power

1.6

I4 SOHC

1585 cc

83 PS (61 kW;

Turbo D
i.d.

I4 SOHC
8V

1929 cc

94 PS
(69 kW;

8V

82 hp)

CHT

I4 DOHC
8V

1995 cc

90 PS (66 kW;
89 hp)

CHT

I4 DOHC
8V

1995 cc

101 PS
(74 kW;
100 hp)

I4 DOHC
8V

1995 cc

I4 DOHC
8V

1995 cc

I4 DOHC
8V

1995 cc

i.e. 16V

I4 DOHC
16V

1995 cc

137 PS
(101 kW;
135 hp)

i.e.
Turbo

I4 DOHC
8V

1995 cc

150 PS
(110 kW;
148 hp)

i.e.
Turbo

I4 DOHC
8V

1995 cc

155 PS
(114 kW;
153 hp)

V6

V6 DOHC
12V

2492 cc

160 PS
(118 kW;
158 hp)

i.e.

i.e.

i.e.

93 hp)

Diesel

I4 SOHC
8V

2499 cc

75 PS
(55 kW;
74 hp)

Turbo
Diesel

I4 SOHC
8V

2446 cc

100 PS
(74 kW;
99 hp)

113 PS
(83 kW;
111 hp)

2500 TD

I4 SOHC
8V

2499 cc

101 PS
(74 kW;
100 hp)

116 PS
(85 kW;
114 hp)

2500 TD

I4 SOHC
8V

2499 cc

116 PS
(85 kW;
114 hp)

2500
TDE

I4 SOHC
8V

2499 cc

105 PS
(77 kW;
104 hp)

120 PS
(88 kW;
118 hp)

Second generation (20052011)[edit]

Overview

Production

20052011 (LHD)[8]
20052007 (RHD)

Assembly

Cassino Piedimonte S. Germano

Designer

Giorgetto Giugiaro

Body and chassis

Class

Large family car

Body style

5-door estate

Platform

GM Epsilon platform

Related

Cadillac BLS
Opel Signum
Opel Vectra
Saab 9-3

Powertrain

Transmission 5 and 6-speed manual

Dimensions

Wheelbase

2,700 mm (110 in)

Length

4,755 mm (187.2 in)

Width

1,775 mm (69.9 in)

Height

1,600 mm (63 in)

Chronology

Predecessor

None

Successor

Fiat Freemont

Rear view of the second generation Fiat Croma

The 2007 facelifted Fiat Croma

In 2005, Fiat announced a large cross-over wagon with an upright tailgate, reminiscent of that of
the Fiat Stilo, resurrecting the Croma nameplate. Again, Giugiaro styled the exterior, while the
chassis was provided via the short-lived link with General Motors. The new Croma (Type 194) is
therefore based on the extended variant of the GM Epsilon platform sharing components with
the Opel Vectra and Saab 9-3. It went on sale in Italy in June 2005.
Unlike the previous model, and aware of its lack of image in the upper market segments, Fiat
opted for not developing a standard large family car but developing a "Comfort Wagon",[9] an
automobile with design elements of both estates and large MPVs. Its height of 1,600 mm (63.0 in)
falls between the Mitsubishi Grandis and Ford S-Max large MPVs (1,655 mm (65.2 in) and
1,660 mm (65.4 in) respectively) and SEAT Altea XL (1,525 mm (60.0 in)).

In February 2007, Fiat UK announced that the Croma would no longer be generally available in
the United Kingdom, after less than 900 were sold in the whole of 2005. The car was still offered
only on special order, with RHD models manufactured to customer specifications. Production of
the second generation Croma stopped in early 2011. Despite not being a showroom hit, the
Croma managed to sell in quite reasonable numbers, with 65,000 sold in one year alone. [10]

Safety[edit]
The Croma has seven airbags as standard including knee bag for the driver. As standard the
Croma is equipped with anti-lock braking system and electronic brakeforce distribution. It has a
five-star EuroNCAP crash rating for adult occupant protection:
Euro NCAP test results

Fiat Croma (2008)

Test

Score

Adult occupant:

34

Child occupant:

39

Pedestrian:

Rating

Facelift[edit]
The Croma got a minor facelift at the end of 2007 and was termed the Nuova Croma. A new grille
(Bravo look) and rear bumper, as well as some material changes inside are the main differences.
Fiat now designates the revised model as "Station Wagon" instead of the previously used term
"Comfort Wagon".[11] The Nuova Croma is only sold in mainland Europe.

Engines[edit]
The Croma, built at Fiat's Cassino factory, has three trim levels and five engine options. Like the
chassis, petrol engines were supplied by Opel, beginning with the brand new evolution of
the Family 1 Ecotec 1.8 L with 140 PS (103 kW), followed by the torquier L850 Ecotec 2.2 L with
147 PS (108 kW). However, the bulk of the sales is represented by Fiat's own Multijet engine,
available in three variants 1.9 L with 8 valves and 120 PS (88 kW), 1.9 L with 16 valves and
150 PS (110 kW), and the range topper five-cylinder 2.4 L 20V, with 200 PS(147 kW). The Diesel
engines are fitted with a standard six-speed manual gearbox, 6-speed automatic (standard on 2.4
engines) is also available.