Fiat is updating its mid-size Tipo hatchback, and this time around it's coming with a high-riding Cross variant.
More ride height
The Cross, as with the smaller Panda Cross, isn't actually a proper 4x4, but simply a Tipo with taller springs, giving it a 40mm boost in ride height and a 70mm overall height increase. Giving it a small flavour of an Audi Allroad are a new bumper with an inset 'Bull Bar' effect, and 'bash plate' under the nose. There are black plastic extensions for the wheelarches and roof bars for the estate version. The Cross also gets bigger wheels and tyres than the standard Tipo.
New lights and badge
Speaking of the standard Tipo, both it and the Cross benefit from updated styling which includes a new grille, new, slimmer lights with LED technology, and a new badge. This does away with the red-roundel badge used since 2007 and instead simply spells out the name Fiat in slim, block capitals. It's a look previewed by the Centoventi concept car, and the new electric 500, and will slowly spread to the rest of the lineup.
Mild-hybrid power?
Inside, there is a new steering wheel, new heating and air conditioning controls, a new seven-inch TFT digital instrument panel, and the option of a 10.25-inch touchscreen running the latest version of Fiat's 'uConnect' infotainment software.
Although a bit of a rare sight on Irish roads, the Tipo has been quite the success for Fiat, selling 670,000 units worldwide since it was launched in 2016. We don't have Irish arrival dates nor price yet, but the rumour is that this updated Tipo will go part-electric, and use a version of the 1.0-litre 'Firefly' mild-hybrid three-cylinder turbo petrol engine when it does reach these shores.