Fiat Bravo/Brava

The Fiat Bravo and Fiat Brava are two compact automobiles produced by the Italian manufacturer Fiat from 1995 to 2001. Effectively two versions of the same car, the Bravo is a 3-door hatchback and the Brava a 5-door hatchback.

The Bravo and Brava were replacements for Fiat's successful but ageing Tipo model. The cars came with all new engines, the base model using a 1370 cc 12-valve engine producing 80 bhp. Three other petrol engines were available: the 113 bhp 1747 cc 16-valve engine and the top of the range 1998cc 20-valve R5 unit used in the HGT model, which produced 147 bhp and which could take the car to a maximum speed of 135 mph. Two turbodiesel engines were also available: both were 1910 cc four cylinder units, one producing 75 bhp and the other making 100 bhp. The Bravo/Brava was voted European Car of the Year on its launch.

In 1996 the Bravo/Brava chassis spawned saloon and estate versions, badged Fiat Marea, which won praise for their large amounts of boot space. Another car based on the Bravo/Brava underpinnings was launched in 1998: the curious looking Fiat Multipla, a six-seater mini-MPV.

The Bravo/Brava received a mild makeover in 1999 but there were few real changes except the addition of a 1.2 16-valve engine from the smaller Fiat Punto and a restyling of the dashboard. The 1.9 turbo-diesel was also upgraded to give even better economy and refinement.

By the 21st century the Bravo/Brava range was looking increasingly dated in the face of new competition like the Ford Focus and Peugeot 307. The Bravo/Brava was discontinued in late 2001, and replaced by the all-new Fiat Stilo.