Fiat India Automobiles Limited (FIAL), a 50-50 Joint Venture (JV) between Fiat Group Automobiles S.p.A. of Italy and Tata Motors, has revealed intentions to introduce completely new models of its Linea sedan and Grande Punto hatchback by 2014-15. Evidently, Linea and Grande Punto models have been the Indo-Italian JV partners' most popular and successful products on the domestic front, besides ensuring a premium feel to the brand name. However, the domestic car enthusiasts might have to wait a year longer to see yet-to-be launched new models scorching down the Indian roads, as Fiat group could take some time in evaluating the market before launching the new models.
Further, it has been revealed that FIAL is set to replace Linea with a new model by the end of 2014, while Grande Punto hatch will swap places with a new variant by the end of 2015. The Fiat Grande Punto is a premium hatchback and competes against the likes of Maruti Suzuki Swift, Hyundai i20, Toyota Etios Liva, Volkswagen Polo, Skoda Fabia and the recently launched Chevrolet Sail U-VA in the Indian passenger car market.
FIAL introduced the premium hatch Grande Punto in the domestic car market three and a half years ago in June 2009. The company has capped Punto hatch within a price range starting from around Rs. 4.9 lacs to Rs. 7.4 lacs in the country and FIAL has registered some decent sales of the car as well.
Coming to Fiat's Indian portfolio, there are just two products – one being Grande Punto and the other being Linea sedan. The Fiat Linea saloon was launched in January 2009 and comes within a price bracket between Rs. 6.9 lacs and Rs. 9.5 lacs in the Indian car market. Evidently, the Fiat Linea competes against some stiff competition in domestic car market, comprising Honda City, Maruti Suzuki SX4, Nissan Sunny, Renault Scala and Toyota Etios amongst others.
The upcoming new Fiat Linea saloon and Fiat Grande Punto are anticipated to come with a number of state-of-the-art interior and exterior attributes along with some modern and futuristic engine refinements, which are synonymous with the company. Top industry experts have pinned great hopes with the yet-to-be launched models and it is going to be interesting to see how the Indian audience reacts to new changes in their favourite Fiat cars.
