FIAT'S new Marea and Marea Weekend - replacements for the Tempra saloon and Station Wagon go on sale throughout mainland Europe in September, but will not be available in the UK until early 1997.

Marea is a compact three-'box' saloon measuring 4.38 metres long and 1.74 metres wide. It will be available in SX, ELX and HLX specification giving a total of 17 versions. Marea Weekend is 10 cm longer and buyers of this model will also be able to choose from 17 versions.

The cars come to the UK with a choice of six completely new engines. There are three turbo diesel engines - a 75 bhp 1.9 litre four cylinder eight valve unit, a 100 bhp 1.9 litre four cylinder eight valve unit and a 2.4 litre five cylinder 10 valve engine developing 124 bhp. There are also three petrol engines - a 103 bhp 1.6 litre four cylinder 16v unit, a 113 bhp 1.8 litre four cylinder 16v unit and a 147 bhp 2.0 litre five cylinder 20v engine.

Price and specification have yet to be announced, but Fiat expects the cars to straddle both the lower and upper medium sectors.