Description
Nowadays, marketing uses terms like 'wifi' or 'bluetooth' to sell a product, but in the 80s the watchword was 'Turbo'. FIAT knew how to capitalize on this trend in the best way possible by giving birth to the Fiat Uno Turbo IE in 1985. The car that coined the term 'coffin on wheels' greatly satisfied the desires of 80s kids and insurance premiums, such was its bad reputation.
Today, fortunately, we are all a bit older, which allows us to appreciate the specifications of this car and what they represent with a different maturity. The 118 horsepower, extracted from the small 1372cc 8-valve engine, may seem meager by today's standards, but they push a mass of just 900 kg, which translates into respectable numbers – 8. 4 seconds to reach 100 km/ h and a top speed of over 200 km/ h.
On a straight line, when you pull the throttle, the reaction is always explosive – your back is glued to the seat and the front end drags due to torque steer! On bends, you need to control the throttle well so that the front end doesn't get stuck in the nearest tree. With MacPherson suspension at the front and semi-rigid axle at the rear, the cornering behavior of this 'pocket rocket' was not a benchmark, even at the time. Even so, it benefits from a good driving position, which, without being uncomfortable, makes us believe we are behind the wheel of a go-kart with a roof.
The dashboard, hidden behind the leather steering wheel, is surprisingly complete, the windows are electrically lowered and the sun fills the interior with light, thanks to the glass sunroof. By the standards of 30 years ago, the Turbo IE stood out considerably from its less powerful siblings, and even from its closest rivals, in terms of the level of equipment available.
Considering the lack of judgement of young people in the 80s and 90s, it is understandable why there are so few Unos Turbo on our roads today. The speed, danger and imminent disaster were part of its charm and guaranteed it the classic status it enjoys today.
This unit has escaped all trouble and is absolutely flawless. With only 87, 000 km, it is 100% original and is a very interesting collector's item, especially for those who want to revisit the emotions of their youth!
