Fiat Tempra Details, Photos and Videos

The Fiat Tempra (Type 159) is a small family car produced by the Italian automaker Fiat from 1990 to 1997 in Italy. The Tempra was intended as a replacement for the Fiat Regata. The original project was called Tipo 3, being a mid size car between the Fiat Tipo (project Tipo 2) and the bigger Fiat Croma (project Tipo 4). The Tempra shares its Type Three platform with the Lancia Dedra and Alfa Romeo 155.

The Tempra was named the 1991 Semperit Irish Car of the Year in Ireland.

In Brazil the Tempra was built from 1991 to 1998. The car was also assembled in Turkey by Tofas and in Vietnam by Mekong Auto in complete knock down until 2000.

The Tempra saloon was showed for the first time in newspapers in November 1989 and introduced in February 1990 at the Geneva Salon, with the station wagon (marketed as the "Tempra SW") arriving two months later in Turin. The initial engine range comprised 1.4, 1.6 and 1.8 petrol units and normally aspirated and turbocharged 1.9 litre diesel units.

The car began to be produced in Brazil for Latin American markets, after being introduced in Aruba, September 1991. First seen in September 1992, a two door coupé version of it, was produced exclusively for the Brazilian market. It was built until 1995 and a turbocharged petrol version was also available there.

The Tempra's engine range was similar to that of the Tipo. Initially 1.4 and 1.6 litre models had carburettor engines. Both of these models were discontinued in 1992, due to the new European emission standards, and thus all models from 1992 on had catalytic converters and electronic injection.

Transmission was a standard five speed manual, but for the first time a midsize sedan was offered as with a continuously variable transmission which was previously available on the Fiat Uno, Panda, Ritmo and Tipo.

This, called the "Selecta", was available only with the 1.6 litre engine with either bodystyle. As of July 1991, the 2.0 litre SX model became available with an optional four speed automatic transmission.

Presented in Geneva 1992 (March), there was a version of the station wagon which offered the two litre engine, combined with permanent four wheel drive. The four wheel drive version had a slight front bias (56/44%).

During its six year production run, few changes were made apart from a minor facelift in April 1993, which resulted in a new front grille and other minor styling changes, as well as new equipment levels.

Main parts (most notably, the doors) were shared with the Fiat Tipo. Other vehicles, derived from the same chassis were Lancia Dedra (Tempra's most similar cousin, sharing all mechanical components) and Alfa Romeo 155.

The Fiat Tempra had two exclusive options in Brazil: two door version for any engine option (from 1992 to 1994), and a 2.0-litre turbo, which was sold with the two door as "Tempra Turbo" (1994 to 1995) and with the four door as "Tempra Turbo Stile" (1996 to 1997). The engine delivered around 163 hp (122 kW; 165 PS) and 26.5 kgf⋅m (192 lb⋅ft; 260 N⋅m) of torque. Car magazine tests registered 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 8,2 seconds and a top speed of 213 km/h (132 mph) by the Tempra Turbo two door 1994. As remark, the Tempra Turbo 1994 was the second turbocharged car to be produced in Brazil. The first one was the Uno Turbo, also in 1994.

Only two trim levels were available in its early years: standard (S) and SX, both reasonably equipped considering the Tempra's low price.

SX models for example, featured power windows, power locks, adjustable belts and steering wheel, front fog lights, body coloured bumpers, velvet upholstery, a futuristic digital dashboard and many other standard extras. They were also available with optional extras like anti lock brakes, alloy wheels, sunroof, electronic climate control, etc.

A facelift in April 1993 featured more trim levels, now ranging from the standard models ("L" in the United Kingdom, where it was only available with 1.4 engine) via the S and SX to the top SLX, which was only available with 1.8, and 2.0 litre engines in the United Kingdom. An optional driver's airbag was another innovation that year.

The four wheel drive Station Wagons continued to be available in some markets, such as Switzerland.

In Turkey, where Tofaş built the car, there were also "SX A" and "SX AK" (climate control added) versions available. The 1,000,000th Tofaş built was a Tempra 2.0 i.e. 16V. The Turkish 16 valve Tempra was not sold in the rest of Europe; it was also available with station wagon bodywork and has a 148 PS (109 kW) engine.

There was also the domestic market Marengo, a name also used before with the Regata Weekend and later again with the Marea Wagon. This is a commercial version of the Tempra which was based on the Station Wagon version, but with basic equipment, heavily tinted rear windows, and no rear seats. The engines were most commonly the naturally aspirated diesels.

Quattroruote, a popular Italian motoring magazine, reported some failures and defects with the Tempra. The first issue to be reported was some water ingress through the windscreen seals, an issue that previously plagued some other Fiat vehicles, especially Alfa 33, which in rainy conditions would carry a significant quantity of water on board. This problem was reported from 1990–92, and was resolved with using a higher quantity of sealant when fitting the glass.

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