[RavenAvi]

According to a Motorbeam exclusive, Fiat will be finally launching the 500 Abarth in May 2015.

Showcased at the Auto Expo last year, the 500 Abarth was originally scheduled for launch late last year but was pushed to early 2015 and was later put on hold due to the rise in excise duty taxes and the sudden resignation of the then Fiat India President and MD, Nagesh Basavanhalli. However, for all the Italian aficionados that have been patiently watching the clock, the wait is finally over as Fiat India will finally launch the 500 Abarth in May this year.

A pure driver’s delight, the Fiat 500 Abarth comes with the smouldering Italian looks made out of classic retro lines with a dash of modernity and is powered by the 1.4-litre 16-valve, turbocharged petrol MultiAir engine that belts out 160 BHP of power at 5500 RPM and 230 Nm of torque at 2500 RPM, paired to a 5-speed manual gearbox.

SOURCE - Motorbeam

[thesilentone]

Manual gear box? Looks like Fiat has come to understand that the AMT will not do it any good. Great news.

[Senna4Ever]

Spotted the 500L on test plates in Gurgaon. If no plans from Fiat, I wonder which company could be requiring a pan-india test of 500L.

[damager21]

In my opinion, it will take quite some time before Fiat can start selling respectable number of car units in India. Obviously the 2 steps to achieve this is to increase dealer base and launch new products.

There have been lot of rumours about possible launch of Jeep, Abarth, Punto Evo with T-Jet, etc. I think its time that Fiat laid out the road map and time frame for future launches in India.

Their ideal mix should be
1. Panda
2. Punto Evo
3. Avventura
4. New Linea
5. 500L
6. Abarth

They must discontinue Linea Classic as I dont think it is selling at all. Fiat Panda and Fiat 500L could be exciting launch for India. As per Gaadiwaadi, Fiat 500L is expected to be launched in August 2015 while Fiat Panda is expected in October 2015. Honestly, I am not too sure whether this is true.

Fiat 500L looks cool:









So does Fiat Panda

[volkman10]

FCA shows its Global plans again!

The "Cross" version of Ottimo ( China bound), could be the CUV that will come to India.




http://www.noticiasautomotivas.com.br/

[vipul_singh]

The compact sedan mentioned in volman's post above is expected to debut at the Istanbul Motor show in the last week of may:


http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2015/05/fiat-compact-sedan-debut-istanbul-autoshow/

I sure hope that is not a "compact sedan" in the Indian sense, but a Linea replacement. Would be worth watching closely, even though the Indian launch would happen in FST ("FIAT Standard Time")

[lapis_lazuli]

Hi

A FIAT service camp has been announced. Duration: 7th to 9th May 2015

http://www.motoroids.com/news/fiat-....for-customers/

It's also on FB. They are offering a free AC disinfecting program.

10% usual discount on parts and labour.

[k_ajay]

The Fiat Ottimo Cross seems to be similar in dimensions, to the Avventura (both crossovers). Ottimo cross is a jacked up Ottimo hatchback (just like Avventura is built on Punto Evo). Of course, it is longer and probably passenger space may be more.

New engines may debut on this (for diesel at least). But is this car going to make a lot of sense selling alongside Avventura?

[ashua]

Originally Posted by k_ajay

But is this car going to make a lot of sense selling alongside Avventura?

Avventura is hardly selling (I have seen a total of 1 avventura on the Pune roads so far) so it doesn't seem like a real problem.

[volkman10]

Next Generation Punto - 2016 - Could be launched in India by 2017.

X6H is replacement project name Fiat Punto in Brazil. The new generation of premium compact will be launched in Brazil between the end of 2016 and beginning of 2017. The development and production of the model was approved weeks ago by high-ranking FCA Group. The production will be in Betim (MG).
The model will be built on a new platform and there are rumors that the new generation of the compact can replace Palio beyond the Punto. In the coming months the first compact prototypes start the durability tests.

The entry-level version of the new generation Punto will be equipped with new engine 1.4 GSE will have power over 100hp and torque by around 14kgfm. Already the line of tops will use the 1.8 E.torQ EVO which recently premiered at the Jeep Renegade.

http://translate.google.co.in/transl...r/&prev=search

[jessie007]

Another low sales month for FIAT. Punto (Evo + Avventura) has a market share of around 1% in the premium hatchback segment. Linea (Classic + Regular + TJet) fares even worse with less than 1% market share in its segment. This is after a model refresh. Lowest sales in Indian car market month after month - this, after being there in the Indian market for quite some time now. Punto T-Jet isn't going to shake-up the market either. Sad story continues!

[k_ajay]

Originally Posted by ashua

Avventura is hardly selling (I have seen a total of 1 avventura on the Pune roads so far) so it doesn't seem like a real problem.

Yes, unfortunately true. I've seen 3 Avventura cars so far in Bangalore. One of it belongs to my colleague.

And I've already seen 4 Hyundai i20 Active cars on the road.

Does Fiat care?

[JishD]

The only saviour will be guaranteed resale marketing . Had a palio 1.6 and the general resale is abysmal. If they guarantee higher than maruti figures after 3 years, am sure they'll get converts

[vipul_singh]

Originally Posted by JishD

The only saviour will be guaranteed resale marketing . Had a palio 1.6 and the general resale is abysmal. If they guarantee higher than maruti figures after 3 years, am sure they'll get converts

Good point! If FIAT actually WANTS to progress, there is plenty of room for innovation, such as something like this:

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perso...tract_purchase

Of course, in reality coming up with attractive leases / PCP deals is all about discounting the vehicle in disguise, and does involve increased financial committment from the manufacturer. But this is exactly the kind of financial committmenf Hyundai made in the US when they offered a 10 year warranty.


Question is of willingness on FIAT's part, not that of paucity of solutions. But i do feel that FIAT India needs to do the prepations for any innovative solutions * now * while FCA is working on the product front.

[Aditya]

Fiat is planning to launch the 595 Competizione Abarth, Punto T-Jet and the Jeep brand in India in 2015.

Link to Team-BHP News Article

Source: Overdrive