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Photo of a FSO Polonez

FSO Polonez

Named for a Polish dance, built more than a million times.1

Researched November 9, 2026 from 33 sources

Also called

  • BorewiczFirst-generation nickname taken from Sławomir Borewicz, who drove a Polonez in the TV series 07 zgłoś się.23
  • AkwariumAquarium: the early-body update with a third side window and, on some versions, a Coupé-style nose.34
  • PrzejściówkaTransition model: its revised rear end bridged the old Borewicz and the Caro.45
  • MistralThe export name used for Polonezes sold in France.6

At a glance

0100200
59.2–110 hpPower

The coral arc spans the family, from its mildest version to its wildest.1

Engine
1.3–1.6 L OHV I4; 1.4 L Rover 16V; 2.0 L Fiat/Ford; 1.4–2.0 L diesels1
Layout
Front-engine, rear-wheel drive114
Gearbox
4-speed manual at launch; 5-speed manuals followed115
Built at
FSO Żerań, Poland; Nasr/AAV, Egypt; Dongfanghong, China; Karnasuta, Thailand116
Units built
More than 1 million, excluding pickups and vans1

The story

1978: May 3: production begins19781980: Tenth in Portugal, first WRC points19801987: Bublewicz and Żyszkowski take the title19871991: Caro arrives with a 1.9 diesel19911993: 60 mm wider; Rover 16-valve power19931996: Atu: a sedan for just 15 months19961997: Daewoo's Caro Plus and Atu Plus19971999: Kombi joins the passenger-car range19992002: April 22: production is suspended2002 Fiat 1300 and 1500: 1961–1972Polski Fiat 125p / FSO 125p: 1967–1991Polski Fiat 125p / FSO 125pFSO Polonez: 1978–1991FSO PolonezFSO Polonez Caro: 1991–1997FSO Polonez Caro Plus / Atu Plus: 1997–2002 1960197019801990200020102020
GenerationsBefore and afterMilestones15112829
Show the numbers
YearWhat happened
1961–1972Fiat 1300 and 1500
1967–1991Polski Fiat 125p / FSO 125p
1978–1991FSO Polonez
1991–1997FSO Polonez Caro
1997–2002FSO Polonez Caro Plus / Atu Plus
1978May 3: production begins
1980Tenth in Portugal, first WRC points
1987Bublewicz and Żyszkowski take the title
1991Caro arrives with a 1.9 diesel
199360 mm wider; Rover 16-valve power
1996Atu: a sedan for just 15 months
1997Daewoo's Caro Plus and Atu Plus
1999Kombi joins the passenger-car range
2002April 22: production is suspended
  1. 1978

    May 3: production begins

    The 1300 and 1500 launched with a name chosen by Życie Warszawy readers, borrowed from the Polish polonaise dance.15

  2. 1980

    Tenth in Portugal, first WRC points

    The Group II Polonez 2000 took Maciej Stawowiak and Ryszard Żyszkowski to tenth overall and Poland's first world championship points.78

  3. 1987

    Bublewicz and Żyszkowski take the title

    Marian Bublewicz and Ryszard Żyszkowski won the Polish rally championship in the Group B Polonez 2000 C.9

  4. 1991

    Caro arrives with a 1.9 diesel

    The Caro facelift brought new lights and bumpers plus a 1.9 GLD diesel supplied by Citroën.110

  5. 1993

    60 mm wider; Rover 16-valve power

    Both tracks grew by 60 mm; the Rover-powered 1.4 GLI 16V arrived in December with 102 hp and a quoted 178 km/h maximum.1

  6. 1996

    Atu: a sedan for just 15 months

    Production started in January 1996; the first Atu gave way to Atu Plus in April 1997.511

  7. 1997

    Daewoo's Caro Plus and Atu Plus

    The Plus pair gained a new dashboard, hydraulic valve lifters and standard power steering; Delphi multipoint GSI followed in 1998.512

  8. 1999

    Kombi joins the passenger-car range

    A passenger estate entered production alongside a cargo version; the passenger model used a taller final drive.13

  9. 2002

    April 22: production is suspended

    FSO announced a suspension of Polonez production. The stamping dies were soon scrapped, closing the door on a restart.13

Every generation

  • Fiat 1300 and 1500
    Fiat 1300 and 15001961–1972
  • Polski Fiat 125p / FSO 125p
    Polski Fiat 125p / FSO 125p1967–1991
  • FSO Polonez
    FSO Polonez1978–1991
  • FSO Polonez Caro
    FSO Polonez Caro1991–1997
  • FSO Polonez Caro Plus / Atu Plus
    FSO Polonez Caro Plus / Atu Plus1997–2002

Power over the years

From 110 hp to 110 hp in 0 years.

050100150 197819801982198419861988199019921994 hp 1979 · 110 hp · Polonez 2000, Fiat twin-cam1983 · 81 hp · 1500 X, five-speed1987 · 86 hp · 1.6 LE, 1,598 cc1989 · 59 hp · Piedra 1.3 Turbodiesel, Belgium1989 · 105 hp · 1.5 SLE Turbo1990 · 104 hp · 2.0 SLE, Ford engine1991 · 69 hp · Caro 1.9 GLD, 70 PS rating1992 · 76 hp · Caro 1.5 GLI, ABIMEX injection1992 · 80 hp · Caro 1.6 GLI, ABIMEX injection1993 · 102 hp · Caro 1.4 GLI 16V, Rover 110 hp Polonez 2000, Fiat twin-cam
117
Show the numbers
YearHorsepowerModel
1979110Polonez 2000, Fiat twin-cam
1983811500 X, five-speed
1987861.6 LE, 1,598 cc
198959Piedra 1.3 Turbodiesel, Belgium
19891051.5 SLE Turbo
19901042.0 SLE, Ford engine
199169Caro 1.9 GLD, 70 PS rating
199276Caro 1.5 GLI, ABIMEX injection
199280Caro 1.6 GLI, ABIMEX injection
1993102Caro 1.4 GLI 16V, Rover

Versions

8 versions worth knowing, with their power.

  • C/CE and Popular

    Standard

    C/CE and Popular

  • Standard

    Caro

    1991–1997

  • Standard

    Caro Plus and Atu Plus

    1997–2002

  • Kombi

    Standard

    Kombi

    1999–2002

  • Atu (pre-Plus)

    Standard

    Atu (pre-Plus)

    1996–1997

  • Caro 1.4 GLI 16V

    Performance

    Caro 1.4 GLI 16V

    1993–1997

    102 hp

  • Performance

    Caro 2.0 GLE (Ford)

    1991

    104 hp

    1,000 built

  • Limited

    Olympic gold Caro 1.6 GLE

    1992

    20 built

How to spot one

Look for

  • Original hatchbacks have four round headlights.27
  • Atu sedans have a separate trunk and upright rear lights.5
  • Plus versions have body-color bumpers and handles, with a Polonez panel across the rear.512

Year by year

  1. 1983

    A revised front bumper gained a spoiler; the hood intake became permanent and plastic hubcaps appeared.25

  2. 1986–1987

    Extra C-pillar glass and the Coupé-style nose mark the update; some kept the old front. In 1987 a stamped lip replaced the plastic rear spoiler.25

  3. 1989

    The tailgate reaches bumper level; new rear lamps, a horizontal rear wiper and side indicators near the front doors identify the update.1

  4. 1993

    MR'93 widened both tracks by 60 mm, moved the hood vent below the windshield and added round main dials.15

  5. 1997–1998

    Plus cars gained painted bumpers, a rear Polonez panel and a softer dashboard; exterior handles and locks changed again in 1998.3512

Don’t confuse it with

  • Polski Fiat 125p

    Both can have four round headlights; the 125p sedan has a separate trunk, while the original Polonez has a hatchback tail.12728

Against its rivals

The rest of the story is in the app

The full file tells why each version matters, the legend behind the car and what to check before buying one.

  • Versions

    • Why each of the 8 versions matters

  • Legend

    • 14 stories from its legend
    • “86,870 Polonezes in 1994”
    • “From Group IV to Group B, with Porsche brakes”

  • Generations

    • The story of each of the 5 generations

  • Market

    • 6 things to check before buying one
    • Where prices are heading, and why
Read the full file in SPOT

SPOT is free on iPhone. Full car files come with SPOT Plus.

Sources

Every fact on this page links to the source it rests on.

See all 33 sources
  1. FSO Polonez - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org
  2. Polonez - serialowa gwiazda - Auto Świat auto-swiat.pl
  3. FSO-klubi ry fso-klubi.net
  4. Postradałeś zmysły i chcesz kupić Poloneza. Oto poradnik dla laików autoblog.spidersweb.pl
  5. Polonez - historia, odmiany i rzadkie wersje autokult.pl
  6. Polonez ma 40 lat. Rozprawiamy się z mitem jego narodzin: jak było naprawdę? autoblog.spidersweb.pl
  7. CI WSPANIALI MĘŻCZYŹNI: POLSKA B – Automobilownia.pl automobilownia.pl
  8. FSO Polonez 2000 Rally - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org
  9. Jak to jeździ: Polonez 2000 C Rally. Droga od Borewicza do Bublewicza autoblog.spidersweb.pl
  10. HISTORIA FSO - Fabryka Samochodów Osobowych Spółka Akcyjna fso-sa.com.pl
  11. Polonez Atu. Polacy czekali na to auto 20 lat. Potem je wyśmiali! - Motoryzacja w INTERIA.PL motoryzacja.interia.pl
  12. Polonez – są powody do dumy • AutoCentrum.pl autocentrum.pl
  13. Polonez obchodzi 45. urodziny. Prawda o tym modelu jest brutalna - Motoryzacja w INTERIA.PL motoryzacja.interia.pl
  14. Opis techniczny FSO Polonez Caro • AutoCentrum.pl autocentrum.pl
  15. FSO-klubi ry fso-klubi.net
  16. Polonez: Borewicz z lat 80. kosztuje dziś więcej niż Caro Plus w-samochodzie.pl
  17. FSO-klubi ry fso-klubi.net
  18. ClassicAuto classicautomag.pl
  19. Polonez Caro bez ołowiu – test z „Motoru” z 1992 roku - Magazyn auto magazynauto.pl
  20. Testujemy używane: FSO polonez - Motoryzacja w INTERIA.PL motoryzacja.interia.pl
  21. ClassicAuto classicautomag.pl
  22. STRUMIEŃ ŚWIADOMOŚCI: STARSZY NIŻ MYŚLISZ…!! – Automobilownia.pl automobilownia.pl
  23. FSO Polonez Caro 1.4 16V Orciari - Polonez na wypasie muzeumskarbnarodu.pl
  24. Polskie samochody rajdowe z PRLu - rp.pl moto.rp.pl
  25. Polonez Coupe - nieznane oblicze polskiego klasyka auto-swiat.pl
  26. Złoto z FSO czyli historia olimpijskich Polonezów - Movendus movendus.pl
  27. FSO Polonez w filmie „Lachtara. Tęsknota”. Premiera 6 listopada auto-swiat.pl
  28. Polski Fiat 125p - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org
  29. Fiat 1300 and 1500 - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org
  30. Polonez – prezentacja, dane techniczne i wrażenia z jazdy z 1978 - Magazyn auto magazynauto.pl
  31. Stary Volkswagen Jetta czy nowy Polonez Caro? | Motor” 16/1992 - Magazyn auto magazynauto.pl
  32. 1978 FSO StratoPolonez – dane techniczne, zdjęcia, osiągi, opis autogen.pl
  33. IGCD.net - Internet Game Cars Database igcd.net
  • en.wikipedia.org
  • auto-swiat.pl
  • fso-klubi.net
  • autoblog.spidersweb.pl
  • autokult.pl
  • automobilownia.pl
  • fso-sa.com.pl
  • motoryzacja.interia.pl
  • autocentrum.pl
  • w-samochodzie.pl
  • classicautomag.pl
  • magazynauto.pl
  • muzeumskarbnarodu.pl
  • moto.rp.pl

Photo credits

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