Fiat Cronos

Fiat Cronos
2018 Fiat Cronos 1.8 (pre-facelift)
Overview
ManufacturerFCA (2018–2021)
Stellantis (2021–present)
Production2018–present
AssemblyArgentina: Ferreyra, Córdoba
Body and chassis
ClassSubcompact car
Body style4-door sedan
LayoutFront-engine, front-wheel-drive
PlatformSmall MP-S[1]
Related
Powertrain
Engine
Transmission5-speed FPT C510 manual
5-speed FPT C510 GSR automated manual
7-speed Aisin AW60T automatic
CVT
Dimensions
Wheelbase2,521 mm (99.3 in)
Length4,364 mm (171.8 in)
Width1,724 mm (67.9 in)
Height1,516 mm (59.7 in)
Chronology
PredecessorFiat Siena
Fiat Linea

The Fiat Cronos (Type 358S) is a subcompact car released in February 2018 by the Italian automaker Fiat. It is a sedan for the Latin American market based on the Argo hatchback.[2]

Overview

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Unveiled in February 2018, the Cronos was developed as a three-box sedan version of the Argo subcompact hatchback. It takes part of the front platform, the interior, and the front doors from the Argo; altogether, about 30 percent of the components are derived from the Argo. The remaining 70 percent are specific to the Cronos, like the bonnet, front crosspieces, front and rear subframe, bumper, rear axle and skeleton of the body.[3] During the design phase, the car was developed under the codename Type X6S.[4]

Rear view (pre-facelift)
2022 Fiat Cronos 1.8 Drive

In April 2016, the Cronos was officially announced by the CEO of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, Sergio Marchionne. During the announcement event, he illustrated an investment plan of $500 million for an FCA plant in Córdoba, Argentina. He anticipated total annual production of 100,000 units at full capacity.[5] In 2018, the plant was the subject of an episode of Megafábricas from Nat Geo.[6]

The car, which entered production in February 2018, went on sale in Brazil and Argentina that month. Within the Fiat range, in the Latin American market, it replaces three models: the Siena Fire, the Grand Siena and the Linea. Based on the new MP-S (Modular Platform Sedan) platform, it uses McPherson suspension in the front with a stabilizer bar. In the rear, a torsion beam system is adopted.

The car has been developed by the R&D FCA Brazil center for the South American market only and is not marketed in Europe.[7] The Cronos offers a luggage compartment with a capacity of 525 liters. The interior is shared with the Argo, and uses the UConnect Touch 7" multimedia system.

The engine range consists of the new biofuel (petrol/ ethanol) 1.3-litre 16V GSE Firefly inline-four engine capable of delivering 99 horsepower in ethanol power supply and the 1.8-litre 16V E.torQ inline four engine 130 horsepower. The 1.3-litre engine is combined with a five-speed manual gearbox or a GSR automated manual (evolution of the Dualogic) always five speed, while the 1.8-litre is combined with a five speed manual or six speed automatic Aisin AW60T.

In June 2022, Fiat announced the discontinuation of the 1.8 16v engine, which was already discontinued in Brazil since early 2022 when the PROCONVE L7 emissions standard became mandatory.[8]

In 2022, it is the normal Argentine car with the highest level of localization: 48% of its parts are made in the country.[9]

As of 2022, 57% of its production is exported and over 250,000 units have been made (over 80,000 expected for 2022).[10][11]

As of June 2024, 400,000 units have been made.[12]

Facelift

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In late July 2022, the facelift model was released. It features an updated front grille with new Fiat badges, interior trims, a 1.0-litre petrol engine option and a CVT option.[13][14]

Safety

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The Cronos has front ventilated disc brakes.[15]

The Cronos in its most basic Latin American version with 2 airbags and no Electronic stability control received 0 stars for adult occupants and 4 stars for infants from Latin NCAP in 2019.[16] In 2021, the most basic Latin American version with 2 airbags, airbag switch, and no ESC received 0 stars from Latin NCAP under the new protocol (similar to Euro NCAP 2014).[17]

In 2022, it lost the 4-airbag option.[18]

Sales

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Year Brazil Argentina
2018 29,307[19] 11,601[20]
2019 24,080[21] 11,048[22]
2020 16,167[23] 16,558[24]
2021 27,890[25] 37,449[26]
2022 41,683[27] 38,769[28]
2023 50,760[29] 47,580[30]

In 2020, the Cronos was the second best-selling passenger car in Argentina, and later became the best-selling passenger car in the country in 2021, and 2022.[24][31][28]

References

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  1. ^ "Fiat Cronos: svelate le fotografie ufficiali" (in Italian). November 28, 2017.
  2. ^ "Fiat Cronos: confira todas as versões, equipamentos e preços". Quatro Rodas (in Brazilian Portuguese).
  3. ^ "Apuntes del lanzamiento del Fiat Cronos". Motor1.com.
  4. ^ "Flagra - Fiat X6S (Argo Sedan) segue testes com menos camuflagem". Motor1.com.
  5. ^ "Fiat Chrysler torna in ArgentinaInvestimento da 500 milioni di dollari". Corriere della Sera. April 5, 2016.
  6. ^ "MEGAFABRICAS : FIAT" – via www.youtube.com.
  7. ^ Modelli, Nuovi (November 15, 2017). "Fiat Cronos - Primo teaser della nuova tre volumi per il Sud America". Quattroruote.it.
  8. ^ "Adiós al Fiat Cronos 1.8". Motor1.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 2022-06-23.
  9. ^ "Cronos MY23, las novedades del auto más elegido de la Argentina". La Voz del Interior. 22 August 2022.
  10. ^ "El mapa exportador de autos: todos los modelos que vende la Argentina a la región". LA NACION. October 5, 2022.
  11. ^ "Fiat Cronos alcanza 250.000 unidades fabricadas y Stellantis incorpora un nuevo turno productivo". Revista Auto Test Digital. September 27, 2022.
  12. ^ "FIAT fabricó 400.000 Cronos en Argentina".
  13. ^ "Fiat lança Cronos 2023 com motores 1.0 e 1.3; veja os preços e versões". July 28, 2022.
  14. ^ "Novo Fiat Cronos 2023 chega com câmbio CVT e motor 1.0; veja os preços". Motor1.com (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2022-08-04.
  15. ^ Jabulas, Marcelo. "Fiat Fastback 2023: preços, versões, fotos, vídeo e impressões". AutoPapo.
  16. ^ "Official results of the Fiat Argo / Cronos + 2 Airbags 2019". LATIN NCAP - PARA AUTOS MAS SEGUROS.
  17. ^ "Official results of the Fiat Argo / Cronos + 2 Airbags 2021". LATIN NCAP - PARA AUTOS MAS SEGUROS.
  18. ^ "Fiat admitió que trabaja para mejorar la seguridad del Cronos". Motor1.com.
  19. ^ "Sales of Fiat-Jeep in Brazil | Vendite di auto FCA in Brasile". www.carsitaly.net.
  20. ^ "Sales of Fiat-Alfa Romeo-Jeep in Argentina | Vendite di auto FCA in Argentina". www.carsitaly.net.
  21. ^ "Ventas 2019, Brasil: El año cerró en positivo". January 8, 2020.
  22. ^ "Ventas 2019, Argentina: Una caída del 42,7% marcó el peor registro en 13 años". January 2, 2020.
  23. ^ "Carros mais vendidos do Brasil em 2020". AUTOO (in Brazilian Portuguese). 2016-01-01. Retrieved 2021-01-12.
  24. ^ a b "Así fueron las ventas totales en 2020". Motor1.com.
  25. ^ "Carros mais vendidos do Brasil em 2021". AUTOO. 2021-01-03. Retrieved 2023-01-06.
  26. ^ "Reporte Mensual de Patentamientos: Diciembre 2021" (PDF). SIOMAA. p. 5.
  27. ^ "Carros mais vendidos do Brasil em 2022". AUTOO. 2022-02-03. Retrieved 2023-01-06.
  28. ^ a b "Así fueron las ventas en diciembre (y totales) 2022". Motor1.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 2023-01-06.
  29. ^ "Carros mais vendidos do Brasil em 2023". AUTOO. 2023-02-08. Retrieved 2024-03-26.
  30. ^ "Reporte Mensual - Diciembre 2023 - Mercado automotor 4w - Patentamientos" (pdf). motor1.com (in Spanish). January 2024. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  31. ^ "Así fueron las ventas totales en 2021". Motor1.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 2023-01-06.
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