The design of the SUV bodywork is mainly the work of the Italians with the stylish youthful look coming from the Italdesign house in Turin. The build quality is good on the new production lines and in the Fiat badged vehicle on test there are no complaints with the finish, inside or out.

The Sedici . . . translated it means 16 (4x4) . . . comes with three driving modes. A switch in the centre console can be set at 'Lock', 'Auto' or '2WD', depending on the type of terrain or weather confronting the driver.

In the 'Lock' position, torque distribution is locked 50/50 between the front and rear axle to deal with mud, snow or sand.

In this position it ensures quick stable starts in extreme conditions. The system remains engaged until the vehicle's speed exceeds 60 km/h when the 'Auto' mode cuts in automatically.

For less severe driving conditions, the 'Auto' switch is the best choice. It is intended for driving on dirt tracks, sleet or wet roads and the torque, which is normally sent to the front wheels, is automatically distributed to the front and rear axle as necessary when there is less grip.

This is a great help for unexpected bad patches of roadway or slushy verges.

The '2WD' is the most common setting and is intended for city and motorway use where twowheel-drive is the norm and fuel economy is the main consideration.

Fiat has made the Sedici comfortable with good seating and easy-to-use controls. The high driving position is a big plus and, on the road, tyre and wind noise are at acceptable levels.

When pushed hard, the engine will create a bit of a fuss but otherwise will give a lively enough performance.

The Sedici cruises easily at 120 km/h and in mixed driving is reasonably economical, returning 7l/100km. The gears are light and easy to use and the braking is sharp but very effective. There is good space for five on board and there is lots of cargo space when the rear seats are dropped to take bulky objects.

This is a compact, well-priced vehicle that is fit for whatever the elements can throw at it.

The Sedici should be a good seller for Fiat and for those who like diesel power there is the option of a 1.9-litre turbocharged engine which costs more but will give a better return on fuel consumption.

And there is further news from Turin to keep the Fiat small vehicle fans happy. There are plans to have the new 500 on sale shortly.

The new model will have the option of a two-cylinder engine.

The car is expected to go on sale next year and the emphasis will be on fuel efficiency.

The 0.9 litre (900 cc) engine is expected to develop between 90 and 110 bhp and will be 20% more economical than the normal 1.2litre engines used in urban cars.

Drivers should be able to return over 60 mpg in mixed driving and with 120 Nm of torque expected, the 500 will be no slouch, although the mini power pack will not be ready for the initial launch of the 500. The basic 900cc engine will have a smaller power output . . . the same as the current Fiat Panda 1.2-litre engine, which is more than adequate for a small car.

The two-cylinder concept . . .

last used in a high-selling car with the Citroen 2CV . . . and the new Fiat engine could well make an appearance in the new Ford Ka which will share the same platform with the Fiat 500.

But for those who want performance ahead of economy there will also be more powerful engines on offer. Fiat has developed a new 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol engine which can develop 150 bhp and there is a new high-performance 1.8-litre turbo-diesel engine on the way in 2008 with four further performance enhanced engines between now and 2010.