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94-646: The most famous Autobianchi models include the A112 released in 1969, a small hatchback very popular in Italy for racing, and which ceased production in 1986; as well as the Y10 , which was the first car to use Fiat 's new FIRE ( Fully Integrated Robotised Engine ). With the Primula model, Fiat was able to introduce and prove an innovative front-engine, front-drive layout , which enabled an especially large interior volume and ultimately became

188-531: A Model T chassis with an exposed wood body, most often found around railroad stations, was the predecessor of the station wagon body style in the United States. These early models with exposed wooden bodies became known as woodies . By the 1920s the status of the station wagon description changed to consider them as vehicles for passengers. In Germany, the term "Kombi" is used, which is short for Kombinationskraftwagen ("combination motor vehicle"). "Kombi"

282-452: A platform shared with other body styles, resulting in many shared components (such as chassis, engine, transmission, bodywork forward of the A-pillar, interior features, and optional features) being used for the wagon, sedan, and hatchback variants of the model range . Many modern station wagons have an upward-swinging, full-width, full-height rear door supported on gas springs —often where

376-555: A two-box design configuration, a shared interior volume for passengers and cargo as well as a hatch or rear door (often called a tailgate in the case of a station wagon) that is hinged at roof level. Folding rear seats designed to provide a larger space for cargo in place of passenger capacity, are also typical features for station wagons and hatchbacks. Distinguishing features between hatchbacks and station wagons include: Other differences are more variable and can potentially include: It has become common for station wagons to use

470-531: A body. The vehicle was only produced for two years (1964 and 1965) and only 502 Stellinas were made. Nevertheless, the model was an important step in the development of new technology for Fiat and the rest of the automotive industry. Its lofty price-tag of almost a million lira further emphasized the elevated status of the Autobianchi brand within the Fiat empire. Even more important was the following year's presentation,

564-547: A car underpinning and a wagon body. Imported station wagons, despite remaining popular in other countries, struggled in the United States. European car manufacturers such as Audi, Volvo, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz continued to offer station wagons in their North American product ranges (marketed using the labels "Avant", "Touring", and "Estate" respectively). However, these vehicles had fewer trim and power train levels than their sedan counterparts. The Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG in Estate trim

658-834: A digital clock amongst other creature comforts. Mechanically, the LX was identical to the Elite, with the five-speed transmission and 965 cc engine. The Elegant version was discontinued, with the Elite taking its position in the lineup. The sixth series also received new body-colored vents on the C-pillar, and the front corner lights were incorporated into the top of the bumper. This was the first A112 to be marketed with Lancia badging, originally only in Sweden and in Switzerland. In Sweden, this car had already been sold by Lancia dealers with "Autobianchi" badging. In

752-772: A few years, the A112 had gained a host of other competitors including the Ford Fiesta , Peugeot 104 , Vauxhall Chevette and Volkswagen Polo , as well as Japanese offerings, the most popular of which in Europe was the Datsun Cherry . This type of car proved hugely popular all over Europe. Despite its popularity on continental markets, it was never offered in Britain, although Fiat did enjoy considerable success there with its 127 and even more so with its Uno successor from 1983. However, its successor

846-505: A five-speed gearbox later in life. The mechanics were originally identical to the regular version, now referred to as the Normale , but from 1975 until 1977 the Normale' received a less powerful engine. A performance edition "Abarth" was introduced too. In March 1973, the A112 received a makeover. The grille was new, with a larger mesh, and the bumpers were now of rubber with chrome insert (although

940-425: A forward-facing third-row seat and the clamshell tailgate, was less popular with consumers and was described as the "least convenient of all wagon arrangements" with difficult passenger egress and problematic tailgate operation in comparison to the 1974 AMC Ambassador , Dodge Monaco , and Mercury Colony Park , full-size station wagons conducted by Popular Science magazine. Subsequent GM full-size wagons reverted to

1034-564: A low-priced alternative. It was no longer called Junior, however, now being marketed simply as the "Autobianchi A112". Other than the name change, there were no design changes to the car. Production continued into 1986, at which point 1,254,178 Autobianchi A112s had been built. The sportiest version was the A112 Abarth , introduced in September 1971 at the same time as the Elegant. It was prepared by

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1128-509: A lower tailgate counterbalanced by a torque rod similar to the torque rods used in holding a trunk lid open. It required a 35-pound (16 kg) push to lower the gate. Raising it required a 35-pound (16 kg) pull on a handhold integral to the top edge of the retractable gate. Power-assisted operation of both the upper glass and lower tailgate became standard equipment in later model years. Station wagons with this design were available with an optional third row of forward-facing seats accessed by

1222-467: A loyal following, reinforced by the introduction of Abarth sporting versions and Autobianchi's engagement in racing with modified versions of the model. With Primula production ceasing in 1970 and the quick demise of the A111, Autobianchi became effectively a one-model brand. Consequently, the A112 was marketed as a Lancia from the mid-1970s in most markets, except for Italy, France and Israel, where it retained

1316-503: A new chess pattern upholstery. Engines remained 903 cc and 982 cc for the Abarth. In 1975, the third series arrived. The insides in the rear were recontoured, so that the car now became a five-seater (instead of four). The easiest way to spot a third series is that it received new, much larger vents on the C-pillars, as well as redesigned taillights - with integrated reversing lights on

1410-585: A one-off concept car based on the A112 and designed by Pininfarina . It debuted in 1973 at the Geneva Motor Show and was received well by both the press and public. It is based on mostly standard A112 mechanicals but is powered by the 982 cc Abarth engine from the A112 Abarth producing 58 bhp (43 kW) and 54 lb⋅ft (73 N⋅m) of torque. The car was named "Giovani", the Italian word for youth, as it

1504-411: A retractable rear roof section and a conventional rear tailgate with a window that rolled down and the gate opened down. The sliding roof section allowed the carrying of tall objects in the rear cargo area. This configuration appeared on the 1963–1966 Studebaker Wagonaire station wagon and the 1998-2009 GMC Envoy XUV SUV model. In the United States, Ford's full-size station wagons for 1966 introduced

1598-459: A rubber strip. This was the last model to have the diamond shaped turn signals on the front fenders, with later models receiving more orthodox rectangular ones. The A112 Elegant had metal bumpers with a black rubber cover over it and a strip of metal trim running horizontally across their width. Rayton Fissore showed (and then sold) a special-bodied version of the A112 called "Otas" in 1976, with aerodynamically styled bodywork reminiscent of that of

1692-403: A standard five-speed transmission, helping lower noise and fuel consumption, especially at higher speeds. Starting from the end of 1977 this car was also badged as Lancia A112 in some markets outside of Italy. In July 1979, the car underwent another styling modification, receiving large black plastic cladding on the rear, surrounding new taillights, and new side trim and bumpers. The grille

1786-533: A station wagon counterpart, the 2010 CTS Sportwagon, which defied the trend by offering almost as many trim levels as its sedan counterpart. The CTS wagon, particularly in the performance CTS-V trim, received positive reviews until it was discontinued in 2014. In 2011, the Toyota Prius V introduced hybrid power to the compact wagon market, but was discontinued in 2017 to streamline the Toyota hybrid lineup and focus on

1880-453: A step towards their desired return to full passenger car production. The first car to be produced by the new company was the Bianchina , whose name was a tribute to Edoardo Bianchi's first 1899 car. The Bianchina was based on Fiat 500 mechanicals – with its two-cylinder, air-cooled engine mounted in the rear – but featured a completely new stylish body designed by Luigi Rapi , who

1974-436: A system marketed as "Magic Doorgate"—a conventional tailgate with retracting rear glass, where the tailgate could either fold down or pivot open on a side hinge—with the rear window retracted in either case. Competitors marketed their versions as a Drop and Swing or Dual Action Tailgate. For 1969, Ford incorporated a design that allowed the rear glass to remain up or down when the door pivoted open on its side hinge, marketing

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2068-488: A transverse engine, but with a gearbox on the end of the engine and unequal length drive shafts, rather than a gearbox in the sump like the Mini, became universal; as did its use of conventional steel suspension in almost all other cars with the exception of Citroen – usually MacPherson struts at the front and a "dead" rear axle. Indeed, Peugeot in facelifting their 305 range on the early 1980s switched from their former adherence to

2162-432: A trunk/boot lid. The body style transforms a standard three-box design into a two-box design—to include an A, B, and C-pillar , as well as a D-pillar. Station wagons can flexibly reconfigure their interior volume via fold-down rear seats to prioritize either passenger or cargo volume. The American Heritage Dictionary defines a station wagon as "an automobile with one or more rows of folding or removable seats behind

2256-411: A two-door body style. Several manufacturers produced steel and wooden-bodied station wagons concurrently for several years. For example, Plymouth continued the production of wooden-bodied station wagons until 1950. The final wooden-bodied station built in the United States was the 1953 Buick Super Estate . By 1951, most station wagons were being produced with all-steel bodies. Station wagons experienced

2350-671: A two-seater version of the Panoramica , and another, with a raised and expanded cargo section. Five years after the debut of the Bianchina, at the 1963 Turin Motor Show , a completely new Autobianchi model debuted: the Autobianchi Stellina . A two-door spider based on the Fiat 600D's chassis was distinguished by its fibreglass body, designed by Tom Tjaarda . It was Italy's first car with such

2444-405: A waterproofing dressing. The framing of the wooden bodies was sheathed in steel and coated with tinted lacquer for protection. These wooden bodies required constant maintenance: varnishes required re-coating, and expansion/contraction of the wood meant that bolts and screws needed periodic re-tightening. Manufacture of the wooden bodies was initially outsourced to custom coachbuilders , because

2538-662: A wooden wagon body shipped in from an outside supplier). One of the first builders of wagon bodies was the Stoughton Wagon Company from Wisconsin, which began putting custom wagon bodies on the Ford Model T chassis in 1919 and by 1929 the Ford Motor Company was the biggest producer of chassis' for station wagons. Since Ford owned its own hardwood forest and mills (at the Ford Iron Mountain Plant in what

2632-525: Is a performance station wagon offered in the U.S. market. The station wagon variants of the smaller Mercedes-Benz C-Class line-up were dropped in 2007, and the BMW 5 Series Touring models were discontinued in 2010 due to slow sales in the United States, with only 400 wagons sold in 2009. In 2012, the Volvo V50 compact station wagon was withdrawn from the U.S. market due to poor sales. The Cadillac CTS gave rise to

2726-491: Is also the term used in Poland . In Russia and some Post-Soviet countries, this type of car is called "universal". Manufacturers may designate station wagons across various model lines with a proprietary nameplate for marketing and advertising differentiation. Examples include "Avant", "Break", "Caravan", "Kombi", "Sports Tourer", "Sports Wagon", "Tourer", "Touring", and "Variant". Station wagons and hatchbacks have in common

2820-576: Is today Kingsford, Michigan in Michigan's Upper Peninsula) it began supplying the wood components for the Model A station wagon. Also in 1929, J.T. Cantrell began supplying woodie bodies for Chrysler vehicles, which continued until 1931. By the 1930s, station wagons had become expensive and well-equipped vehicles. When it was introduced in 1941, the Chrysler Town & Country was the most expensive car in

2914-489: The Autobianchi A111 and Autobianchi A112 , both named after their internal Fiat development codes, in a similar fashion to coeval Fiat-branded vehicles. The A111 was derived from Primula mechanicals, but much bigger and more spacious, marking the first (and only) entry of the brand into the small family car class. As usual, it was priced higher than similar Fiat models, notably the first front-wheel drive Fiat per se ,

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3008-562: The Autobianchi Primula . It was Fiat's first attempt at a front-wheel drive car with a transverse engine , a configuration popularized by the British Mini and allowing for very compact and efficient utilization of the body space. Designed by Fiat's technical director, Dante Giacosa , it was launched under the Autobianchi brand to test market reaction to the new concept. The Primula's particular configuration of front wheel drive with

3102-512: The Buick Estate models) featured a 'clam shell' design marketed as the Glide-away tailgate, also called a "disappearing" tailgate because when open, the tailgate was entirely out of view. On the clamshell design, the rear power-operated glass slid up into the roof and the lower tailgate (with either manual or optional power operation), lowered below the load floor. Manually operated types included

3196-536: The Fiat 128 , and did not find much favour with customers. After little more than 50,000 A111s were made, production ended in 1972. The A112 was much more successful. A modern, front-wheel drive supermini it was in many ways similar to the Innocenti Mini , which gained substantial popularity in Italy, following on from the popularity of the original Mini throughout Europe . Similarly, the A112 saw strong demand and built

3290-567: The Mercedes-AMG C63 , Mercedes-AMG E63 , BMW M5 (E60/E61) , Volkswagen Golf R and Volkswagen Passat R36 wagons. The Cadillac CTS-V Wagon introduced for the 2011 model year was considered the most potent production station wagon offered with a manual transmission, and the Corvette-engined version continued until 2014. The first station wagons were built in around 1910 by independent manufacturers producing wooden custom bodies for

3384-678: The Plymouth Reliant and Dodge Aries ), the minivan would soon eclipse them in popularity. The CAFE standards provided an advantage to minivans (and later SUVs) over station wagons because the minivans and SUVs were classified as trucks in the United States and, therefore subject to less stringent fuel economy and emissions regulations. Station wagons remained popular in Europe and in locations where emissions and efficiency regulations did not distinguish between cars and light trucks. The emergence and popularity of SUVs , which closely approximate

3478-483: The Porsche 928 . In November 1977, the "Nuova A112" (new A112) was introduced: The most obvious difference is a slightly taller roof, with a marked edge around the sides. This improved interior habitability considerably. Autobianchi also at this time modified the upmarket version branded as the "A112 Elegant" with an engine enlarged to 965 cc, now promising 48 PS (35 kW) and improved torque. The taillights of

3572-400: The 1940s. Cargo barriers may be used to prevent unsecured cargo from causing injuries in the event of sudden deceleration, collision, or a rollover . Performance models of station wagons have included the 1970 Ford Falcon (XY) 'Grand Sport' pack, the 1973 Chevrolet Chevelle Malibu SS-454 and the 1992 BMW M5 (E34) . The 1994 Audi RS2 , developed with Porsche, has been described as

3666-409: The 1960s, long after station wagons became car-based. The first all-steel station wagon was the 1935 Chevrolet Suburban , which was built on the chassis of a panel truck . However, most station wagons were produced with wooden bodies until after World War II. When automobile production resumed after World War II, technological advances made all-steel station wagon bodies more practical, eliminating

3760-630: The Autobianchi branding until the end of production. The A112 continued in production for 17 years, with frequent, often substantial, changes. After production over 1,250,000, the last A112 was built in May 1986 and was replaced by the Autobianchi Y10 , based mechanically on the Fiat Panda . Branded as a Lancia for most export markets (except for France and Israel, until 1989), it retained Autobianchi badging and branding in Italy. The Desio plant closed in 1992 and

3854-573: The Elegant and Abarth. The Abarth also received a new larger 1050 cc engine ("70HP"), while the Normale's output dropped to 42 PS (31 kW) in July 1975. All engines were still pushrod units, derived from the old tipo 100 engine first introduced in the Fiat 600 . In 1976, due to new emissions standards, the Elegant lost two horsepower, now down to 45 PS (33 kW). Third series Normales still received metal bumpers, but from now on they were painted black (instead of being chromed) and no longer had

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3948-466: The Ford Model T chassis. They were initially called "depot hacks" because they worked around train depots as hacks (short for hackney carriage , as taxicabs were then known). They also came to be known as "carryalls" and "suburbans". Station wagons were initially considered commercial vehicles (rather than consumer automobiles) and the framing of the early station wagons was left unfinished, due to

4042-555: The Mini in-sump gearbox to the Primula's end-on gearbox configuration. The Primula is thus a car design of far greater significance than is often realised, as its design influence spread far beyond even the mainstream high volume Fiats such as the 127 and the 128 of the late 1960s. Even though the new Autobianchi was priced higher than Fiat models of similar size, the car met with a favorable reception. Fiat would gradually move all of its models to front-wheel drive. Throughout its production run

4136-437: The Normale retained the old metal bumpers with rubber strips). A new style of alloys were also available, and the seats and dashboard underwent some changes. The A112E was renamed Elegant , and was no longer only available in two-tone paintjobs. The Abarth was also available in single paints, and on two-tone models the contrasting shade was restricted to a black bonnet. The Scorpion logos on the flanks were removed, and it received

4230-402: The Primula was available as a two-door or five-door saloon, three-door of five-door hatchback , and two-door coupé, with either a 1,221 cc or a 1,197 cc four-cylinder engine. The top-of-the-line Primula Coupé S used a 75 PS ( SAE ) 1,438 cc four-cylinder from the Fiat 124 Special. The lack of a fifth gear limited the high-end capacity of all Primula models. Facing a crisis in

4324-604: The RAV4 Hybrid Crossover SUV. The 2015 VW Golf Sportwagen was marketed as a sub-compact station wagon in the North American market. This model was withdrawn from the U.S. market after 2019. In 2016, Volvo reintroduced a large wagon to the U.S. market with the Volvo V90 , but only by special order. As the wooden bodies were replaced by steel from 1945 until 1953, manufacturers applied wooden decorative trim to

4418-507: The Swiss and Swedish markets, the 903 cc engine no longer passed their stricter emissions standards, so the Junior received the same 965 cc engine as did the Elite and LX. The seventh series, presented in 1984, only saw minor changes, largely remaining the same as the sixth. The taillights were again redesigned and were now joined by a reflective strip. The rear license plate was relocated to

4512-594: The United States. The Ford Taurus wagon was discontinued in 2005, and the Ford Focus station wagon was discontinued in 2008. An exception to this trend was the Subaru Legacy and Subaru Outback station wagon models, which continue to be produced at the Subaru of Indiana plant . With other brands, the niche previously occupied by station wagons is now primarily filled with a similar style of Crossover SUV , which generally has

4606-560: The Y10 (sold in Britain as a Lancia ), was available in right-hand drive for the British market from 1985. The Y10 was not a strong seller there. Estate car A station wagon ( US , also wagon ) or estate car ( UK , also estate ) is an automotive body-style variant of a sedan with its roof extended rearward over a shared passenger/cargo volume with access at the back via a third or fifth door (the liftgate , or tailgate ), instead of

4700-562: The Y10 replaced by the Lancia Y (branded as Lancia in all markets including Italy), the Autobianchi brand ended in 1996. The rights to the brand are now held by the Registro Autobianchi , the official club of the marque in Italy. Autobianchi A112 The Autobianchi A112 is a supermini produced by the Italian automaker Autobianchi . It was developed using a shrunken version of

4794-399: The assembly of the cars. It was seeking to capture the premium niche of the small car market, at that time occupied by coachbuilders such as Moretti and Vignale , who were building their models on Fiat chassis . Pirelli, which was to supply tires for the cars, sought to expand their OEM market share. Bianchi, was assigned the duties of preparing the bodies and assembling complete vehicles;

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4888-484: The body pillars of the compact-size Nash Rambler station wagons that went up the roof's drip rail and around on the spit liftgate. The larger-sized Cross Country station wagon was available with bodyside wood trim that went unbroken up the C and D pillars to a thin strip on the roof above the side windows. Ford marketing began using “Country Squire” with the 1950 model year for the station wagon body design. From 1950 through 1991, their simulated wood trim differentiated

4982-452: The body style through the 1964 model year. The popularity of the station wagon—particularly full-size station wagons—in the United States was blunted by increased fuel prices caused by the 1973 oil crisis . Then, in 1983, the market for station wagons was further eroded by the Chrysler minivans , based on the K platform . While the K platform was also used for station wagon models (such as

5076-484: The bumper and the dashboard received modifications, more noticeable in the better equipped Elite and LX versions. The Abarth received standard front foglights, which were optional on the other versions. The Abarth also has red seatbelts. While the Junior retained small hubcaps, and the Abarth received alloys, the rest of the range now received full-face hubcaps. The front corner lights were now white, instead of orange as before. The engines remained as before, all models except

5170-462: The commercial nature of the vehicles. Early station wagons were fixed-roof vehicles, but lacked the sides and glass that would generally enclose the passenger compartment, and included rudimentary benches for seating passengers. Instead of framed glass, side curtains of canvas could be unrolled. More rigid curtains could be snapped to protect passengers from outside elements. The roofs of "woodie" wagons were usually made of stretched canvas treated with

5264-421: The company's extensive experience in manufacturing cars and ordered the preparation of studies and prototypes of possible new models. Soon it became apparent that resuming passenger car production would not be feasible without a help of stronger partner. Therefore, Bianchi turned to large industrial groups Fiat and Pirelli with a proposal to form a new company to produce automobiles. Thus, the Autobianchi company

5358-488: The company's model range. The first all-steel station wagon body style was the 1935 Chevrolet Suburban . As part of the overall trend in the automotive industry, wooden bodies were superseded by all-steel bodies due to their strength, cost, and durability. The commercial vehicle status was also reflected on those vehicles' registrations For example, there were special "Suburban" license plates in Pennsylvania used well into

5452-517: The contemporary Fiat 128 's platform. The mechanicals of the A112 subsequently underpinned the Fiat 127 . It was introduced in November 1969, as a replacement for the Bianchina and Primula , and was built until 1986, when it made way for the more modern Autobianchi Y10 (branded in most export markets as the Lancia Y10 ). Over 1.2 million A112s were produced in Autobianchi's Milan factory. The A112

5546-513: The cost, noise, and maintenance associated with wood bodies. The first mass-produced steel-bodied station wagon was the 1946 Willys Station Wagon , based on the chassis of the Jeep CJ-2A . In 1947, Crosley introduced a steel-bodied station wagon version of the Crosley CC Four . The first postwar station wagon to be based on a passenger car chassis was the 1949 Plymouth Suburban , which used

5640-408: The decade, electric power was applied to the tailgate window so it could be operated from the driver's seat and by a key-activated switch in the tailgate. By the early 1970s, this arrangement was available on full-size, intermediate, and compact wagons. The lowered bottom hinged tailgate extended the cargo area floor and could serve as a picnic table for "tailgating." A station wagon design featuring

5734-426: The door/gate system for its full-size wagons. A simplified, one-piece lift-gate on smaller wagons. The AMC Hornet Sportabout was introduced for the 1972 model year and featured a "liftgate-style hatchback instead of swing-out or fold-down tailgate ... would set a precedent for liftgates in modern SUVs." The 1978-1996 GM's mid-size station wagons also returned to the upward-lifting rear window/gate as had been used in

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5828-497: The driver and no luggage compartment but an area behind the seats into which suitcases, parcels, etc., can be loaded through a tailgate." When a model range includes multiple body styles, such as sedan, hatchback , and station wagon, the models typically share their platform , drivetrain , and bodywork forward of the A-pillar, and usually the B-pillar. In 1969, Popular Mechanics said, "Station wagon-style ... follows that of

5922-501: The four lower speeds and the final gearing remained unchanged. The front turn signals were moved from the front of the fenders to a spot just in front of the leading edge of the doors, while a small badge denoting the trim level appeared in the turn signal's old place. In terms of trim levels, the Normale now became the Junior , and the Elite version was added, a notch above the Elegant in the lineup. There were some very light modifications to

6016-493: The fourth series were different (and short-lived, as they were altered again in 1979) with a stepped appearance, taller towards the outside of the car and narrower towards the center. Later, there were also "A112 Elite" and "A112 LX" versions which received even more comfortable equipment. The 903 cc engine of the lesser A112 Normale remained unchanged. Beginning in March 1979, French and Swiss market A112 Abarths came equipped with

6110-504: The gap. When opened as a swinging door, this part of the bumper moved away, allowing the depression in the bumper to provide a "step" to ease entry; when the gate was opened by being lowered or raised to a closed position, the chrome section remained in place making the bumper "whole". Full-size General Motors, from 1971 through 1976 station wagons ( Chevrolet Kingswood, Townsman, Brookwood, Bel Air, Impala, and Caprice Estates ; Pontiac Safari and Grand Safari ; Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser , and

6204-459: The highest production levels in the United States from the 1950s through the 1970s as a result of the American Mid-20th century baby boom . The late 1950s through the mid-1960s was also the period of greatest variation in body styles, with models available without a B-pillar (called hardtop or pillarless models) or with a B-pillar, both in 2-door and 4-door variants. The 1956 Rambler

6298-422: The interior. A large, rollback canvas sunroof became available on the Junior, and a rear window wiper became optional across the range. Aside from the new transmission there were no notable mechanical changes. Power outputs remained at 42, 48, and 70 PS (31, 35.5, and 51.5 kW respectively). The Abarth also received the new five-speed gearbox, as well as new alloy wheels and foglights as standard. A lot of

6392-426: The lowest-priced Junior now used five-speed transmissions. By this time, only France, Italy and Israel still used the "Autobianchi" badge; all others had switched to calling the car a Lancia. At the time of the seventh series introduction, a total of 1,115,000 A112s had been built. As the new Autobianchi Y10 was introduced in 1985, the A112 range was cut down considerably, with only the Junior remaining on sale as

6486-496: The more successful Fiat 127 . At the time of its launch, its main competitors were booted smaller cars including the Mini , Citroën 2CV , Renault 4 and Hillman Imp . However, the 1970s saw the arrival of a host of small cars (mostly hatchbacks) which met the growing demand for "supermini" type cars in the mould of the A112. A year after the launch of the Fiat 127 came the Renault 5 . Within

6580-504: The motorcycle market, Bianchi was forced to sell its share in Autobianchi and the company was finally fully integrated into Fiat S.p.A. in 1968. 1969 marked many important developments for the marque. First of all, Bianchina production was finally stopped. Moreover, Autobianchi was positioned within the Fiat Group under the control of the newly acquired luxury marque Lancia . And significantly, two new Autobianchi models were launched this year:

6674-477: The motorsports division of the Fiat Group, at first with a 982 cc engine, obtained by increasing the stroke, coupled to a sporting exhaust , a twin-choke carburetor , and a different camshaft. In 1975, displacement was increased to 1,050 cc, while power climbed from 58 HP to 70 HP at 6600 rpm, for a weight of only 700 kg (1,540 lb). The two engines were offered in parallel until production of

6768-536: The original purpose of transporting people and luggage between country estates and train stations , The station wagon body style is called an "estate car" or "estate" in the United Kingdom or a "wagon" in Australia and New Zealand. Either horse-drawn or automotive, the earliest use of the station wagon description would be considered to describe utility vehicles or light trucks. The depot hackney or taxi, often on

6862-468: The passenger compartment. The interior features a plastic dashboard and metal seat frames with seats made from the same semi-soft plastics often used in boats. The A112 Giovani is currently owned by Italian collector Corrado Lopresto, who also owns the Lancia Sibilo and Lancia Stola concepts. The A112 was the first modern three-door supermini hatchback to be produced in Europe, arriving 18 months before

6956-508: The plastic excesses of the fifth series were reversed for the sixth series, which was introduced in the Autumn of 1982. New smoother bumpers, removal of the wheelarch trim, and a less heavy grille treatment brought back some of the original elegance of the A112, while the interior was also completely renovated. Another new version arrived, the top-of-the-line LX, which featured tinted windows, velvet seat trimming, power windows, metallic paintwork, and

7050-572: The predominant front engine/drive layout, worldwide. Autobianchi was subsequently purchased by the Fiat group and integrated into the operations of Lancia . The Autobianchi marque survived in Italy until 1995, when Y10 production ended. Bianchi , founded in 1885 by Edoardo Bianchi and now remembered primarily as a bicycle manufacturer, was also active in passenger car manufacturing from 1899. Bianchis were in general high-end luxury cars, made with high attention to detail. The company's factory in Abruzzi

7144-455: The production lines in Desio on September 11, 1957, and had the unusual body style of a two-door landaulet , called "Trasformabile" . It remained the sole body style until 1960, when a two-door "Cabriolet" full convertible was introduced, followed by a three-door estate version, the "Panoramica" and a two-door saloon , the "Berlina" . Finally, two van versions were launched: one resembling

7238-482: The production of the all-wood bodies was very time-consuming. Eventually, car manufacturers began producing their station wagon designs. In 1922, the Essex Closed Coach became the first mass-produced car to use a steel body (in this case, a fully enclosed sedan body style). In 1923, Star (a division of Durant Motors ) became the first car company to offer a station wagon assembled on its production line (using

7332-440: The production sedan of which it is the counterpart. Most are on the same wheelbase, offer the same transmission and engine options, and the same comfort and convenience options." Station wagons have evolved from their early use as specialized vehicles to carry people and luggage to and from a train station . The demand for station wagon body style has faded since the 2010s in favor of the crossover or SUV designs. Reflecting

7426-413: The rear side doors and a folding second-row seat. They could accommodate 4-by-8-foot (1.2 m × 2.4 m) sheets of plywood or other panels with the rear seats folded. The clamshell design required no increased footprint or operational area to open the cargo area. This enabled access even if the station wagon's rear was parked against a wall. The GM design, as used in a Pontiac Grand Safari, with

7520-425: The rear window can swing up independently. A variety of other designs have been employed in the past. The split gate features an upward-swinging window and a downward-swinging tailgate, both manually operated. This configuration was typical in the 1920s through the 1940s, and remained common on many models into the 1960s. In the early 1950s, tailgates with hand-cranked roll-down rear windows began to appear. Later in

7614-658: The smaller unit ended in late 1976. The 1975 model was also the first A112 to use a (optional) five-speed manual gearbox . These changes turned the A112 into a nervous machine, much admired by young performance enthusiasts. The car was entered in various rallying events throughout Europe and even spawned a one-make trophy: the Campionato A112 Abarth spanned eight editions, from 1977 to 1984, and adopted contemporary Group 1 rules, which meant nearly-stock cars. Some famous Italian rally drivers, including Attilio Bettega , Fabrizio Tabaton and Gianfranco Cunico , were among

7708-491: The steel-bodied wagons as a visual link to the previous wooden style. By the late 1950s, the wooden trim was replaced by "simulated wood" in the form of stick-on vinyl coverings. The woodgrain feature is not that the body is wood—or that it could ever be wood—rather, it is "totally honest in its artificiality." The design element was also used on cars that were not station wagons, including sedans, pickup trucks, and convertibles. Unique simulated wood designs included trim on

7802-409: The system, engineered by Donald N. Frey as the "Three-Way Magic Doorgate". Similar configurations became the standard feature on full-size and intermediate station wagons from General Motors, Ford, Chrysler, and American Motors Corporation (AMC). Some full-size GM wagons added a notch in the rear bumper that acted as a step plate; a small portion of the bumper was attached to the tailgate to fill

7896-590: The traditional station wagon body style, was a blow. After low sales, the Chevrolet Caprice and the Buick Roadmaster , the last American full-size wagons, were discontinued in 1996. Smaller station wagons were marketed as lower-priced alternatives to SUVs and minivans. Domestic wagons also remained in the Ford, Mercury, and Saturn lines. However, after 2004, these compact station wagons also began to be phased out in

7990-400: The winners of the championship. The increasing popularity of the A112 in historic rallies and hillclimbs led to the reintroduction of a one-make trophy, called Trofeo A112 Abarth, in 2010. Abarths have often led hard lives, having been preferred by young owners with aggressive driving styles. Formula One driver Olivier Panis is one of many to have crashed an A112 Abarth. The A112 Giovani is

8084-576: The world's first performance station wagon. This was followed by the Audi RS4 and Audi RS6 . The 2006 through 2008 Dodge Magnum SRT-8 model brought power and performance with station wagon features. The cars featured a 6.1 L Hemi V8 engine rated at 425 hp (317 kW; 431 PS). The Dodge Magnum SRT-8 shared its platform with the Chrysler 300C Touring SRT-8, which was only sold in Europe. Other German manufacturers have produced station wagon versions of their performance models, such as

8178-452: Was also new, and there was black plastic wheelarches to link all of the plastic parts together. The extractor vents behind the rear side windows were also larger, of black plastic, and wrapped around the pillar. In terms of transmissions, the five-speed transmission already seen in Abarths in some markets now became available on additional models. The fifth gear was an overgear, while the ratios of

8272-409: Was an all-new design, and the 4-door "Cross Country" featured the industry's first station wagon hardtop. However, the pillarless models could be expensive to produce, added wind noise, and created structural issues with body torque. GM eliminated the pillarless wagon from its lineup in 1959, while AMC and Ford exited the field beginning with their 1960 and 1961 vehicles, leaving Chrysler and Dodge with

8366-591: Was available only with a 3-door body. It was offered with the OHV engine of 903 cc from the Fiat 850 capable of attaining 42  PS (31 kW). The Autobianchi represented the first appearance of this engine in a front-engine, front-wheel drive configuration which would later become familiar to a wider range of drivers in the top selling Fiat 127 and its derivatives. Claimed power increased to 47 PS (35 kW) in 1971, but without any mechanical changes having taken place. Performance remained unchanged as well, this

8460-481: Was born, with the agreement signed by the three parties on 11 January 1955, and share capital of 3 million lira , 33% of which belonged to the Bianchi family. A new, modern, purpose-built plant for the production of Autobianchi cars was erected on an area of 140,000 square metres in Desio. Each of the partners had a clearly defined role and interest in the venture. Fiat was to provide the technical base and components for

8554-460: Was designed as an entry level, sporty car for younger buyers. Unlike the standard A112, the Giovani features a convertible roof design with a removable hardtop roof. The body is made mainly from composite plastics and features integrated bumpers, as well as a radiator grille in the shape of the Autobianchi logo. It also does not have a latch on the trunk lid, with the trunk latch only being accessible via

8648-565: Was destroyed by bombing during World War II . Edoardo Bianchi himself died in 1946 in a car accident , and the ownership of the firm passed to his son, Giuseppe. Even though a new, modern facility was constructed in Desio after the war, economic conditions forced Giuseppe not to resume passenger car production, but rather to focus on bicycles , motorcycles and commercial vehicles . Bianchi bicycles are still manufactured. Bianchi's general manager, Ferruccio Quintavalle , wanted to take advantage of

8742-450: Was in charge of Fiat's special body unit and helped to set up production in Desio. With many premium design and equipment features, the Bianchina was an upscale city car , positioned above the Fiat 500 in the market. Marketed as a "second vehicle in the household", and a luxurious "recreational vehicle", also being targeted at affluent middle-class women, it mirrored the increasing affluence in Italian society. The first Bianchina rolled from

8836-443: Was most likely simply a correction to the claimed output. The A112 reached a very particular market; by 1984 female buyers represented 35% of A112 owners and about a third were in the 18-24 age range. In September 1971, the A112 E ("E" for Elegant, which also became its name after the 1973 facelift) was introduced. This featured a roof painted in a contrasting colour, improved seats, higher grade trimming and equipment, as well as

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