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Originally Posted by Digital Vampire Though more powerful engines are always welcome, I'm not really sure why people jump to a judgement that this a relatively puny engine even before any TD experience...relative to which car and class? |
Incidentally, test drives have been conducted on the Linea powered by a Diesel engine. Read
here and
here for the same. Search for the key word “breath” and you will get an idea. Presuming that these reviews were done with just one person test driving the Linea, I dread to imagine what would be the Linea’s pulling power when it is fully laden.
Internationally, the petrol variant Linea is powered by an option of two engines – namely – a 77bHp, 16v, 1368cc engine called Fire and an 120bHp, 16V, 1368cc engine called T-Jet. If an
article in Autocar India is to be believed then we will get the 95bHp, 16v, 1368cc twin-cam that does duty on the Grande Punto in Turkey. Assuming that this is true, FIAT India hasn’t completely shortchanged us by giving us the Fire engine but I see no reason for them not to offer the T-Jet as well. For a Company that has been bold and stupid (both at the same time) to offer us a Rs.15+ lacs car (FIAT 500), however niche a product it might be, I see no harm in them offering a slightly higher priced Linea with the best engine that they have to offer. At least the consumer doesn’t feel cheated or shortchanged knowing jolly well that FIAT does have a better engine but did not offer it, especially for a Company trying to make a comeback. Besides, there were rumours a lot earlier that India could become the manufacturing base (at least for the engines) for right-hand driven Lineas’ that could be sold in countries like Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, China etc – then why not for the Indian consumer. If there is any truth in that then FIAT India too is going the Hyundai India way by making better variants of their cars (i10 & i20) in India not for Indians but only for exports.
Although not exhaustive, here is a list of the Linea features (some are standard and some are optional) as sold internationally. Six air bags and fog lights with automatic air conditioning, electrical lumbar adjustment for the driver seat, front and rear armrests, leather covered steering wheel and gear shift, Mp3 player with the new Blue&Me system, parking and rain sensors plus alloy wheels. Active safety features like ABS with EBD, ESP, ASR, MSR and Hillholder-HBA along with the passive safety features like Air-Bag Smart2 System, Side and Roof air bags, Front racked seat belts and Inertia Sensor (FPS) and all the accessory options like Chrome cowls for wing mirrors, Chrome handles, Chrome window rims, Front Deflectors, Steel Kick Plate, Aluminum pedal covers and footrest, Carpet mats, Aluminum plates and Window Winders. Make the comparison with the Indian variant(s) and you will see that we are certainly not getting the entire deal.
I wouldn’t mind compromising a few of the above mentioned features but the lack of a T-Jet engine just leaves a bitter taste in the mouth, especially when I have salivated long enough in anticipation of this car as being “the one”. Moreover, it would have been fun to see the Linea scoot ahead of the competition on the road in terms of speed. With the improved bHp of the new Honda City and the 1.6 Verna, Fiesta, Aveo etc. being the way they are I doubt it seriously can. This is just my perspective.
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Originally Posted by Digital Vampire For the record, I've driven this car with the same engine specs while I was in Italy and found it to be atleast at par if not better than other vehicles in its class...Though not a road rocket, I never felt it was underpowered. I hope Fiat has not detuned it much for India...Atleast the engine specs look the same to me IIRC. |
You ought to have driven the Diesel variant of the Linea as the Petrol variants in Italy do not come with the 95bHp, 16v, 1368cc twin-cam engine, rumoured to be released in India. If you were driving alone then it isn’t a fair judgement as a fully laden Linea will offer different results. Presumably, if you had driven the Linea powered by the 120bHp, 16V, 1368cc T-Jet Petrol engine then it doesn't need much convincing to be impressed – 0 to 100kmph in approximately 9/10 seconds and a rated top speed of around 200kmph – that is the engine I am yearning for.