It will be the end of this year at least and probably early next when Fiat's new 850 saloon comes on the British market and no idea can yet be given of a British price.

It is fairly obvious, however, that the price will fall between the £493 of the 600D and the £699 of the next largest Fiat, the 1100.

By quoting from the Fiat statement that the 850 comes between the 600 and the 1100 to complete its range of small cars, it is fair to deduce that the 850 is an extra model and not intended, at the moment at least, as a replacement for the 600.

Like the 600, the 850 is a rear engined, two door, four-seat saloon with all independent suspension and drum brakes.

Its engine is a four-cylinder, four-stroke of 843 cc mounted centrally along the lonitudinal axis of the car driving forward through a four-speed, all-synchromesh gearbox.

The interior of the 850 is larger than the 600 and it has room for luggage under the front bonnet, where the space wheel is also stowed vertically, as well as a recessed shelf behind the back seats and over the engine compartment.

In very elaborate tables issued to the press, Fiat suggest a maximum speed of 77.7 mph for the more powerful model and 74.6 for the other.

They also suggest fuel consumption varying from better than 50 mpg at about 30 mph, to better than 33 mpg at a steady 67 mph.

Internally the car seems simple but well equipped. The dashboard is plain with all instruments in a single cluster infront of the driver, there is a remote control central gear lever, and the car is sold complete with heating and demisting system and windscreen washers.

The windscreen demisting grilles can be revolved through 360 degrees to allow a face level cold air supply under hot weather conditions.