Three models will be available namely, Fiat Palio II 1.7 TD, Fiat Palio II 1.7 TD EL and Fiat Siena II 1.7 TD EL.
The vehicles will retail for R96 900 for the Fiat Palio II 1.7 TD, R116 900 for the Fiat Palio II 1.7TD EL and R123 100 for the Fiat Siena II 1.7 TD EL respectively.
Fiat selected an indirect injection turbo diesel engine for the Palio II and Siena II.
The 1.7 TD uses a pre-chamber and a mechanical pump to deliver the indirect diesel injection, along with a turbocharger to boost all-round performance.
A single overhead camshaft and two-valve-per-cylinder configuration are used on this four-cylinder 1?697 cc engine, along with a 20,3:1 compression ratio.
This contributes to a power peak of 51 kW at 4 600 r/min. The maximum torque output is rated at 135 Nm at 2 500 r/min.
It comes with a five speed manual gearbox and it accelerates from 0-100 km/h in 16 seconds.
The 1.7 TD is capable of consuming an exceptionally frugal 6.9 litres/100 km in the combined cycle test, which comprises 18 percent city driving, 57 percent secondary roads and 25 percent highway conditions.
This allows for a tank-to-tank range on the fuel capacity of 47 litres (with an additional 5-7 litre reserve) of almost 700 km.
Constant speed driving at 90 km/h sees the consumption dropping down to 5.0 litres/100 km. At 120 km/h the 1.7 TD consumes 7.0 litres/100 km.
As with the petrol models in the Palio II and Siena II range, the turbo diesel derivative requires servicing only every 20 000 km with an engine oil and engine oil filter change every 10 000 km.