CAUGHT: 2022 Fiat Strada Ranch With New CVT Transmission:

FIAT's Smallest Pickup, Looks To Be Getting An Aisin CVT...

Robert S. Miller October 3, 2021

2022 Fiat Strada Ranch Prototype. (Marlos Ney Vidal for use by MoparInsiders).

The second generation of the Fiat Strada has become something of a sales phenomenon since hitting the Brazilian market in July 2020. Over 40,000 units were sold during the first full month of sales, in the Brazilian market. The subcompact Sport Utility Pickup (SUP) has since taken the Latin American world by storm in both its form of the Fiat Strada and its rebranded Ram 700 persona.

Based on Fiat’s Modular Platform Pickup (MPP) platform, which was designed exclusively for the Strada/700, the four-door Sport Utility Pickup (SUP) features two different powertrains depending on the trim level. The base engine is a 1.4-liter FIRE inline-four-cylinder that produces 88 horsepower and 90 lb.-ft. of torque on ethanol (85 horsepower and 89 lb.-ft. of torque on gasoline). There is an optional 1.3-liter FIREFLY inline-four-cylinder that delivers 109 horsepower and 103 lb.-ft. of torque on ethanol (101 horsepower and 99 lb.-ft. of torque on gasoline). Currently, all Strada and 700 pickups are only available with a 5-speed manual transmission. But that may change very soon.

2022 Fiat Strada Volcano CVT Prototype. (Marlos Ney Vidal for use by MoparInsiders).

Our friends at Autos Segredos have spotted a couple of Strada prototype testing on public roads in Brazil featuring camouflaging across their dashboards and dark tinted windows. Their sources are indicating that the interior camouflage is hiding a new automatic gear selector for a new Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) from Aisin.

Autos Segredos has that the new CVT will feature a torque converter that will be the same configuration as what is found on the Brazilian-spec Toyota Yaris and features a 7-speed simulation.

Two models were spotted, one being the popular Strada Volcano model which currently sits as the top-tier model in the lineup. The other Strada caught, appears to be a new more premium Ranch model. Currently, the Ranch model on the larger Fiat Toro is a more premium model with chrome accents and a western interior theme. The Strada Ranch prototype featured 205/60 R15 Pirelli Scorpion ATR tires and 15-inch aluminum wheels and had sidesteps and mud flaps like those found on the Toro Ranch.

To see more photos of the new Toro Ranch prototype, you can visit the Autos Segredos site.

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bill burke Oct 03, 2021 #1

Could this be the first step in launching, my call here, the Ram Pro Master City pickup in the states? Again, my call, sounds like a good possibility. If it goes well in Brazil, it can be brought here with confidence. My call. again.

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patfromigh Oct 04, 2021 #2

The Strada is too small to play on our streets. The Toro shares the SUSW platform with the Jeep Compass and is a size larger. I suspect Ram is in a tough spot right now with our government regulators running amok. While we are used to thinking in terms of safety and emissions rules, small imported trucks also have to deal with the chicken tax. The feds have been on Ford's back pretty hard for the way the blue oval gang squeezed their Transit Connect through a loop hole. FCA sort of did the same thing with the ProMaster City.

What I'm going to say next really belongs in the "If I ran the Stellantis thread". I think Stellantis should follow Mercedes' lead and import knock down kits to the USA for the smaller vans. We only get a tiny fraction of the Doblo lineup sent here. If they sent the full Doblo (Ram ProMaster City) lineup our way we would get a chassis-cab and vans on two wheelbases with three roof heights. It is already setup for electrification offering under the floor space for batteries.

The Toro doesn't need to worry about the Chicken Tax because it only come as a crew cab. Ram can give it a standard bed cover and call it an SUV. To sell any of the Latin American products here Stellantis will need to open up a production line closer to our country.

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