FIAT Coupe Models/Series Timeline, Specifications & Photos

In the mid-90s, Fiat returned to the sports car market with a two-door vehicle aimed at customers who looked for an alternative to the Alfa Romeo GTV.

With so many small-sized hatchbacks and compact vehicles, it was a surprise when Fiat launched this sporty vehicle at the Bologna Motor Show in December 1993. Unlike the rest of the range, the Coupe wasn't built to do school runs, even though it could. And, while the car sported the Pininfarina badges, it was penned by a young American designer called Chris Bangle. The same person who later moved to BMW and shook the world.

With a front end resembling some supercars, the Coupe was nicknamed "mini-Ferrari" by the brand's fans. The car's bumper integrated the grille flanked by the foglamps and the blinkers. At the same time, the lower part of the apron was completed with a lip spoiler. From its profile, the Coupe revealed its sporty styling with a raked windshield and a short cabin, while at the rear, a short deck ended the vehicle. Chris Bangle didn't want to leave the side body panels simple and made two ascending sculptured lines on the fenders that matched the upper side of the wheel wells. Finally, at the back, the car sported a pair of round taillights on each side, flanking a wide-opened trunk.

The interior was designed by Pininfarina and featured a unique element on the market. The dashboard was adorned by a horizontal trim that matched the car's exterior color. Additionally, the dials were incorporated into this trim in front of the driver. Since it was a sports car, the automaker added sports seats with high bolstering, while in the rear, there was minimal room for two passengers.

Throughout its career, the Coupe was fitted with a wide choice of gasoline engines ranging between 129 hp (131 PS) and 217 hp (220 PS). In addition, all versions were paired with manual transmissions that sent the torque to the front wheels.