[maverickxx2006]

Originally Posted by p'arth

Could you get any input on the T-Jet date as well?

I had queried only on Punto MJD, no idea about Linea T-Jet.

But my guess is they are gearing up for T-Jet launch first in June time frame and after that they will launch Punto Sports.

[fz_rider]

Fiat India, which is expecting a double digit growth during this calendar year, is gearing up to launch the Grande Punto Sport by the end of this June. It is to be mentioned that the Punto Sport, which was displayed at the Auto Expo’10, is a 1.3-litre 90bhp multijet diesel engine which powers the Fiat Linea as well. To make it more appealing to the Indian youth, the car will also sport a funky electric sunroof, sporty upholstery, a rear spoiler, sport red decals, blacked-out headlamps, bigger tyres and dual colour interior leather seats. With these exciting add-ons, the user is sure to feel exhilarated and ready to take on the world, as claimed by the company. The car is estimated to be retailed at around Rs. 7 lakh and will co-exist with the existing range of Grande Punto models.
The Linea T-Jet, which was again showcased at the Auto Expo’10, might be launched in September this year. The new variant of Linea will sport the 110bhp 1.4-litre petrol engine. It is widely believed that the Linea T-Jet comes with the turbocharged version of the naturally aspirated 1.4 petrol and develop a healthy 120ps@5000 rpm and more impressive 206NM of torque right from 1750rpm onwards. It is to be mentioned that currently Linea is available in a 1.3 litre diesel and a 1.4 litre petrol versions. Furthermore, the Linea will go through a lot of changes as and the company is also planning to re-create a new Linea on the same platform.

The official spokesperson of the company, when contacted, confirmed the story and said, “Yes, we are gearing up to launch the Grande Punto Sport by June-end and 1.4 T-jet Linea by the end of this year. The move has been necessitated because while unveiling these models at the Auto Expo, visitors gave a thumping response to the model. Furthermore, there are a lot of requests at our dealer’s end.” He added, “We are working and expect to roll out Punto's CNG variant by the end of this fiscal year."

Separately, Live Mint has reported that the Fiat India’s parent company is eyeing to source €250 million (Rs. 1,415 crore) worth of components by 2011, part of a plan to buy components worth €8.5 billion from best-cost countries. It may be recalled that a senior representative of Fiat S.p.A. which had up set up its purchase office in May 2008, had earlier told reporters that it has earmarked India as a base for supplying components for its European operations. It has now been learnt that about 70 per cent of the outsourced parts will be solely for the Fiat Group’s multiple operations in India. However, the amount indicated for next year does not include auto parts for the Chrysler brand, which Fiat took over this year. It is to be mentioned that in India, the Fiat Group sources components for its passenger cars, farm equipment, construction equipment and truck businesses.

“There is a management commitment to increase (buying of parts from India) in 2011-14 once the next plan is approved,” said Niraj Hans, who heads Fiat’s purchasing office in the country, was quoted as saying to ‘Live Mint’. He added, “If the slowdown had not happened, we may have revised it upwards.”

The business daily claims that even though the Italian automaker had procured only €100 million of supplies from India owing to the recessionary trends last year, it is gearing up to reach the €250 million mark.



Source : WheelsUnplugged - India's Leading Automobile News Website |

[arun1100]

Thats good news. In Punto Sports all features are okay except the red decals!

[moralfibre]

If what I saw is to be believed, the Linea 1.4 TJet might be launched with alloy wheels as seen below:



I am told they are 16" wheels.

[auto-one]

I have come across some news (In some magazine I guess, don't recall exactly )that the GP sports is going to be launched on the 17th June.

[samyakmodi]

@fz_rider

buddy that news was on that website since the autoexpo.
the punto sport news have been coming from various sources indicating a launch right from 16th june to end of this year.

there is still no confirmed news, but just speculation on all the sites. have been talking to quiet a few fiat dealerships, and none of them have any clue about the punto sport launch. though they have indicated that the linea t-jet would be launched somewhere in august/september.

[musicvj]

Damn T-Jet to be launched in September :( thats not good. I was hoping they would launch it by June end

[JJames]

Came across this article in the internet:-
"Fiat India, which is pulling out all stops to post a double digit sales growth during this year, has now firmed up its plans to launch Linea 1.4 T-Jet and Punto Sports in July-August 2010. It is widely believed that Fiat will launch the Linea T-Jet, which comes with the turbocharged version of the naturally aspirated 1.4 petrol and develop a healthy 120 ps @ 5000 rpm and more impressive 206 nm of torque right from 1750 rpm onwards. It is to be mentioned that currently Linea is available in a 1.3 litre diesel and a 1.4 litre petrol versions.
If the automobile magazines are to be believed, the Linea T-Jet will accelerate from 0-100 kph in a blistering 9.2 seconds with a top speed of around 200 kph. When launched, Linea T-Jet will be the only car in its category to have a turbocharged petrol engine. Apart from the engine the Linea will also come with comfort and convenience features like Hill Holder function (for hill starts where the car would automatically brake to stop it rolling backwards when you take your foot off to accelerate), Rain sensing wipers, Automatic headlamps and Reverse parking sensors"
... mouth-watering proposition. Bring it on, Fiat!!!

[avishar]

The t-jet i guess would be downrated to 110 bhp.

[MihirC]

If they are recreating the new linea, then what about its midlife face lift, ideally that should happen Mid or 3rd quarter of 2011??? or is the new to be recreated linea just a exhaustive facelift???

[arun1100]

I really don't think Linea will need a face lift in near future.

Even if it happens, I am sure the current version will look better.

[MihirC]

Agreed Arun, but Linea was launched in Jan 09, next year(2011) it will have completed 3 years. In todays car life cycle, irrespective how good the car looks, it will require a facelift just to maintain its appeal in the market and to ensure that FIAT offers something new to their potential customers so as to maintain or increase sales.

FIAT has to make its presence felt once in a while either thru advertisements or some cosmetic changes to their line up. The 1.2 emotion series, trend series and the to be launched sport and CNG versions in the punto is the right way to maintain their buzz in the market.

[arishi1]

I suppose that's why we get the T-Jet now, and then later the Duologic and may be the 1.6MJD also.

[maverickxx2006]

Anyways since the Punto Sports is delayed, I have booked Punto MJD(E), hoping to get the delivery by 30th May.

[Bluefiat]

For an overview of the Fiat Group sales worldwide: www.carsitaly.net