Fiat Bravo gets new diesel engine

The new Fiat Bravo scored five stars in the EuroNCAP safety test and last year sold a record 90,000 models in Europe

The Fiat Bravo has been given a heart transplant for 2008 and now comes with an all-new 1.6-litre turbo-diesel engine.

The new 1.6-litre will be available in two power options – a 105bhp and 120bhp turbo-diesel – which come with 210lb/ft and 220lb/ft of pulling power respectively.

And the power is available from just 1,500rpm, making the new Fiat Bravo more powerful through a wider rev range.

This means 0-62mph is dispatched in 10.5 seconds.

Fiat has replaced the familiar 1.9-litre turbo-diesel with this new ‘downsized’ 1.6-litre, which is said to offer a 25 per cent increase in pulling power and an 8 per cent decrease in fuel consumption.

Fiat has also increased the service intervals, with the new 1.6-litre turbo-diesel needing maintenance every 21,000 miles.

And this is slotted into the new Fiat Bravo, which scored five stars in the EuroNCAP safety test and last year sold a record 90,000 models in Europe.

Fiat claims the new Bravo has been the highest-selling compact five-door car in Italy since April 2007.

The 105bhp will go on sale in January, followed by the 120bhp variant, expected in March 2008.

Auto Trader Editor Adrian Higgins was at the launch of the new Fiat Bravo – read his verdict here.