With the Fiat Bravo waiting in the wings, astute carspotters will already be able to get a glimpse of the newcomer currently testing in South Africa during December and on into January.

The new Bravo is built in Fiat Auto’s Piedimonte S. Germano plant (Frosinone), and is aimed at becoming a benchmark in the most important segment of the European market. To achieve this goal, the Fiat Bravo has been designed and developed to embody both beauty and substance.

Developed by the Fiat Style Centre, the exterior design of the model is unmistakably Italian, all of which is part of the development of the brand’s visual identity. The new Bravo arouses emotions at first glance, and it welcomes occupants with a passenger compartment in which they will appreciate the quality of materials used and the care dedicated to the smallest details.

The new Fiat Bravo combines a compact five-door body with a remarkable amount of interior space: it is 434 centimetres long, 179 cm wide and 149 cm high, with a wheelbase of 2.6 metres, and a loading capacity of 400 litres that tops its class.

The Fiat Bravo also aims to be a car of substance, thanks to a wide range of technological features, and quality standards worthy of a higher class where safety, comfort and driving enjoyment are concerned.

The model’s performance, endurance and heat tests are underway in and around Johannesburg, Upington and at the coast (Western Cape including Cape Town). A technical delegation from Italy in conjunction with a team from South Africa are conducting the tests. The new Fiat Bravo will officially be launched locally in right-hand drive form in the second half of 2007.