Following in the footsteps of Nissan and its Qashqai small crossover that proved to be a success for the Japanese automaker, Fiat has decided that the Bravo‘s replacement won’t be a conventional hatchback as initially planned, but a high-riding C-segment hatch.
The decision was made at the end of last month and the new car will launch in 2013, according to inside sources quoted by Autonews Europe. The Fiat Bravo didn’t make it in the list of Europe’s 10 best sold compact cars in 2010, whereas the Nissan Qashqai placed fifth, with 216,091 units. In comparison, Fiat sold 44,850 Bravos, while the segment leader, Volkswagen’s Golf, enjoyed sales of 501,671 units.
Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne first hinted at the discontinuation of the Bravo in January. He said in Detroit that one of the biggest issues Fiat needed to address was the strategy for the compact segment. “I think that replication of a me-too vehicle in the compact segment for Fiat is totally inappropriate. I don’t think it’s going to be a traditional offering,” Marchionne said.
Launched in 2007 and available only as a five-door hatchback, the Fiat Bravo never reached the expected annual sales level of 120,000 units, with its best year being 2008, when 95,292 units were delivered. Fiat said the car would be profitable as long as 75,000 units were sold each year. The Bravo surpassed this target in 2007 and 2008 but has missed it for the past two years.
By Dan Mihalascu
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