Fiat Regata

Manufacturer	FIAT
Type	Motor car
versions	Sedan
Production	from 1983  to 1990

The Fiat Regata , a car produced by FIAT and derived from the platform shared with the Fiat Ritmo , was marketed in 1983 and produced until 1990 .

The Fiat Regata was born in the Fiat Mirafiori plant in 1983, and became part of the medium sedan segment . It was launched at the Salon of Frankfurt in September 1983.The Lancia Prisma, also shared engines and gearboxes, although petrol was generally more powerful than the FIAT counterparts (chassis and suspension instead were completely different, the same as the Lancia Delta ).

The Fiat home car initially had to be called Fiat Azzurra in honor of the sailboat of the same name , which had Gianni Agnelli as its financier and well figured in the America's cup of 1983, but then chose the name Regata, always linked to that scope. With a streamlined line and a spacious interior, the Fiat Regata was sold in various versions: the Regatta with a diesel engine and the 70 , 85 and 100 with a petrol engine . The gearbox was manual 5-speed for all (except the 1.3-liter, sold in some markets with 4-speed gearbox), an automatic gearbox was available on request on the 85and, later, on the 70 . The richest and most expensive version was by far the 100 , which allowed long and comfortable motorwayjourneys ; diesel, on the other hand, for those who traveled many kilometers and wanted to save money, was available in two SOHC engines , the initial of 1714 cm³ which supplied 58 hp and the next, added in 1984 , from 1929 cm³ with 65 HP. Available in two versions, normal and "S", these fitted standard electric windows and central locking , as well as more complete instrumentation; in addition, the 85S versions ,100S and DS could be fitted with air conditioning on request, while power steering , standard on the DS, could also be fitted with the 100S on request. Characteristic of the Regata in version S was the electronically controlled climate control group, in which the traditional lever sliders were replaced by rocker buttons, and rows of LEDs to indicate air flow and temperature.

Alongside the normal versions, a series recognizable by the initials ES ( Energy Saving ) was also presented, which presented some aerodynamic improvements and greater technical features (higher compression ratio , different timing of the distribution, carburettor with electronic cut-off), a 1301 engine. 65 hp cm³ (3 hp less than the 70, which reached 68 hp), an engine shut-off system (with the car stationary, gearbox in neutral and the clutch pedal raised) called Citymatic , forerunner of the start and stop system , and Marelli Digiplex digital electronic ignition, all in order to reduce fuel consumption.

It was put on the market as heir to the Fiat 131 , even if the floor was derived from that of the Ritmo, together with a good part of the mechanics : therefore, it had a transversal front engine and front wheel drive , abandoning the classic solution of the 131 (front longitudinal engine and traction) back ). In 1984 the Weekend version was also presented , which replaced the Fiat 131 Panorama in the catalog .

Also for this model the habit of the Turin house continued to assign a number to the model following the power supplied by the engine; actually the base engine of 1,301 cm³ delivered 68 hp, the 1,498 cm³ intermediate produced 82 and the top of the 1,585 cm³ range had 100 hp. In September 1985, with the introduction of the III series of the Ritmo, the engines were revised: the carburettor with cut-off was also introduced on the 1.3 and 1.5 liters, while the compression ratio was increased as in the ES version, whose production was interrupted while remaining on the list for a short period. Consequence of this was a slight reduction in maximum power, from 68 hp to 65 hp for the 1.3-liter and from 82 hp to 79 hp for the 1.5-liter, but at the same time the maximum torque increased, with greater propulsion elasticity.

An update of the model took place in 1986 , when numerous small aesthetic details were changed (such as the door handles, the belt line that followed the inclination of the bonnet , the rear bumper slightly longer to cover the underbody, the stainless steel moldings). on the grille and bumper, the new front and rear lights for the S versions, the new wheel covers, the new interior trim and the new graphics of the instrument panel ), but above all the range of engines was updated.

The 100S ie version was equipped with the new 1600 twin shaft engine with single point electronic injection and took the place of the 100S. For foreign markets there were the 75 ie versions with a 1,500 engine, and the 90 ie which was in practice a 100S ie weakened to contain emissions and allow the use of the already obligatory catalyst in other European countries. Eliminated from the Italian list the 85 and 85S with 1500 engine.

The ending "ie" qualified the new engines as equipped with electronic injection ; in some cases in combination with new catalytic converters . The diesel models also changed, the TurboDS with 1929 cm³ turbodiesel engine was introduced , while the 1714 cm³ Regata D unit gave way to a new unit derived from 1929 cm³, reduced in displacement to 1697 cm³, but gaining in compensation in power, reaching 60 hp and simultaneously reducing consumption. Even the weight of the various models was slightly reduced, but the characteristics of the DS regatta engine equipped with a 1929 diesel engine, already quite modern at the time , remained unchanged .

In 1987 a special series was introduced, the Riviera , produced exclusively with a 100S ie petrol engine and a 1929 turbo diesel engine; compared to the S versions it was recognizable thanks to a decorative side thread with "Riviera" writing and fitted as standard with air conditioning or alternatively the sunroof, it had new velvet interiors and was only available in two metallic shades. This series was produced until 1990.

In 1989 the Riviera version was joined by another special version, the Mare , produced with a 1300 petrol engine and 1900 aspirated diesel engine; in this same year the 1700 diesel engine finally disappeared from the list. The "Mare" version was in practice the basic version of the Regatta which fitted the front electric windows and central locking with new interior trim. This version was produced until 1990.

Those described were the only aesthetic changes made to the model in its 7 years of life. The production of the Regatta ended in 1990 , coinciding with the presentation of the heir, the Fiat Tempra .

In South America (produced in Argentina) and in Northern Europe the car was sold as "Regatta" with two "t".

In 1986 a version was marketed, called "Star", based on the Regata 70S first series, it was a version that anticipated the interiors of the next Regata in the S versions of the second series, also called Regata II Atto, as the FIAT advertisement said at that time, the side adhesive friezes were characteristic of this version. After a short time (June 1986) the restyling was marketed.

Numerous then, the special series marketed abroad, such as the FM Regatta, practically a 70 with standard radio, or the "Bianca", with the standard color, sold in England, or the Quartz .In Venezuela a 2-liter version of the displacement was also sold, with the 1995 cm³ twin - shaft power unit of the Croma , while in some markets the version with the engine of 1116 cm³ of the Fiat Ritmo and 5-speed gearbox called Regata 60 was marketed.

In Egypt the Nasco Sahin 1.6SL was produced, nicknamed "Florida" thanks to the project sold by Fiat itself.In Turkey it is marketed as Tofaş Şahin, a derivative car of 131 but with an aesthetic of the Regatta.In 1985, Giannini created a version of the Fiat Regata with a 1714 cc turbocharged Diesel engine with 80 hp.

Specification

Replaces: Fiat 131
Replaced by: Fiat Tempra
Produced: over 900,000
Length: 4260 m m
Width: 1650 mm
Height: 1415 mm
Mass weight: 890 to 1020 kg
Gearbox: manual 5-speed