Fiat to launch the Grande Punto in 2009

As predicted earlier fiat are all set to launch the Grande punto in India only after the Linea launch.The linea should be available in the Indian markets by September 2008 while the Grande punto would be out in the early part of 2009.

The grande punto would be competing in the premium hatchback category and would be priced on the lines of the Skoda fabia if not a notch higher.Maruti swift should continue to remain the cheapest offering in the segment for some time to come.

What this also means is that just like NDTV predicted the Linea would be competing more with D-segment sedans in terms of pricing atleast since Fiat will not price the Grande Punto and the Linea at around the same price tag otherwise nobody would head towards the Grande Punto.

It would be interesting to note how people accept Fiat as a premium brand in India but whatever happens its Tata who shall be the winner once again with Fiat cars not competing with Tata in the economy segment and Tata ensuring a presence in the premium segment with the help of Fiat.

For people interested in the future of the Palio,the Palio is going to be around atleast for a year or two and fiat plan to launch a CNG version by next year.

[Source:Sify]

Fiat Linea to compete with Honda civic

Unlike what you and me think,NDTV thinks that the Fiat linea would not compete with cars in the C-segment but instead be targeting competitors in the d-segment.Competition that includes the likes of the Honda civic and the Skoda octavia.

To tell you that I am suprised would be more of an understatement as the Linea was always supposed to be a c-segment car.NDTV predict the Linea to be priced between Rs.8-11 lakhs.They are not sure about the specifications of the car or the equipment it would come with.However they hinted that the linea would not get the 1.3L diesel multijet but a more powerful engine[perhaps the 1.9L one].

Now is this an intentional strategy by fiat to speculate a higher price and then suprise everybody with a cheaper price tag only time will tell but the wait should not be very long since the linea launch is just a few months away.

PS:Sticking to the NDTV report,NDTV also says that we should soon see the fiat multijet diesel engines on the chevrolet aveo range in india[That means both the hatch as well as the sedan].

[source:NDTV]

Spy pictures of the Next generation Tata Indigo

Autocar India reader tushky has captured exclusive pictures of the next generation Tata Indigo.The car is heavily camouflaged and it has done its job well.Cant really tell much about the car from these pictures but yes the car is based very much on the next generation Tata Indica[V3 as some call it].

Both the Indica and Indigo third generation variants are going to be launched later this year and may very well coexist with the older generation models like the current Sumo and its Grande Avatar.

The pictures remind me of a Peugeot and perhaps even a hint of the Fiat Linea though can't really say too much.The boot looks a bit awkward to me perhaps its more to do with the test car.Well done Tushky and Tata.

Here is the link to the spy pictures of the third generation Indigo:
New Tata Indigo

Also read:
Tata unveil third generation Indica[v3]

Fiat to launch the Linea by September 2008

Fiat have officially announced that they would be launching the line in India by September 2008,commercial production of which would begin by August 2008.

Have already spoken about the engine specs expected in my earlier post.
The Fiat Grande Punto and Linea engine specs[expected] for India

Also interesting to note that the linea would be here ahead of the Grande Punto.
Fiat India to launch the Linea ahead of the Grande Punto


Speaking of interesting and fiat,well Ferrari are here on a 13,000km roadtrip across India as part of a brand building exercise,Ferrari shall sell their cars in India within the next 3 years.But what is most striking is that for India,Ferrari have decided to go with an elephant as its mascot and its logo in India would be the Elephant instead of the famous prancing horse.Just wonder whose idea was that.

Fiat India to launch the Linea ahead of the Grande Punto

In an apparent bid to cash in on the popularity of sedans[especially diesel],Fiat India plan to launch the Linea in India before the Grande Punto.

In my opinion this is a very wise strategy because now the Linea could be given a better identity.The C segment sedan's right now are selling well and there is not much of a choice as far as diesel engines[where as there certainly is demand for the same,even if Honda disagrees on that] are concerned so this is certainly a very wise decision by Fiat.Also they will not be directly competing with tata just yet with the Linea.

The linea would however be disappointingly be powered only by 1.4Lpetrol and 1.3L multijet diesel engines ,so don't expect to set the streets on fire,but yes they would be frugal to run and cheaper to buy.

Fiat say the localization levels for the Linea will be very high.

[Source:Hindu Business Line]

Edit: At the Auto Expo fiat say the Linea would be launched by September 2008,while the Palio is expected to get a diesel heart[1.3L MJD] by december[2007] end and would[palio diesel] be priced at 4.7 lakhs ex-showroom.

Related Post:
The Fiat Grande Punto and Linea engine specs[expected] for India

The Fiat Grande Punto and Linea engine specs[expected] for India

Fiat and Tata have signed a JV in India for producing the fiat 1.2L & 1.4L fire petrol engines as well as the 1.3L Multijet diesel engine,with the pricing suggested by the Media this is what i feel the engine options for the Grande Punto and the Linea in India would be.Note that the final specifications may differ and right now I am just speculating.But disappointingly the 1.9L Multijet diesel engines may not be available on the Fiat Linea as anticipated earlier.

Grande punto-> Petrol
1.2L 8V FIRE ,
1242cc,
65 PS (64 hp/48 kW) @5500 rpm,
102 N·m @3000 rpm,
0-100Kmph -> 14.5 s.

Grande punto-> Diesel
1.3L 16 Multijet 16V,
1248 cc,
75 PS (74 hp/55 kW) @4000 rpm,
190 N·m @1750 rpm,
0-100Kmph -> 13.6 s.

Linea -> Petrol
1.4L 8V FIRE ,
1368 cc,
77 PS (76 hp/57 kW) @ 6000 rpm,
115 N·m @3000 rpm,
0-100Kmph -> 14.6 s.

Linea -> Diesel
1.3L 16 Multijet 16V,
1248 cc,
90 PS (89 hp/66 kW) @4000 rpm,
200 N·m @1750 rpm,
0-100Kmph -> 11.9 s.


Engine specs taken from wikipedia