Autobianchi Primula
| Autobianchi Primula | |
|---|---|
Autobianchi Primula 65C 3-door hatchback | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Autobianchi |
| Production | 1964–1970 |
| Designer | Dante Giacosa (Berlina) Touring (Coupé) |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Supermini |
| Body style | |
| Layout | Transverse front-engine, front-wheel-drive |
| Related | Autobianchi A111 |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | |
| Transmission | 4-speed manual |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 2,300 mm (91 in) |
| Length | 3,785 mm (149.0 in) (Berlina) 3,715 mm (146.3 in) (Coupé) |
| Width | 1,578 mm (62.1 in) |
| Height | 1,400 mm (55 in) (Berlina) 1,350 mm (53 in) (Coupé) |
| Chronology | |
| Successor | Autobianchi A111 Autobianchi A112 |
The Autobianchi Primula is a supermini economy car manufactured between 1964 and 1970 by the Italian automaker Autobianchi, partly owned by and later a subsidiary of the Fiat Group.
The Primula is widely known for its profound automotive legacy: integrating a hatchback body configuration with the innovative Dante Giacosa-designed front-wheel drive, transverse engine layout (later popularized by the Fiat 128) and an engine layout/body configuration that would ultimately become an industry-standard.
For model year 1964, the Primula was introduced as a three-door hatchback. For model year 1965, Autobianchi introduced sedan, five-door hatchback as well as fastback coupé variants, the latter designed by Carrozzeria Touring.
The Primula was manufactured in the Autobianchi factory in Desio, with production reaching approximately 75,000 before ending in 1970. It was Fiat's first model with rack and pinion steering.
The Primula nameplate derives from the genus of herbaceous perennial plants, in English, primrose.