Autobianchi Model History

Italy · founded 1955

Italy's premium-niche small-car specialist (1955–1995) — a Fiat Group incubator that pioneered fibreglass bodies, the transverse front-wheel-drive layout, and the modern hot hatch.

Models

Bianchina

Autobianchi's upscale Fiat 500-based city car (1957–1970) — offered as a cabriolet, saloon, estate, and van to affluent Italian buyers.

City car · 1957–1970
Stellina

Italy's first production car with a fibreglass body (1963–1965) — a two-seat spider on the Fiat 600D chassis, with only 502 units built.

Roadster · 1963–1965
Primula

The transverse-engine front-wheel-drive pioneer (1964–1970) whose drivetrain layout became the universal template for modern front-wheel-drive cars.

Compact car · 1964–1970
A111

Autobianchi's sole foray into the small family car class (1969–1972) — a front-wheel-drive four-door saloon of which 56,984 were built.

Small family car · 1969–1972
A112

Europe's first modern three-door supermini hatchback (1969–1986) — and the birthplace of the hot hatch through the A112 Abarth, with over 1.25 million built.

Supermini · 1969–1986
Y10

Autobianchi's final model (1985–1995) — an aerodynamic supermini that introduced the FIRE engine and sold as the Lancia Y10 outside Italy, with around 667,000 built in its first seven years.

Supermini · 1985–1995

Other makes