Fiat is not particularly well-known for its pickups, but it has built several car-based ones over the years.
The Italian company has just revealed its latest truck, the redesigned 2012 Strada. It is built in Betim, Brazil, and is essentially a pickup version of the popular Palio hatchback.
On the outside, the new Strada borrows styling cues such as its grille and its headlights from the Fiat Siena, the four-door version of the Palio. The tail lights are wider and stretch into the tailgate.
The 2012 Strada lineup includes three body types: Short Cab, Long Cab, and for the first time ever Crew Cab. Each body style comes in three trim levels, Working, Trekking, and Adventure.
Working is a base-model aimed primarily at commercial buyers, Trekking is a better-equipped mid-range version, and Adventure is a top-of-the-line model that targets buyers who are after a leisure vehicle. The latter comes standard with an E-Locker electronic locking differential, a compass, and an inclinometer.
No matter which body style or trim level is chosen, the only engine available is a new 1.3 Multijet four-cylinder diesel that puts out 95 horsepower and 147 lb-ft of torque. It propels the Strada from zero to 62 miles per hour in 12.8 seconds, and tops out at about 100 miles per hour in fifth gear.
According to Fiat, the Strada has a towing capacity of about 2,200 pounds. It can haul anywhere between 1,388 and 1,544 pounds depending on the body style chosen.
The Strada will hit Italian showrooms at the end of January. Prices start at 12,900€ ($16,932) for a base-model Single Cab, and a top-of-the-line Crew Cab model carries a base price of 16,000€ ($21,000). The prices do not include sales tax.
