Fiat Turbina

{{Infobox automobile

| name = Fiat Turbina

| image = Fiat Turbina.jpg

| caption =

| manufacturer = Fiat

| aka = Fiat 8001 Turbina

| production = 1954

| assembly =

| designer = Luigi Rapi{{cite web|url=https://www.hemmings.com/blog/article/turbine-speed-with-style/|title=Turbine Speed with Style|website=hemmings.com|access-date=6 November 2019}}

| class =

| body_style = 2-door berlinetta

| doors = suicide

| layout = Rear mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive

| platform =

| related =

| engine = Fiat type 8001 gas turbine

| transmission =

| wheelbase = {{convert|2400|mm|in|1|abbr=on}}{{cite book |title=Fiat—Tutti i modelli del Novecento |volume=II |publisher=Editoriale Domus |year=2010 |pages=294–295}}

| length = {{convert|4370|mm|in|1|abbr=on}}

| width = {{convert|1610|mm|in|1|abbr=on}}

| height = {{convert|1255|mm|in|1|abbr=on}}

| weight = {{convert|1050|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}

| predecessor =

| successor =

| sp = uk

}}

The Fiat Turbina was a gas turbine-powered concept car built by Italian car manufacturer Fiat in 1954.

Fiat was the second car manufacturer, after Rover, to introduce a car propelled by a gas turbine—Fiat touted the Turbina as "the first turbine car built in Continental Europe". The project took a long period of planning, studies began in 1948 and ended with a first track test on 14 April 1954 on the rooftop track of the Lingotto factory.{{cite news |url=http://www.archiviolastampa.it/component/option,com_lastampa/task,search/mod,libera/action,viewer/Itemid,3/page,6/articleid,1592_02_1954_0097_0006_22073545/ |title=È nata con la turbo-car automobile dell'avvenire |trans-title=With the turbo-car tomorrow's automobile is born |date=24 April 1954 |page=6 |newspaper=Stampa Sera |language=IT |access-date=18 January 2018}}

The car was first publicly shown on 23 April 1954 at the Turin-Caselle Airport, where it made some demonstration runs with Fiat chief test driver Carlo Salamano at the wheel. All major Fiat personalities were present, including Gianni Agnelli, president Vittorio Valletta and engineer Dante Giacosa, director of the technical office and responsible for the car's development. The Turbina was then displayed at the ongoing 36th Turin Motor Show.{{cite news |url=http://www.archiviolastampa.it/component/option,com_lastampa/task,search/mod,libera/action,viewer/Itemid,3/page,2/articleid,0052_01_1954_0098_0002_14426546/ |title=La Fiat ha realizzato una vettura a turbina |trans-title=Fiat has made a turbine car |first=Aldo |last=Farinelli |date=24 April 1954 |page=2 |newspaper=La Stampa |language=IT |access-date=18 January 2018}}

The turbine engine was placed amidships, behind the passenger compartment. It consisted of a two-stage centrifugal compressor, three can-type combustors, a two-stage turbine driving the compressor, and a single-stage power turbine with a geared reduction to the rear wheels. There was no gearbox or clutch. According to the manufacturer the engine produced {{convert|300|PS|kW hp|-1|abbr=on}} at 22,000 rpm, and the estimated top speed was approximately {{convert|250|km/h|mph|abbr=on}}. The bodywork had undergone wind tunnel testing at the Politecnico di Torino facilities, with tests showing a drag coefficient of {{Cd|link=car|long=no|0.14}} on a one-fifth scale model of the car.{{cite web |url=http://www.hemmings.com/hsx/stories/2006/01/01/hmn_feature29.html |title=Turbine Speed with Style |first=Karl |last=Ludvigsen |author-link=Karl Ludvigsen |work=Hemmings Daily |access-date=17 February 2009}} By comparison, a 2017 Tesla Model 3 has a {{Cd|link=no|long=yes|0.23}}.{{Cite press release |url=https://www.tesla.com/presskit |title=Press Kit |publisher=Tesla |location=US |access-date=March 4, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180315094117/https://www.tesla.com/presskit |archive-date=March 15, 2018 |url-status=live }}

The concept was shelved due to high fuel usage and problems with overheating.

The Fiat Turbina is on display at the Automobile Museum of Turin.{{cite web|title=Fiat Turbina |url=http://www.museoauto.it/website/component/content/article/34-fiat/99-fiat-mod-turbina |website=museoauto.it |access-date=14 September 2015}}

File:Fiat Turbina turbine 01 2015-09-06 cropped.jpg|The type 8001 gas turbine that powered the Turbina

File:Fiat Turbina Prototype 1954 (16495619678).jpg|Tailfins and the turbine exhaust stood out at the rear of the car