Freeze! Rugged Fiat caught cold

By Ross Pinnock

08th April 2007

As these pictures show, work on the brand's new crossover is well underway. We caught the jacked-up mule undergoing cold-weather testing - but don't be fooled by its ordinary looks.

Despite wearing the body of Fiat's Palio global car, which is sold in dev­eloping markets across the world, the underpinnings of this estate are from something entirely different. There's clearly lots of work left to do, though, as the all-new model isn't likely to make its official debut until 2009. It's known inside Fiat as the C X-Over - short for C-segment crossover - and judging by our exclusive photos, buyers can expect plenty of ground clearance when it hits showrooms.

The cut-away wheelarches on this prototype also suggest the newcomer will have lots of suspension travel to aid off-road ability, setting it apart from car-derived 4x4s such as Skoda's Octavia Scout. However, the firm is due to offer both two and four-wheel-drive variants of its Nissan Qashqai rival.

Entry-level front-driven versions will not only be cheaper to buy, but with lower CO2 emissions, they will also be less expensive to tax in the UK.

And sister brand Alfa Romeo is set to benefit from the latest addition to the line-up, too, because it will use the crossover's platform to develop its own soft-roader. The sporty offering will debut in 2010.

Despite their rugged stance, both cars will feature road-biased suspension settings. The Fiat is likely to borrow engines from the all-new Bravo, including the Multijet diesel and forth­coming 1.4-litre turbo petrol unit.