The Fiat Linea-Is this the saloon that's coming to India?

[cediafan]

According to the news, Linea may be launched before Punto :
Fiat India may reschedule the launch of its forthcoming product range. The company is considering launching the Fiat Linea first and then the Grande Punto, Mr Mr Giovanni de Filippis, Managing Director, Fiat India, said.

[raul]

The ad agency has apparently already been selected and have started work on the Punto launch, so far its presumed Punto will launch first around April 08, in which case the Linea may be a quiet launch. Strange.

I think a higher proportion of marketing dollars are going to Punto, they really want to push this car. Maybe the idea is Linea will sell itself.

[lamborghini]

Well,
since the Linea is based on the Punto, they may want to market the Punto more aggressively and then launch the Linea once the Punto has gained considerable respect and sales.

[moralfibre]

Originally Posted by opendro

Has the 1.4 16V turbo jet petrol engine joined Linea in any country? I did a lot googling and couldn't find one that says that it is already available. How about this 1.4 16V turbo petrol engine in Punto. It seems to be already available in Europe. Will it come to India with the same engine? Anyone has some insight into these?

I don't think they could afford to sell the Turbo engines in India but it will have the 1.4 FIRE engine. Check the performance tab.

AFAIK the Linea is coming before the Punto.

[madan80]

according to fiat - the grand punto is expected "next year end"

[shatrughna]

I had a discussion with a person from Fiat who was standing next to Abarth stall at the Performance show at BKC. He said that Punto which was on display as 'Abarth' has been modified for performance by Abarth which is a Fiat group company and all Punto will be possible to be modified for performance.

Also enquired about Linea and he said that both the cars are surely getting launched in 2008 ( Linea mid 2008). They will launch only 1.3 JTD and less likely for 1.9 and no automatic option available initially and only based on market feedback they may consider some auto models through CBU.
Thats so sad and accordingly, have made a comment in their visitor book- looking forward to Linea with 1.9 JTD with auto tranny!

[omvnbhatt]

fiat linea will be launched in mid-2008.due to loclization of spares 80%,it is delayed.cost will be reduced around 7 lac. with base model.
whether it will be same hit as in turkey? tata alliance will improve service?
because all tata dealers are not going to give service.

[opendro]

Rightly said, Linea, a bigger car, supposedly a good build as always by Fiat, deserve a good and powerful engine and all the features that are mentioned in - Fiat Linea - should be available at least as optional. If not 130/150 bhp 1.9 Multi-jet, they should at least give the 120bhp petrol T-jet. It will be too ironical for Fiat linea to have less power than Swift (peted).

In the worst case, I'm going to buy the 90bhp multi-jet diesel. Even if they say they will launch more powerful ones later, I will not wait. Hopefully, some digital tuning box will come later (though doubtful if anybody can churn more from a 1.25L engine).

[deepakhon]

Originally Posted by opendro

(though doubtful if anybody can churn more from a 1.25L engine).

Fiat itself has 105 bhp version of 1.3 JTD already in its Lancia range of cars in Italy. So, this engine definitely has more potential than 90 bhp.

[maddy42]

but i dont understand why the delay in its launch here in india. The palio is not doing as much as they expected. Their brand value will actually take a beating if they delay launching a new product quickly and considering the aces they have up their sleeve they should use it. this is not a slow game they got to be quick and capture the customers who are really fickle

[directinjection]

Originally Posted by cediafan

According to the news, Linea may be launched before Punto :
Fiat India may reschedule the launch of its forthcoming product range. The company is considering launching the Fiat Linea first and then the Grande Punto, Mr Mr Giovanni de Filippis, Managing Director, Fiat India, said.

That's sensible thinking. Otherwise the public will can the Linea a "Grand Punto-with-boot".

They had followed the same strategy with the Palio/Siena too. Siena was launched before Palio to avoid a head-on collision between Palio and Indica.

[ram_hyundai]

punto training has been scheduled already for sales staff.1.2 p engine and 1.3 multijet diesel .top end to have auto climate control and music system std .petrol top end to have abs.it was planned for dec 07 but delayed till march 08 due to i10 launch,yet to decide the pricing.imagine swift and punto to have the same engine and punto to be placed in swift pricing range for the diesel.
things will hotten upp by march.

ram

[amit]

Originally Posted by ram_hyundai

punto training has been scheduled already for sales staff.1.2 p engine and 1.3 multijet diesel .top end to have auto climate control and music system std .petrol top end to have abs.it was planned for dec 07 but delayed till march 08 due to i10 launch,yet to decide the pricing.imagine swift and punto to have the same engine and punto to be placed in swift pricing range for the diesel.

What about reports that suggest that Linea will come in first? Is this confirmed? IMO, bringing the Linea in first will be better. Looks like they have benchmarked the car against the Swift. What about Airbags? IMO, they should launch a top end diesel with climate control, ABS and Air bags, that way they can score some points for safety against Maruti. And I hope they bring in the 90bhp one too.

How come we don't have spy pics of either the GP or the Linea? Where is Fiat hiding these cars and testing them?

[deepakhon]

Originally Posted by ram_hyundai

1.2 p engine
petrol top end to have abs.
ram

1.2 litre petrol engine?? can someone please push the car? Will the car ever cross 100kph?

What is the point of this 1.2 engine when it is actually a 1242cc engine and the car can never qualify for excise cut assuming that Punto will be shortened by 30mm?

The car should first move. Only then, we can think of ABS...

[FERRO]

testing them on Fiorano maybe lol