The Fiat Toro, an Italian pick-up that recalls American pick-up trucks and is sold in South America

The recent mergers and acquisitions of well-positioned brands have led to a certain convergence between the designs they launch in different markets. This means that although a vehicle carries a particular brand, its design may look borrowed from another brand “sister” within the same industrial group. This causes no small amount of confusion, so care is needed with what we have in front of us to avoid getting mixed up. As an example, I will take the Fiat Toro, a very Spanish-sounding name under an Italian brand, but one that is too reminiscent of an American pick-up.

This model is marketed under the Fiat brand, but its design recalls the American models of the group. This, let us remember, is Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, so the imprint of that country’s car DNA is very present in the purely Italian designs the company used before being absorbed by the large American corporation. In fact, this model is based on the platform used by two models from the American side, so the image is, in a certain way, justified.

That same platform underpins the Jeep Compass and Jeep Renegade, providing the main structure and allowing the image to suit the market in which it is sold, which, curiously, is not the United States. This model of Fiat does not reach Europe either; it has been destined exclusively for the South American market, where it seems to be very well received. The point is that it appears to have been designed to offer the robust, active look of an American open-bed pick-up, but under a brand that does not evoke that country.

Is the aim to seek the image of an authentic American pick-up disguised under a brand that does not specialise in this type of vehicle, in order to reduce the price and position itself in the market? It could be, although the equipment and the engine that powers this vehicle, a unit delivering 170 CV with technology fairly appropriate to the vehicle’s level, suggest otherwise.

For now, the Fiat Toro will continue to be sold in South America, with no possibility of reaching the United States or, of course, Europe, so we are left wanting to see this curious mix of brands, which is quite intriguing. Or do we already have similar vehicles in our market? What do you think?

Via | Carscoops