A Gamble To Far? Revisiting FIAT's Most Controversial Car - COUPE 20V

Today I drive a 20V, 5 cylinder FIAT Coupe and try and work out where this controversial looking car sits in history. Is it a stroke of Genius or an ugly duckling that few could love?

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[fmontuori]

One of the most distinctive and memorable cars of its time - glad FIAT were brave enough to make it.

[hanspeeters]

12:20 Who tf wants an italian sports car that "plays it safe"?? I want my italian sports cars to be flamboyant, and this Fiat does just that!

[misterbarrows]

Had a yellow 20v Turbo between 2014 and 2018. It was my daily and I put over 40000 miles on it. Loved that engine. Its origins were from a diesel engine that went into some Fiat vans I believe! The power delivery, the noise. Even drove from North Yorkshire to France for a camping holiday when the kids were young. When we got down to Dover we'd averaged 37mpg which is pretty good to be fair. It was rock solid reliable too. And a specialist changed the cambelt for £350, not £1200 like Fiat did. I loved the design but the wife hated it. She clearly has no taste. Well, she did marry me😅

[alfagtvjan]

I have a broom yellow Turbo Plus, and I think it looks great in that colour from all angles. The later wheels and bodykit transform the car. It wasn't actually built by Fiat - it was handbuilt by Italian coachbuilder Pininfarina, who also built Ferraris in the same factory.

[NCRM]

I was staying at the hotel
In Spain where the European launch took place. Woke up to see the car park full of a rainbow of glistening Fiat Coupes. A sight I will not forget any time soon….

[XeniosKofteros]

The 20V lived on as a 2.4L naturally aspirated version in the Fiat Stilo (2001-2009). There was even a Michael Schumacher special edition Stilo with this engine in 2004.
Also the 2.4 5 cylinder diesel that went on until 2010 in the Alfa 159, Brera, Spider was a very close relative to this. To the point were various stuff like exhaust headers and exhaust gaskets are interchangeable.

[rover-t]

It was a great era of Italian design! The Alfa 156, 159, Brera, Fiat Coupe and Barchetta. But the German builders had the reputation for reliability.

[paulie-Gualtieri.]

The Fiat Brava and Bravo of the 1990s were fantastic cars

[ryanmccormick]

There's a yellow 20v turbo rotting away next to my local Chinese I always feel sad for the 20v when I pick up my beef and Black bean. Great stuff as always Jack buddy 👍

[easydrive]

I own a 20vt coupe, absolutely amazing car, its literally art on wheels, from every angle it has the most beautiful lines and striking yet unique styling, design that just makes todays motors look hideous. Those that say its ugly clearly have no sense of style and probably drive something like an ugly suv of today! Wherever i drive my 20vt people comment, take photos of the car in fact it gets far more attention than many supercars of today! Amazing car!

[leoedward]

Had no idea about the flash of colour on the badges. That makes me love it even more.

[cristiancristi]

The first time I saw one of these Fiat Coupe I was just a kid in a sea side holiday ... All of a sudden I saw one, all red just like this..and I shouted in awe:
---"Look!!! A FERRARI 🤩...."
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[masskisto]

Chris Bangle was the chief designer for the project, before moving to BMW

[julianbrown]

What killed the engine wasn't the engine itself, it was the engine bay. In order to perform the full service it was (according to book) a full engine out affair and at the wrong end of £1000 in early 00s money - every few years. Once that small detail became commonly aware nobody wanted one. The residual value of cars fitted with it bombed to the point they were unsaleable. Ignoring all advice I bought one of the last 20v engined cars (Marea Weekend - a wonderful stealth estate) and while I loved the car, the servicing and repair was punishing for a car worth nothing after 3 years...

The engine continued in the Lancia range for some time in 2.0 turbo and 2.4 litre guise - notably in the Fiat Stilo (not the Brava/Bravo)

[wandeling]

A Chris Bangle oddball design, but I like it!

[simonelliott]

I had one of the first 20v Turbos from new at the very beginning of ‘96, absolutely thrashed it to within an inch of it’s life for 65, 000 miles and I had one hose burst on the car in that whole time and nothing else. The car had an inch off all round with some springs and a mild chip, it was absolutely ballistic, handled really well for what it was and I enjoyed every minute of it.

[aussiebloke]

5:52 I think you'll find that Volvo was the first to introduce us to a 5-cylinder transverse engine in the 1991 850. The AUDI Quattro of the '80s was actually a longitudinal mounted package that left a lot of weight hanging ahead of the front wheels, and the TT RS didn't get its 5-cylinder engine until 1997.

[joaomatias]

Not everyone likes the Chris Bangle exterior design but the Pininfarina interior is universally loved.

[mikadavies]

I used to own a 20v turbo. Standard it had horrible suspension. But with a nice turbo, retune and adjustable suspension.... It was a true delight. Shame they are so expensive and collectable now.

[davidwilliams-lrdz]

The coupe turbo is an absolute gem. A true joy given to those of us not put off by the servicing / reliability scare stories. Get a good one and enjoy it while you can. You won't be disappointed. I did Tresaith to Bournemouth in well under 4 hrs in a magical evening drive to meet a non existent scaffolder but I didn't care because it was so enjoyable and stress free. 
Go on. You know you want to ?