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:: Fiat Coupe Buyers Guide chapters

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What to look for
Living with the Coupe
Specialist's view
Approved used
Clubs
What to pay
Production history
Prices
Technical specifications
Parts prices
Best buy
Verdict

:: Instant Classic

WORK ON THE FIAT COUPE'S design was begun in late 1989 and is attributed to Chris Bangle, an American working at Fiat Centro Stile, who subsequently moved to BMW. Pininfarina designed the interior, and they also hand built the cars at their own factory, installing interior and mechanical items alongside the Peugeot 406 Coupe, 306 Cabrios and the odd Ferrari here and there. Introduced to mainland Europe in late 1993, we had to wait until June 1995 before the first right-hand drive cars arrived. Available with a choice of 2-litre 142bhp 16V and 195bhp 16V Turbo engines, with manual-only 5-speed boxes, both models came with ABS, twin airbags, power steering, electric windows and mirrors, with Viscodrive traction control on the Turbo. Within 18 months the trusty old Lampredi-designed four-cylinder engine was replaced by the superior 20V five cylinder unit. In 147bhp Turbo form, the Coupe became the fastest front-wheel drive production car at the time with a reported 0-60mph time of six seconds.

Sporting a simpler, cleaner front grille, a new high level third brake light and new thin-spoke alloys and uprated brakes for the 20V Turbo, there were some new paint and interior colours, and a revised interior layout. In early 1998 a revised version of the 20V engine was produced with a slightly higher power output of 154bhp at 6,700rpm, with many other minor changes made to the range, such as a new bonnet support strut, new rear brake calipers and a voltmeter instead of the oil temperature gauge.

A Limited Edition version of the 20V Turbo was produced in late 1998, with a six-speed gearbox, front suspension strut brace, drilled front brake discs, two-tone red and black leather Recaro seats, air conditioning, push-button starter, 180mph speedo and white background dials, bodycoloured side skirts and various other red or 'titanium finish' cosmetic items. Nearly all the first 200 LE models came to the UK, and it appears that up to 100 more were produced in right-hand drive to satisfy demand. In total around 1,500 were produced, covering all European markets.

In late 1999 the model range was revised again, with many items found on the 1998 Limited Edition version included as standard on the Turbo and Turbo Plus models, plus some more new colours.

The 1999-2000 models have proved to be the last, since Fiat announced that production was to stop at the end of June.

Official Fiat figures put the total production at around 53,000 with over 7,500 sold in the UK. However, Pininfarina have stated that the 50,000th model rolled off the production line in July 1997, and as recently as March 2000 they stated that over 70,000 had been produced. Conflicting Italian car production figures are nothing new, however! European markets had an additional choice of white as a colours (even iridescent pearl white for the 20v Turbo Plus) and a 1.8 16v model was available from 1996 with the same engine as the Barchetta. There's even an LE-type version of this 1.8 16v model in pale blue with new wheels and a rather tacky interior.