Fiat Ritmo Strada 2nd Generation 

Manufacturer	FIAT
Main type	Sedan Cabriolet
Class	Motor Car
Production	from 1982 to 1988
Replaced by	Fiat Tipo
Length	4015 mm
Width	1650 mm
Height	1405 mm
Step	2445 mm
Mass	from 850 to 955 k g

The car has been produced since 1978 in two different series, the second of which was made in 1982, to be replaced in the C segment, the market segment that covered the FIAT price list, by the Tipo.

History

At the end of 1982 a profound restyling led to the presentation of the second series Ritmo. Although at the level of sheet metal only the bonnet seemed to have changed, in reality the body of the car underwent a total redesign that completely differentiated it from the old platform of derivation 128, leading to a weight saving of around 70 kg and at the same time to the resolution of the problems of cracks in the front area of ​​the frame that had plagued numerous specimens of the first series (in particular diesel) and that had forced the designers to introduce plates of reinforcement on the front crossbar especially on the sports versions. The most obvious changes concerned the displacement of the tank in a protected position under the rear seat (it was previously under the boot), the refuelling nozzle passed from the left to the right fender and concealed by a door, the definitive migration of the spare wheel under the luggage compartment (strangely accessible from the outside as in some French cars), and different front suspension domes with three-bolt attacks instead of two. The car's personality appeared significantly modified. Less new, but more elegant, is the new front with 4 circular lights (two on the 60 3p base), black and new mask FIAT logo with 5 slanted vertical bars, while the tail lights changed to larger ones and were no longer incorporated into the bumper. The bumper shields are also newly designed. Completely redesigned, on the other hand, the interiors of the normal versions (seats, door panels and dashboard were completely new), while the Super versions took up the dashboard of the previous ones with few changes in detail. Much appreciated by the press and customers was the new ventilation system, increased thanks to the space recovered with the movement of the spare wheel.

The numerous aesthetic modifications were combined with mechanical ones. The front suspensions adopted new offset conical springs that made the operation of the shock absorbers more precise and limited the reactions to the steering on uneven asphalt, the 5-speed gearbox became standard on the whole "manual" range, and the 1116 and 1301 cm³ engines were revised to make them more elastic and reduce consumption, gaining electronic ignition without "breaker" and a different set-up: these changes reduced power from 60 to 55 hp on the 1100, but improved torque, while the 1300 from 65 and 75 HP were unified in a single 68 HP version equipped with a double body carburettor. The 1500 CV is unchanged. The 1700 diesel was revised in the calibrations and gained 3 hp (now 58). S) plus, the 105 TC, while the sporty 125 TC Abarth remains unchanged for the moment in the first series. The range of convertibles (updated as the sedans) was extended with the introduction of the 1300 engine alongside the 1500.

The Ritmo 2 range was completed in 1983 with the introduction of the Energy Saving and Abarth 130 TC versions. The first, moved from 1116 cm³ to 55 hp with "cut-off" device, thanks also to a 4-point lowering (from 0.42 to 0.38) of the aerodynamic penetration coefficient obtained through the adoption of a small rear spoiler at the end of roof, from the anti-turbulence frames to the windows and to the smooth wheel covers, allowed significant fuel savings. The changes made to the Abarth were decidedly profound: the engine gained Marelli digital electronic ignition DigiPlex and the power supply through two horizontal double-body carburettors of 40. The result was 130 HP at 5800 rpm (200 less than the previous 125 TC), which combined with the lower weight and the slightly elongated final made it capable of one spectacular (for the time) time of 8 seconds net from 0 to 100 km / h. The Ritmo 130 had a resounding success among the fans thanks to the performances (and to the "nastiness" with which they were expressed), further fed by the sporting successes that the car caught in the races on the track and on the road, dominating for years the main European championship Gr. N. In general, the "Abarth care" included many details aimed at an easy preparation of the car: for example, the same adoption, apparently anachronistic, Golf GTI had always been injected), it actually served to have already approved a four-butterfly intake manifold to be coupled with the Kugel Fischer mechanical injection (a must in the competitions of that era).

Restyling 1984 

In 1984 the range was renewed: the "basic" version was divided into two versions, "L" (with a mask with only two headlights, 4-speed gearbox and very poor equipment) and "CL" (identical to the previous base, but with standard headrest and rear wiper in addition, the S set-up was also extended to 60. With the end of the second series, in 1985 the special version "IN" was presented, based on the 60 S and characterized by full wheel covers, by a Gray / red adhesive strip, from the specific internal linings and from the standard radio.

In 1985 a slight restyling (front grille, lower front bumper fitted for fog lights, rear plate shift on the shield, black plastic fasciae on the sides, rectangular door handles instead of round ones) accompanied an update of the range. The 60 engines adopted the double-body carburettor gaining 3 HP (now 58). The 105 TC, now displaced by the Abarth, was replaced by the 5-door 100 Equipped with a new version of the double-shaft with a 180-degree rotated head (engine then mounted also on the Lancia Prisma second series) and power reduced to 100 hp to improve elasticity and consumption; this version had little response in Italy, but was more appreciated abroad. The 130 TC Abarth received new alloy wheels with a design similar to those of the Uno Turbo. The diesel versions had important innovations: the old 1714 cm³ engine gave way to a new 1697 cm³ unit, part of the new family of engines derived from the "dieselization" of the single-shaft of the last 131 of 1981. The new engine now supplied 60 hp, making it also more park and more elastic as well as more silent. The new Turbo DS version is completely new, powered by a 4-cylinder turbo diesel engine with an intercooler of 1929 cm³ of 80 hp belonging to the same family of 1697 cm³. From the Energy Saving range were removed, the 85S and versions 3-door "non-sports", while the Convertible 85S gave way to Super cabrio 100 S.

In 1986, to give breath back to sales in view of the last year of production, two new special limited-edition versions were introduced: in May the Team (versions 60 and D) arrived on the basis of the 5p CL and personalized with specific writing and upholstery, while in July it was the turn of the Super Team, recognizable by the matching mask and equipped with electric windows, central locking and adjustable steering wheel. The Super Team was available with 60, 70 and 100 engines.

In 1988 the Ritmo was replaced by the Tipo.

Derived models 

Until 1982, according to the collaboration agreement signed between the car manufacturers, Ritmo was produced in Spain by SEAT. At the end of the agreement, the Spanish company recycled its assembly lines as much as possible, replaced a sufficient number of pieces to avoid copyright problems and went out on the market with a model very similar to the progenitor, the SEAT Ronda, redoing what was already the case. happened with the Fiat Panda, recycled in SEAT Marbella, and with the 127 (which became SEAT Fura). In 1984, with few modifications on the same platform as the Ronda, SEAT built the first series of the Ibiza and also the Malaga, also maintaining its suspension.

The Fiat Regata sedan was derived from the second series, a car that had so many elements in common with the Ritmo that it was approved as one of its versions (both had the designation "138", and as such were indicated on the registration certificate).

The brand revived in 2007, when the new Fiat Bravo, presented in Italy in February of that year, was sold on the Australian market under the name of Fiat Ritmo; also, the name Strada has been reused since 1999 for a pick-up model.