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The 1996 Turin show will be remembered as the year of the Fiat Bravo and Brava. Among 25 concept cars debuting at the show, 17 are based on the new Fiat models. Of the 17, ten are 'official' - sponsored by Fiat and displayed as a group - and seven are 'unofficial.'
The 'official' section includes:
Five coupes.
Two compact minivans.
A four-door pick-up.
A recreational vehicle.
A special taxi.
This Bravo HGT-based coupe has clean and simple lines. The stylish rear wing, very low, underlines a study of the under-platform aerodynamic, which took to a drag coefficient of 0.18 and a top speed of 265 kph with the same engine of the production Bravo HGT.
The name is a combination of the words "fluid" and "air" - highlights the fluidic properties of air that can govern a vehicle's dynamic. The aerodynamic theme, beginning with a study on forces turbine-assisted (Sensiva 1994), extends research on the car's lower, particularly the rear areas.
The engineers concentrated much of their attention on optimizing surfaces and seams in the research phases. We obtained excellent Cd values and highly effective braking, which uses unique air brakes. Fioravanti has added a classic Italian coupè: a smooth 2+2, which will flow through the air, exploiting its elemental energy for braking, thereby reducing fuel consumption figures. It is bordered on the lower edge by a profile engineered to supply downforce.
The air brake concept is well known in aerodynamic but is applied almost exclusively to aircraft alone, examples in the automotive sector being extremely rare. Nowadays, thanks to electronics and sensors, such devices can be used appropriately and effectively.
Above certain speeds, depressing the brake pedal automatically activates the air brakes, and only after this are the traditional brakes activated. Braking is more "natural" as a consequence, significantly when slowing, rather than stopping, the car.
The upper air brake consists of a rigid plane that lies perfectly flush inside the trailing edge of the roof until activated during braking when raised to an almost vertical position. The lower air brake consists of a wing profile that rotates into minimum and maximum resistance positions during braking.
The car's rear is framed by a slim, high-intensity, luminous strip housing all the lighting and signaling systems. In place of door mirrors, two TV cameras provide a rear view, thereby increasing aerodynamic efficiency, reducing noise, and giving a less aggressive shape.
Sources: www.fioravanti.it; www.autonews.com
Images: Fioravanti
