3rd generation MINI based on Grande Punto?

[Carlos.]

Oh, and whilst I think, there's lots of other good things about fiat......

They had a big hand in the R&D of common rail injection Common rail - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

They make some damn fine cars (Alfa Brera, 159, GT et al.)

Thay have lots of money

They have a huge group (fiat, alfa, 'rrari, maserati, iveco, CNH Global, arbarth, lancia, magneti marelli, Solex, Weber.........and mostly everything else in Italy.

I reckon the co-development is a bloody good thing...what Fiat don't know about making either very fast cars, or incredibly good small cars, can probably be written on a pin head

[dalboyne]

So if I understand all of this coreclty, the future MINI will share the same platform (not chassis) as the new Alfa MiTo?

That will be an interesting comparison!

Ian

[minicabrio]

Quote: Originally Posted by dalboyne (original)

So if I understand all of this coreclty, the future MINI will share the same platform (not chassis) as the new Alfa MiTo?

That will be an interesting comparison!

Ian

Will be like comparing a Mk5 Golf to a Mk2 TT Same platform, two very different cars

[dalboyne]

Quote: Originally Posted by minicabrio (original)

Will be like comparing a Mk5 Golf to a Mk2 TT Same platform, two very different cars

And which one is which?

[Streeters]

Quote: Originally Posted by Scrogg (original)

Which proves the platform vs chassis discussion earlier in the thread rather well

Panda 100HP compared to, for example, a 1.2 Dynamic is a very different driving experience.

Totally agree and if someone wants to see how good FIATs engines are , Try a Bravo 1.4t/jet 150 - The sport button makes it seem like you have 2 different engines. I'd love that engine in our Cooper

[dalboyne]

Quote: Originally Posted by Streeters (original)

Totally agree and if someone wants to see how good FIATs engines are , Try a Bravo 1.4t/jet 150 - The sport button makes it seem like you have 2 different engines. I'd love that engine in our Cooper

Nice idea - and 150HP is not a bad figure - I do feel from time to time my Cooper cabrio is lacking grunt....

[Scrogg]

Quote: Originally Posted by Streeters (original)

Totally agree and if someone wants to see how good FIATs engines are , Try a Bravo 1.4t/jet 150 - The sport button makes it seem like you have 2 different engines. I'd love that engine in our Cooper

I'm with you on that one

I've had one since September 1st and it's just starting to loosen up nicely with 1,700 miles on the clock

[KPKalle]

Quote: Originally Posted by Scrogg (original)

I'm with you on that one

I've had one since September 1st and it's just starting to loosen up nicely with 1,700 miles on the clock

You're not biased are you?

[Scrogg]

Quote: Originally Posted by KPKalle (original)

You're not biased are you?

Not at all.

When I took the job 12 months ago I knew nothing about FIAT and had never even driven one, and frankly I was astonished at how good some of them (and it is only some of them, I'm the first to admit) are, especially after coming from Ford and then MINI.