According to media reports, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) might be planning to pull the plug on the Fiat brand in India and focus on its Jeep brand. 

It has been reported that the carmaker has already started the process of phasing out the brand and has therefore, discontinued the Punto, Abarth Punto, Linea and Avventura. Fiat dealers have reportedly been asked to allot more showroom space to Jeep vehicles and invest more in marketing the American brand. FCA has close to 70 Jeep dealerships in the country. 35 of its biggest Fiat outlets have been converted into Jeep dealerships to expand the brand's presence.

With SUVs gaining in popularity, FCA launched the Jeep Compass in July 2017. The SUV has been more successful than other Fiat products. The carmaker is also planning to introduce two more SUVs in the next 3 years. These include a sub-4 m compact SUV and a new SUV with 3 rows of seats.

Fiat has a long history in India which dates back to 1905. However, in recent times, the company has struggled to gain a foothold in the market. 

Source: Livemint

The Fiat Punto Evo and Avventura will now come with a new PowerTech branding that indicates the introduction of a retuned version of the existing diesel engine. The unit now develops 93 PS (91.7 BHP). The Punto Evo PowerTech is priced from Rs. 6.81 lakh, while the Avventura PowerTech costs Rs. 7.87 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi).

Interestingly, the Avventura used to come with the same output, while the Punto Evo generated 75 BHP earlier.

With the PowerTech branding, both these cars will now be equipped with a 1.3-litre MultiJet engine with a Variable Geometry Turbo (VGT) that develops 91.7 BHP and 200 Nm of torque. This power is transmitted to the front two wheels through a 5-speed manual gearbox. Meanwhile, the 1.2-litre and 1.4-litre petrol engines haven't been fiddled with.

Fiat has also added a new 5-inch touchscreen infotainment system in the Punto Evo and the Avventura. It supports navigation (powered by MapMyIndia). The Punto Evo and Avventura PowerTech range will be offered in three variants: Active, Dynamic, and Emotion.

Thank you to Rahul Parihar for sending this information in. Heartfelt gratitude for sharing it with other enthusiasts!

Earlier this month, Fiat launched the Abarth Punto and Avventura powered by Abarth in India. Both vehicles were priced at Rs. 9.95 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). It appears that Fiat has already hiked the price of the Avventura to over Rs. 10 lakh. The company's website has listed the car at Rs. 10,00,976 (ex-showroom, Delhi).

In certain cities, cars with an ex-showroom price of over Rs. 10 lakh attract much higher taxes and duties than those priced below Rs. 10 lakh. This means that buyers could pay more on the on-road price of the Abarth-powered Avventura.

The Avventura powered by Abarth uses a 1.4-litre, 4-cylinder T-Jet petrol engine. The unit produces 140 BHP and 210 Nm of torque and is mated to a 5-speed manual transmission. Fiat claims that the car can sprint from 0-100 kph in 9.9 seconds. Stopping power comes from disc brakes all round.

To distinguish the Avventura powered by Abarth from the regular Avventura, Fiat has given it 16-inch "Scorpion Sting" alloy wheels and Abarth badges.

Fiat has launched the Abarth Punto and Avventura powered by Abarth in India. Both vehicles are priced at Rs. 9.95 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi).

The Abarth Punto is powered by a 1.4-litre, 4-cylinder, T-Jet petrol engine that puts out 145 BHP @ 5,500 rpm and 212 Nm of torque @ 2,000-4,000 rpm. The engine is mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox. Fiat claims that the car is capable of touching 100 kph from a standstill in 8.8 seconds and its top speed is estimated to be 190 kph.

The Abarth Punto gets disc brakes all round with ABS and EBD, lowered suspension and 16-inch Scorpion Sting design alloy wheels. The ground clearance of the car is now 155 mm. The vehicle is available two colours -Hip-hop Black and Pearl White with red highlights and Abarth decals and badges.

The interiors of the Abarth Punto feature automatic air-conditioning, soft touch front dashboard, ambient lighting, rear AC vents and black seats with red and yellow stitching. The steering wheel of the car has an Abarth logo.

The Avventura powered by Abarth is also powered by a 1.4-litre, 4-cylinder T-Jet petrol engine. The unit produces 140 BHP and 210 Nm of torque. Fiat claims that the car can sprint from 0-100 kph in 9.9 seconds.

The Avventura powered by Abarth comes with Abarth badges and disc brakes all round.

Earlier this month, Fiat announced that it had started accepting bookings for the Punto Abarth. The car is expected to be introduced in the market next month. Now, details of car have surfaced on the internet.

According to the information, the Abarth Punto is powered by a 1.4-litre, T-Jet petrol engine that puts out 145 BHP and 212 Nm of torque. It is capable of touching 100 kph from a standstill in 8.8 seconds and does a standing kilometre in 30.4 seconds. The fuel efficiency of the car is rated at 16.3 kpl.

The Abarth Punto gets disc brakes all round, lowered suspension and 16-inch Scorpion Sting design alloy wheels. The ground clearance of the car is now 155 mm. The vehicle is available in white and black shades with Abarth branding on the sides and a scorpion decal on the roof.

On the inside, the Abarth Punto gets an Abarth instrument cluster, black seats with red and yellow stitching and aluminium sports pedals.

Details of the Abarth-powered Avventura have also been leaked. The car will also use a 1.4-litre, T-Jet petrol engine. The powerplant will produce 140 BHP and 210 Nm of torque. The Abarth-powered Avventura can sprint from 0-100 kph in 9.9 seconds and go from 0-1000 metres in 31.8 seconds. The fuel efficiency of the car is rated at 17.1 kpl.

Like the Abarth Punto, the Avventura gets 16-inch Scorpion Sting design alloy wheels and disc brakes all round. It has Abarth branding on the sides and will be available in white and red colours.

Source: Team Fiat Moto Club

A test mule of the Fiat Avventura T-Jet has been spotted once again. One of the spy shots shows a sticker on the car's windshield which reads 135 HP, indicating how much power the engine is producing.

Except for a new exhaust tip, the T-Jet is visually similar to the regular Avventura. It sports the same alloy wheels and body claddings.The interiors of the two are also expected to be identical.

The main difference between the Avventura T-Jet and the regular petrol Avventura is the engine. While the T-Jet uses a 1.4-litre, 4-cylinder turbocharged petrol unit that puts out 135 HP, the standard car gets a naturally aspirated power plant with just 90 HP on tap.

The T-Jet also gets disc brakes at the rear. The suspension of the car is likely to be unchanged. However, Fiat may provide safety features such as ABS, EBD and airbags which were missing on the standard car.

Source: Motorbash

Some more images of the upcoming Fiat Punto Evo Abarth have surfaced on the internet. This time, the interior of the car have been snapped as well.

The Punto Evo Abarth is seen wearing a white shade with red body graphics, red door mirrors and masked badges. The car also gets Abarth alloy wheels, chrome-tipped exhaust, disc brakes all round and stiffer suspension than the standard Punto Evo.

On the inside, the car gets aluminium pedals and contrast stitching on the seats. The badge on the horn pad is masked as well.

The Punto Evo Abarth is reported to be powered by a 1.4-litre, turbocharged petrol engine that can produce close to 135 BHP. It is expected to be locally assembled in India. An Abarth version of the Avventura crosshatch is being tested as well.

Fiat will launch the Abarth brand in India in August. The 595 Competizione will be the first Abarth car to hit the market.

Source: My Fiat World

A big thank you to BHPian schakravarthy for sharing these images with other enthusiasts.

The Fiat Punto Evo Abarth and Avventura Abarth have been spotted testing.

The Punto Evo Abarth is reported to be powered by a 1.4-litre, turbocharged petrol engine that can produce close to 135 BHP. The spy images suggest that the car gets a TJet bagde on the boot, Abarth body graphics on the sides, a chrome exhaust tip and Abarth alloy wheels. The car also gets disc brakes all round and stiffer suspension than the standard Punto Evo. The Abarth badge on the hatch has been masked.

The Avventura Abarth gets the same engine as the Punto Evo Abarth. On the cosmetic front, apart from Abarth badges and markings, the car is not expected to get any changes.

Media reports suggest that Fiat will launch the Abarth brand in India in August. The 595 Competizione will be the first car to be introduced. The Punto Evo Abarth and Avventura Abarth will follow later.

Fiat is planning to plonk a more powerful engine in the Punto Evo and Avventura. Yes, the company has finally decided to use the 1.4-litre, turbocharged petrol unit from the Linea T-Jet to power the hatchback and the crossover based on it. The T-Jet powered cars are likely to go on sale in the first half of this year.

The Punto Evo and Avventura have always had good ride and handling characteristics. However, when it comes to performance, their weight pulls them down. With the T-Jet engine, which produces 113 bhp and 207 Nm of torque, the cars will get a much needed performance boost. This could make the two models, favourites among enthusiasts.

With the T-Jet unit under the hood, the Punto Evo will be able to take on rivals such as the Volkswagen Polo GT, which is powered by a 1.2 TSI engine that puts out 103 bhp and 175 Nm of torque.

While the news of the Punto getting T-Jet power is welcome, we feel that Fiat should have taken this step four years ago - when it started offering the engine in the Linea.

Source: Autocar India

Fiat Group Automobiles India Private Limited launched the Avventura in India for the global market at a strating price of Rs.5.99 lakhs ex-showroom, Delhi. To read our comprehensive review of the Avventura click here.

The Avventura is what Fiat calls a 'Contemporary Urban Vehicle (CUV)', which is a more muscular looking version of its premium hatchback - Punto Evo. The exteriors of the Avventura sport plastic body cladding, 16" wheels, functional roof rails, a tail mounted spare wheel and boasts of 205mm of ground clearance befitting its go-anywhere pretense. Interiors are similar to the Punto Evo but now include new high terrain gauges among other things.

The Avventura will be sold in 3 trim variants - Active, Dynamic and Emotion and will be powered by a 1.4L petrol motor for the Active and Dynamic variant only; and a 1.3L diesel motor available in all 3 variants. Ex-showroom Delhi prices for the Avventura are as below:

1.4L Active - Rs.5,99,064
1.4L Dynamic - Rs.7,05,066
1.3L Active - Rs.6,89,065
1.3L Dynamic - Rs.7,65,064
1.3L Emotion - Rs.8,17,065

It will go head to head with rivals such as the Cross Polo, Etios Cross and Ford's EcoSport. It will be sold from 125 exclusive Fiat dealerships, spread across 98 cities in 24 states. As part of the Amico program, each Fiat owner will also be provided a customer relationship manager.