Facelifted Fiat Linea sedan rolls out in Turkey; Do you like what you’re seeing?
Italian car maker Fiat has been testing the facelifted Linea sedan for a while now and Turkey becomes the first market to get the facelifted version. The facelifted Linea is more of a mid career makeover than a full model change. Up front, Fiat has given the grille of the car a full makeover apart from a new bumper up front and a lip spoiler. The rest of the car’s design remains pretty much the same with not many changes. Under the hood, the facelifted Linea retains the 1.3 Liter Multijet diesel engine while the petrol powerplant is a 1.4 Liter Multiair engine.
2012 Fiat Linea Sedan Facelift
Fiat India independent dealerships to be run by existing Tata-Fiat dealers
By the end of 2012, Fiat India hopes to have over 20 independent dealerships spread across the country even as it is breaking away from the Tata-Fiat sales joint venture in the major Indian cities as this strategy has not worked well for the Italian car brand. However, Fiat India will not appoint new dealers and will instead let the existing Tata-Fiat dealers to run the independent Fiat dealerships. This move will mean that Fiat will not have to go through the process of identifying fresh dealers who will be willing to set up independent Fiat dealerships.
2012 Fiat Linea T-Jet Sedan used as an illustration
Premier Rio compact SUV to get 75 Bhp, 1.3 Liter Fiat Multijet turbo diesel engine and not the 90 Bhp variant
A few days ago, a new development emerged in the form of the Premier Rio compact SUV getting the 90 Bhp version of the 1.3 Liter Fiat Multijet engine. However, Fiat India has today announced that it will be the 75 Bhp variant of the Multijet diesel engine that will be supplied to Premier. This engine will be used to power the Premier Rio compact SUV. The arrival of this engine onto the Rio means that the compact SUV will finally be BS4 emission norms compliant.
Facelifted 2012 Premier Rio Compact SUV
Fiat building Punto based crossover, which could be called the Fiat 500X; Debut in 2013
Its raining compact SUVs and crossovers across the world. Even as Fiat is building more practical versions of the iconic Fiat 500 hatchback to target the BMW Mini range, the Italian automaker will add a crossover to the Fiat 500 line up. While this was already announced during the launch of the Fiat 500L, which is essentially a full sized hatchback in the Fiat 500 range, news is emerging that the Fiat 500X crossover will debut in 2013 and not in late 2012. The Fiat 500X crossover will be based on the Punto platform, on which even the Fiat 500L is based upon.
2013 Fiat 500L 5 door hatchback used as an illustration
Fiat India could selectively dump Tata Motors and establish 20 standalone dealerships by 2012 end
In a long anticipated move that could do Brand Fiat a world of good in the Indian car market, Italian car brand Fiat finally seems to be breaking away from Tata Motors to establish independent dealerships. Reportedly, Fiat India is planning to set up 20 independent Fiat dealerships over the next one year. By the end of 2012, we could have 20 Fiat independent dealerships in 20 cities of India. Fiat’s move comes on the back of sales plummeting as the Tata-Fiat joint dealership initiative wherein Tata dealers sell and service Fiat cars alongside Tata cars has simply not worked for the Italian brand.
2012 Fiat Linea T-Jet Sedan used as an illustration
2012 Fiat Linea sedan and Grande Punto hatchback diesels being tested with new timing chain; Possible recall on the cards, in an ICB Exclusive
It isn’t everyday that you see a fleet of brand new cars, launched just months ago being tested for improvements. That is precisely what happened yesterday evening when Team ICB’s roving eye in the sky, EarthFusion, spotted both the 2012 Linea sedan as well as the 2012 Grande Punto hatchback being tested someplace near Ranjangaon, off Pune. Both cars were diesel engined variants. Incidentally, Ranjangaon also happens to play host to Fiat India’s manufacturing facility. This got us very curious as both the cars have just been launched months ago, in January 2012 to be precise, when Fiat India gave both of these cars a minor refresh along with increased ground clearance.
2012 Fiat Linea Sedan
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ICB Exclusive !
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2012 Maruti Dzire ZXi petrol and ZDi diesel road test review!
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Royal Enfield Desert Storm 500/Classic Chrome 500 in ICB’s comprehensive road test and review!
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Ford India’s Great Endeavour Challenge; Epic fun that!
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ICB experiences the Royal Enfield RiderMania 2011: Some Epic stuff that was!
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The Mahindra Duro 125DX Power Scooter in ICB’s first ride review
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