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

Eddy · 10th August 2008, 13:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by opendro

13L for a dualogic gear box top end. I'm expecting the price to be at least a lakh or two less than this though. But if they surprise me with higher price, this is the limit for me. Beyond this, I would rather look for something else.

13L should be pretty good. Anything above this and we can say bye bye Linea. In fact, I think even 13L is too much. This is civic territory.

senindra · 10th August 2008, 14:30

Opendro that should be the correct budget in mind for the 1.3 dualogic, If I convert that is the price which is charged in Germany hence I would expect the price to be a couple of thousands actually cheaper. The price, I feel, would also depend on the localization of parts, and to what extent they import some of the parts. Lets wait and watch what Fiat has in store for India

Quote:

Originally Posted by opendro

13L for a dualogic gear box top end. I'm expecting the price to be at least a lakh or two less than this though. But if they surprise me with higher price, this is the limit for me. Beyond this, I would rather look for something else.

Steeroid · 10th August 2008, 14:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by vipul_singh

I am just amazed at the kind of interest the Linea is generating. I never expected this for a FIAT, given the condition the company is perceived to be in

Are you new to Team BHP? We usually have a few posts if the President/CEO of Fiat in India sends out an email or waves to the media.

Its a bit like the Safari boys these days - someone forgets to shut his windows fully and immediately creates a thread about a whistling noise from the front LHS.

vipul_singh · 10th August 2008, 19:54

Ha ha! Very sharp observation Steeroid. You are right, I too have seen this before. And no, I am an old member, though I have been reading more than I have posted

opendro · 10th August 2008, 22:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eddy

13L should be pretty good. Anything above this and we can say bye bye Linea. In fact, I think even 13L is too much. This is civic territory.

Actually the price I mentioned is for a fully loaded diesel Linea OTR price in Bangalore. Assuming petrol to be at least a lakh cheaper, i.e. at 12L, Civic is still 2 lakh costlier, that too without an automatic option. And Civic does not have features like HillHolder and Blue&Me. So, a Linea with equivalent specs of Civic (except for the engine) would still be 3 lakh cheaper than Civic even at the rate I mentioned. I would consider it good positioning.

vipul_singh · 10th August 2008, 22:20

13 lakh for the Linea, even if it is better equipped than the Civic would be detrimental to the car's success. I think the Linea would need to be priced much more competitively than equivalent cars because of the public's lack of faith in FIAT (and trust me there are plenty of naysayers), and expected disadvantage in terms of service.

FIAT may look promising right now, with the impressive looking brand building exercise going on, but the company has a track record of leaving customers in the lurch when the going gets tough. Think of what happened when the Palio started suffering - sales wise.

My argument is that the Linea really needs to sell well for the owners to be cared for (in terms of service). And if it is badly priced, the ones who go for it despite the high price arlikely to suffer.

opendro · 25th September 2008, 14:29

I'm happy that Fiat did not launch Linea before all new Honda City. With the kind of specs of the new City, the price and the brand image Honda carries, Fiat is definitely going to give a serious thought on the pricing of Linea. Good for the buyers

Seriously thinking if I should switch to petrol after seeing the all New Honda City price and spec

iceman7 · 25th September 2008, 14:50

but the red GP in the link, a couple of pages back looks HOT.

About the Linea - I hope FIAT redeems itself with this one. till then lets just wait & watch.

opendro · 25th September 2008, 15:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by iceman7

About the Linea - I hope FIAT redeems itself with this one. till then lets just wait & watch.

That is right. I'm also going to wait for Linea. But for the first time, I changed my diesel mentality to Petrol after seeing all New Honda City. Yes, I'm now open to Petrol as well

joecherian · 25th September 2008, 15:37

If Linea is priced above the new city (or even the same price) i think lot of people will think seven times 7 before going for it.And I am one among this list who has already done this and decided for the new city.

karanraheja · 25th September 2008, 15:51

Would like to see how Linea prices its 1.4 Petrol against the City VTEC. The only way Linea Diesel could try eating a slight pie of City sales is pricing !!!

OT
@Opendro- How much is your monthly usage??

Steeroid · 25th September 2008, 16:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by iceman7

About the Linea - I hope FIAT redeems itself with this one. till then lets just wait & watch.

Unfortunately that is the only activity around Fiat in India these days - Waiting and Watching. EDIT: & "Planning" (added after Amit's clarification).

Meanwhile other manufacturers are busy launching new models and upgrades one after the other. The new Corolla is out, the new City is out, the new Indica is out, Maruti made a whole new sedan out of the Swift during the period Fiat was mulling over their launches in India and it is now a bestseller. Hell, even the 'new' Ikon will be out soon with a 1.4 TDCi. The new Fiesta may be out with a 1.6 TDCi too.

Maybe Fiat is waiting for the Logan update before they launch their cars.

amit · 25th September 2008, 16:20

Apart from waiting and watching, they are also busy planning.

Sergio Marchionne is exploring the option of making the Ranjangaon plant the global hub for future Fiat models. No doubt, this is great news but it remains to seen how fast they manage to do all of this.

Source: Italiaspeed.

ethanhunt123 · 25th September 2008, 16:33

Linea sometimes reminds me of Duke Nukem Forever - forever in development & planning.

carbaliga · 25th September 2008, 16:55

Apart from wait and watch and plan Fiat is also making a whole load of money by manufacturing engines. The same engine is running in 4 different cars - Palio, Swift, Indica Vista and Dzire. Add to that exports to other countries. So the strategy may be simple, why launch a car and sweat around? when you are already minting $ by selling engines.

Just joking

IMHO, it may be a game of wait and watch what your competition offers, tune your offering and when you have a winner position the car.

Fiat - come of it now, light the Festival season with the Italian DONS.

10th August 2008, 19:54	#349
vipul_singh BHPian Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: BLR / Lucknow Posts: 595 Thanked: 833 Times View My Garage	Ha ha! Very sharp observation Steeroid. You are right, I too have seen this before. And no, I am an old member, though I have been reading more than I have posted
	() Thanks

10th August 2008, 22:20	#351
vipul_singh BHPian Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: BLR / Lucknow Posts: 595 Thanked: 833 Times View My Garage	13 lakh for the Linea, even if it is better equipped than the Civic would be detrimental to the car's success. I think the Linea would need to be priced much more competitively than equivalent cars because of the public's lack of faith in FIAT (and trust me there are plenty of naysayers), and expected disadvantage in terms of service. FIAT may look promising right now, with the impressive looking brand building exercise going on, but the company has a track record of leaving customers in the lurch when the going gets tough. Think of what happened when the Palio started suffering - sales wise. My argument is that the Linea really needs to sell well for the owners to be cared for (in terms of service). And if it is badly priced, the ones who go for it despite the high price arlikely to suffer.
	() Thanks

25th September 2008, 14:29	#352
opendro BHPian Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: NA Posts: 824 Thanked: 108 Times	I'm happy that Fiat did not launch Linea before all new Honda City. With the kind of specs of the new City, the price and the brand image Honda carries, Fiat is definitely going to give a serious thought on the pricing of Linea. Good for the buyers Seriously thinking if I should switch to petrol after seeing the all New Honda City price and spec
	() Thanks

25th September 2008, 14:50	#353
iceman7 BHPian Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: BOM \| TLL Posts: 751 Thanked: 469 Times	but the red GP in the link, a couple of pages back looks HOT. About the Linea - I hope FIAT redeems itself with this one. till then lets just wait & watch.
	() Thanks

25th September 2008, 15:37	#355
joecherian BHPian Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Almhult,Sweden Posts: 550 Thanked: 80 Times View My Garage	If Linea is priced above the new city (or even the same price) i think lot of people will think seven times 7 before going for it.And I am one among this list who has already done this and decided for the new city.
	() Thanks

25th September 2008, 15:51	#356
karanraheja Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Coimbatore Posts: 1,961 Thanked: 436 Times	Would like to see how Linea prices its 1.4 Petrol against the City VTEC. The only way Linea Diesel could try eating a slight pie of City sales is pricing !!! OT @Opendro- How much is your monthly usage??
	() Thanks

25th September 2008, 16:20	#358
amit Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Mumbai Posts: 3,717 Thanked: 449 Times	Apart from waiting and watching, they are also busy planning. Sergio Marchionne is exploring the option of making the Ranjangaon plant the global hub for future Fiat models. No doubt, this is great news but it remains to seen how fast they manage to do all of this. Source: Italiaspeed.
	() Thanks

25th September 2008, 16:33	#359
ethanhunt123 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,384 Thanked: 1,033 Times View My Garage	Linea sometimes reminds me of Duke Nukem Forever - forever in development & planning.
	() Thanks

25th September 2008, 16:55	#360
carbaliga BHPian Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Bengalooru Posts: 88 Thanked: Once	Apart from wait and watch and plan Fiat is also making a whole load of money by manufacturing engines. The same engine is running in 4 different cars - Palio, Swift, Indica Vista and Dzire. Add to that exports to other countries. So the strategy may be simple, why launch a car and sweat around? when you are already minting $ by selling engines. Just joking IMHO, it may be a game of wait and watch what your competition offers, tune your offering and when you have a winner position the car. Fiat - come of it now, light the Festival season with the Italian DONS.
	() Thanks

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