In 1996 PMC decided to take the Familia to the next level and developed the FPS package. A DOHC destroked and overbored EA827 displacing 1.6l was used, producing 203hp. With the rev limiter set to 10,000rpm the car was heaps of fun to thrash around. A 6 speed manual transmission turned this 4 door, FWD commuter into a bucket of fun. The interior was made more barren, sound insulation was reduced and aero engineering was implemented to allow for a sub 800kg total weight and adequate downforce to keep the wheels on the pavement. Larger, wider and ‘grippier’ tires were implemented. The front and Rear bumpers saw revisions and a custom dual exhaust was implemented to round out the FPS package.
With all of the upgrade the car managed 0-100 in 5.4 seconds and a top speed of 220kmph. The FPS edition retailed for $16,500.00 Roughly 6,000 were produced from 1996-1999
The exterior saw more aggresive styling with flat black accents, a rear wing and large front lip. The bumper also saw some slight revisions to allow for greater airflow.
In 2002 PMC decided that the Familia needed an update. Featuring a whole new body and frame composed of polymer and aluminum the car has only slight resemblances of the previous design. Some critique the car for looking similar to the 5th gen Zoope with an extra set of doors. An aluminum 2.0L EA827 DOHC engine producing 141hp powers the car via a 5 speed automatic transmission. The 1000kg car manages 0-100km in 7.7 seconds and gets 42.6 miles per gallon US.
The interior features ample sound insulation and many standard interior options. High grade materials are present within the cabin, including all of the moldings and plastics. The entertainment department features am/fm satellite radio, NavGuide GPS, and a 6 CD changer paired with a 8 speaker Sony Xplode sound system straight from the factory. State of the art safety features include side deployed airbags and a reinforced cabin.
With the gape in the model line between the fast-n-fun Zoope and the upscale Quattro Porte (QP), PMC decided it was time to fill the void. A mid sized 5 seater that sat between the Zoope and QP’s price points.
The car had to look modern, be sophisticated, be practical and be something different, something on the wrong side of crazy but yet, must still make sense for the average family.
I present to you, the 2013 Prato Excel Concept. Details to be released soon.
When Designing the 2013 Prato Excel they looked back on the success and the downfalls of the Prato Familia. The Familia was an intermediate offering between the Zoope and the Quattro Porte, was sports, had great utility and shared many driveline components with the Zoope. Its downfalls were its size, for a ‘family car’ it had limited cargo space and did not have as many creature comforts as its compeitors. It was a vast step down as far as interior quality when compared to the Quattro Porte and didn’t get the greatest gas mileage.
PMC designed the Excel with the intent of making it good at everything and it did a damn good job at that. Featuring a 141hp 2.0L aluminum DOHC MFI EA827 I4 paired with a FWD driveline with a 6 speed single clutch sequential transmission. It accomplished 0-100km in 7.6 seconds and managed 41.8 miles per gallon US. It was sporty enough to impress your neighbour but was responsible enough for insurance companies to discredit it as a ‘grocery getter’. A 152hp Turbo version was also available for an additional 1,200.00 boasting 43.5mpg US and a 0-100 time of 7.1.
The exterior features ultra modern styling with flares of chrome, aggressive vents and sharp lines. A dual tip, dual exhaust protrudes the rear and a slight rear lip provided the sporty flair and downforce necessary to keep the car grounded. The front and rear spoilers feature hyper aggressive chrome lips.
The interior on this car was quite upscale when compared to the Zoope and the dated familia model lineups. With high quality plastics, leather seats, and chrome interior accents the car was pleasing to the eye. Seating 5 the car was both room and comfortable with adjustable front/rear/driver/passenger side climate control. 8 inch rear headrest mounted TV’s entertained the back seat passengers in addition to the 10 inch HUD display in the center console. Powered by android technology and a powerful computer the HUD can be configured to display fuel mileage, android powered media center, NavGuide, telemetry feed back, tire pressure and even allowed basic engine tuning. The sound system featured a 10 speaker Sony Xplode sound system with built in compact 8" sub woofers, one in the dash, one in the rear. State of the art side and front airbags keep the passengers safe in any direction on impact. The tires even feature run-flat technology.
The tires were moderately wide to allow for adequate braking and handling, coupled with large diameter 2 pot disc brakes the car stops when it is told to. ABS, TC and power steering were standard options.
[quote=“np1993”]When Designing the 2013 Prato Excel they looked back on the success and the downfalls of the Prato Familia. The Familia was an intermediate offering between the Zoope and the Quattro Porte, was sports, had great utility and shared many driveline components with the Zoope. Its downfalls were its size, for a ‘family car’ it had limited cargo space and did not have as many creature comforts as its compeitors. It was a vast step down as far as interior quality when compared to the Quattro Porte and didn’t get the greatest gas mileage.
PMC designed the Excel with the intent of making it good at everything and it did a damn good job at that. Featuring a 141hp 2.0L aluminum DOHC MFI EA827 I4 paired with a FWD driveline with a 6 speed single clutch sequential transmission. It accomplished 0-100km in 7.6 seconds and managed 41.8 miles per gallon US. It was sporty enough to impress your neighbour but was responsible enough for insurance companies to discredit it as a ‘grocery getter’.
[attachment=0]2013 Prato Excel-3.png[/attachment]
The exterior features ultra modern styling with flares of chrome, aggressive vents and sharp lines. A dual tip, dual exhaust protrudes the rear and a slight rear lip provided the sporty flair and downforce necessary to keep the car grounded. The front and rear spoilers feature hyper aggressive chrome lips.
The interior on this car was quite upscale when compared to the Zoope and the dated familia model lineups. With high quality plastics, leather seats, and chrome interior accents the car was pleasing to the eye. Seating 5 the car was both room and comfortable with adjustable front/rear/driver/passenger side climate control. 8 inch rear headrest mounted TV’s entertained the back seat passengers in addition to the 10 inch HUD display in the center console. Powered by android technology and a powerful computer the HUD can be configured to display fuel mileage, android powered media center, NavGuide, telemetry feed back, tire pressure and even allowed basic engine tuning. The sound system featured a 10 speaker Sony Xplode sound system with built in compact 8" sub woofers, one in the dash, one in the rear. State of the art side and front airbags keep the passengers safe in any direction on impact. The tires even feature run-flat technology.
[attachment=1]2013 Prato Excel-2.png[/attachment]
The tires were moderately wide to allow for adequate braking and handling, coupled with large diameter 2 pot disc brakes the car stops when it is told to. ABS, TC and power steering were standard options.[/quote]
For 2015 the Prato Excel received a bit on an update. The engine was a little lethargic and needed a tune up. With a more aggressive cam, bigger fuel injectors and an all around port and polish the 2.0L DOHC EA827 produced 156hp. Fuel mileage was increased to 43.8 miles per gallon, and the 0-100 time was reduced to 7.1 seconds, comparable to the 2013 Turbo model.
Many 2013 Excel owners brought their cars in for the uptune and had the larger injectors, the ECU remapped and more aggressive cam installed to increase performance.
In 1986 PMC decided that it was to launch a mini-truck off road recreational vehicle, capable of being a daily commuter and weekend trail king. The Gladius is a short wheel base 4 wheel drive light duty off roader which seats 4 comfortably. With a 1.7l OHC I4 producing 63hp when paired with a 5 speed manual transmission is capable of 32 mpg US and 0-100 in 11 seconds. The Gladius wasn’t fast, but it could scale obstacles designed for much more powerful and expensive off-roaders. Featuring rear coils and front McPherson strust the 1600lb all steel mini-truck was designed to climb sand dunes and blaze trails.
It retailed for 4,500.00 brand new. A ‘Weekend Warrior’ package was available which included a trailer hitch, a light duty wing and protective metal light guards was available for an additional $350.00
In 1994 the Gladius received an overhaul. The body was replaced with light weight fiberglass and the frame was treated with corrosion resistance steel. The previous generation of Gladius was prone to rusting with its all steel design.
The wheel wells were heavily flaired, larger tires were fitted and the suspension was taller. The front end saw an overhaul with new headlights and a larger grill, the tow hooks remained the same. For the rear, the tail lights were re arranged. The suspension received a more off-road tune with softer springs and larger wheel travel. The result was a more versatile and capable trail truck.
The engine saw a much needed update, featuring MFI, direct over-head cam and all aluminum construction. With 73hp, the AWD drive train was very much up to the task of climbing over most obstacles. The updated engine managed 40 miles per gallon and a 0-100 time of 9.4 seconds.
In 1997 PMC decided that the Gladius needed a heavy duty off road package straight from the factory. Bone stock Gladius’ were taken off the production line and shipped on over to the Sudbury performance plant where they would receive special treatment.
The mild performing 1.7l MFI Direct OHC I4 was tossed and in its place sat the EA827 DOHC 2.0l I4. Producing 145hp (double the hp of the 1.7) and 131 ft.lbs the engine was very capable, and when constructed of all aluminum only weighted a fraction more then the 1.7l. The 6 speed manual transmission received longer gear ratios making it a off-road machine. 0-100 was accomplished in 5.8 seconds (1/2 the time it took before) and still managed 43.1 mpg US.
Beefy off-road tires were added to the Gladius. 24" tyres were squeezed under the fender flares and the 14" rims allowed for adequate brakes with 2 pots up front and 1 in the rear. The exterior saw a few trail-friendly changes as well. Chrome brush guards were added to the headlights and tail lights, protecting them and a pair of fog lights were added to both the front and back as well. The additional lights are controlled via dashboard switch for night time trail rides. A light duty roof rack was also added for additional cargo storage.
In 2002 the Gladius received another overhaul. A reinforced ASHS steel frame was used in addition to a lightweight fiberglass body. The doors on the vehicle bear very visible X shaped reinforcements bars. The interior saw a steep upgrade for the 3rd gen, featuring a leather wrapped steering wheel and more comfortable seats. Improved sound insulation allowed for a more comfortable ride through rough terrain and dulled the humm of traffic on daily commutes.
The 2.0l EA827 2.0L DOHC engine used in the previous off road package was nominated to be the baseline engine, being the same engine platform used in the Zoope, Firenza and Familia. The 2.0L NA I4 produces 125hp and 130 ft.lbs of torque (less then other variants of the same engine due to the less aggressive cam design for smooth off-roading). With the new engine 46.8 miles per gallon was accomplished and the 1850lb truck managed 0-100 in 6.4 seconds, vastly outperforming the previous generations.
The exterior saw slight revision with the visible door reinforcements, new door handles, additional side vents, hood vents and a slight scoop on the hood to allow for greater engine cooling. The underbody received skid plates in crucial areas to provide protection when off roading and allowed for increased aerodynamics.
[quote=“np1993”]1986 Prato Gladius (First Gen 1986-94)
In 1986 PMC decided that it was to launch a mini-truck off road recreational vehicle, capable of being a daily commuter and weekend trail king. The Gladius is a short wheel base 4 wheel drive light duty off roader which seats 4 comfortably. With a 1.7l OHC I4 producing 63hp when paired with a 5 speed manual transmission is capable of 32 mpg US and 0-100 in 11 seconds. The Gladius wasn’t fast, but it could scale obstacles designed for much more powerful and expensive off-roaders. Featuring rear coils and front McPherson strust the 1600lb all steel mini-truck was designed to climb sand dunes and blaze trails.
It retailed for 4,500.00 brand new. A ‘Weekend Warrior’ package was available which included a trailer hitch, a light duty wing and protective metal light guards was available for an additional $350.00
The cars exterior was plain, rugged and square edged. Front tow hooks protrude the front bumper to allow for easy winch use if stuck.
In 1990 the hp rating was bumped up to 69hp.[/quote]
I like this…where did you get this body? I’d like to download it myself if possible…
