Production 2010–present | ||
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Also called Short wheelbase: C-EvoLong wheelbase: D-Evo, C-Wide or Compact U.S. Wide (CUSW) | ||
The Compact platform (also known as C-Evo) was developed by engineers of the Fiat group for the construction of small family cars (compact cars) and large family cars (mid-size cars) with front-wheel drive or four-wheel drive. The first incarnation of this platform was the Alfa Romeo Giulietta which was unveiled in 2010. Fiat has invested 100 million euros into the construction of the Compact Platform.
Contents
Origin
Developed in Turin, Italy, the Compact platform was designed to adapt to future cars of both the Fiat and Chrysler group. Fiat engineers used the C-platform (used by Fiat Stilo, Bravo and Lancia Delta) as a starting point and developed a new high-performance platform that uses only a central part of the floor from the old C-platform. The frame composition is 84% high-strength steel (as opposed to the old C-platform, 65% of which was high-strength steel) and 4% aluminum. The front suspension uses MacPherson aluminum Evo struts and is 4 kilograms (8.8 lb) lighter than the previous steel struts (used in Fiat Bravo). The rear suspension uses an independent multilink suspension and each of them consists of two lateral links with an aluminum longitudinal arm that mounts the hub and spring. Using aluminium rather than steel, which has a higher density, enabled a total combined weight-savings in the suspension bits of 14 kilograms. The framework for the rear seats and the magnesium alloy cross member reduced weight by 35% in comparison to earlier cars.
The platform offers a compact transverse engine at the front with either front or four-wheel drive. The total platform weight of the standard version (on the compact models) is 174 kilograms (384 lb).
Long wheelbase version (Compact U.S. Wide)
The long wheelbase version is called D-Evo, Compact Wide or Compact U.S. Wide (CUSW) and will be available on future models of the Chrysler sedans like the Dodge Dart. The interchangeable modules make the basic platform suitable for vehicles of differing lengths up to 4.92 metres (16.1 ft). It was designed with additional features for a compact platform that could adapt to sports cars like Alfa Romeo.
The engine range, combined with the platform, consists of the compact four-cylinder petrol 1.4 Fire, 1.4 Multiair, 1,750 TBi turbocharged, the 2.0 or 2.4 Chrysler GEMA engine, the 3.2 or the 3.6 Chrysler Pentastar V6 engine, and the 1.6, 2.0 and 2.2 Multijet turbodiesel engines. Fiat and Chrysler plan to build about 1 million vehicles a year by 2014 based on this platform. Eight upcoming Chrysler Group vehicles are planned to be built on Fiat's Compact Wide platform, including the replacement for the Jeep Liberty.