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Tipo Quattro platform
Tipo Quattro platform
Overview
Manufacturer	Fiat Group; Saab Automobile
Also called	Tipo 4; Type Four
Production	1984–1998
Body and chassis
Class	Executive car platform
Layout	Transverse Front-engine, front-wheel drive / four-wheel drive
Vehicles	Alfa Romeo 164; Fiat Croma; Lancia Thema; Saab 9000
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2,660–2,672 mm (104.7–105.2 in)
Chronology
Successor	Type E-platform; STLA Large platform (indirect)

The Tipo Quattro platform (type four) was a front wheel drive platform co-developed in the 1980s and 1990s and shared by the Saab 9000, Fiat Croma, Lancia Thema, and Alfa Romeo 164.^[3] The platform, ultimately in production for fourteen years, was the fifth and largest of Fiat's Tipo platforms, a numbering sequence that began with zero, hence "four" (the four does not refer to its use by four carmakers).^[4]

History

The platform emerged as an agreement between the four carmakers in October 1978 to reduce development costs on new top-of-the-range saloons, although it would be another six to nine years before the cars were launched. It was front-wheel drive, with optional four-wheel drive, and used an all-wheel independent MacPherson strut suspension, except on the Saab.

The Saab and Lancia versions were the first cars to be launched in 1984, with the Fiat debuting a year later, and the line-up being completed in 1987 with the arrival of the Alfa Romeo.

The Fiat and Lancia looked much like the Saab, but the Alfa Romeo only shared the chassis. The wheelbase is 2.67 m (105 inches) on all models. The Saab and Fiat were launched as five-door hatchbacks and the Alfa Romeo and Lancia sold as four-door saloons. Lancia added the only Type Four estate in 1986 and Saab eventually added a saloon version of the 9000 in 1988.

Because of their similarity, numerous parts are interchangeable among brands, e.g., the windshield from the Croma and the 9000; the sideview mirrors of the 9000 and the Thema. To accommodate their shared development, the Saab 9000's ignition key was situated on the steering column instead of between the front seats, as typical on other Saab models. The Alfa Romeo features an exclusive front suspension and chassis modifications. The Saab has a beam axle rear suspension, rather than the independent MacPherson found on the other models. The front end of the Saab varies extensively from the Italian models due to the much improved crash protection.^[5]

The Thema was the first of the Type Four models to be replaced when it was succeeded by the Kappa in 1994 – which made use of a new Type E-platform which also spawned the 164's successor, the Alfa Romeo 166, in 1996. Fiat stopped manuafacturing the Croma in 1996 without an immediate replacement. The 9000 was replaced in 1997 by the 1998 9-5, based on the Opel-derived GM2900 platform also shared with its 900 and 9-3 siblings. The Alfa Romeo 164 was replaced by the 166 in 1998, signalling the end of the Type Four platform after 14 years.

Saab 9000 (1984-1998)
Lancia Thema (1984-1994)
Fiat Croma (1985-1996)
Alfa Romeo 164 (1987-1998)

In popular culture

On the 6th episode in the 9th season of the British motoring program Top Gear, James May welded together the front halves of a Saab 9000 and Alfa Romeo 164 to make a stretch limousine. He said the two cars should be entirely compatible because they had the same wheelbase and floor pan. It was nicknamed the "Salfa Romeaab".

References

^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2021-01-26. Retrieved 2021-10-07.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
^ "Automotive Design and Production, Feb 2002, accessed via". Findarticles.com. Archived from the original on 2010-10-18. Retrieved 2010-09-30.
^ "Four of a Kind: The Alfa Romeo 164 and the "Type Four" Cars". Ate up with motor. 13 June 2009. Archived from the original on 12 January 2014. Retrieved 13 August 2014.
^ "Curiosidades" [Curiosa]. Fiat Tipo Portugal (in Portuguese). 2008-07-01. Archived from the original on 18 June 2010.
^ "GP: Sveriges modernaste bil fyller 30". Archived from the original on December 21, 2014.