Fiat India will unveil the 2012 Linea and the 2012 Grande Punto on January 3rd, 2012!

Fiat Linea T-Jet Petrol Sedan

Fiat India will unveil the 2012 models of the Linea sedan and the Grande Punto hatchback come January 3rd, 2012. Both these cars, though ravishingly good looking and highly capable performers have been real sluggards when it comes to moving out of showroom shelves. A key factor for poor sales may be attributed to the shoddy and step motherly treatment prospective Fiat customers have been receiving at Tata-Fiat dealerships, where Fiat cars are sold alongside Tata car models.

It took a couple of years for Fiat India to realize that the sales and service joint venture with Tata Motors is simply not cutting the ice for Fiat’s sales. So, Fiat is in the process of setting up independent dealerships and after sales service centers to reinvigorate the Italian brand in India. Even as the first standalone Fiat India dealership will open up at Delhi on the Janaury 7th, 2012, the 2012 models of the Linea and Grand Punto, that will be launched days before, will grace the dealership.

Fiat Grande Punto Hatchback

While there has been some talk about a 1.6 Liter diesel Multijet engine on the Linea sedan, this change probably might not make it into the 2012 model of the Linea. Instead, Fiat India could refresh the interiors of both the Linea and Grande Punto. Also, improved fit and finish in both these cars could rank high amongst the changes that Fiat India could make in the 2012 models. Also, exteriors could get a mild makeover to go with the 2012 model year.

With these changes and independent Fiat dealerships springing across India in 2012, Fiat India might hope to reverse its fortunes in a country, where the iconic Italian brand has been reduced to being an engine supplier to many rival car brands. We’ve firmly believed that it is the dealership experience at Tata-Fiat dealers that has put off many a prospective Linea or Grande Punto owner. This factor, now being addressed by Fiat has all the potential to turn around sales. All the best, Fiat!

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December 5, 2011 | By Jay Prashanth · Tags: 2012 Fiat Grande Punto Hatchback, 2012 Fiat Linea Sedan, Fiat India

Comments

4 Responses to “Fiat India will unveil the 2012 Linea and the 2012 Grande Punto on January 3rd, 2012!”

S Pani on December 5th, 2011 5:00 pm

Are you saying that the international 2012 version of the Punto will be launched in India as well, or just a refreshed 2012 India specific version??

Because the international 2012 Punto(no longer Grande Punto) also gets FIAT’s brilliant 0.9 twin-air engine, which has potential of Swift like performance and Nano like mileage. Wish we also get to see that engine.
somebody on December 6th, 2011 2:02 am

I myself own Punto 1.4 petrol (Mumbai), not only the sales & service is bad but the quality is worse with many manufacturing defects which the company & or service centers are avoiding to address fully. My car is in second year of ownership and here is the list of problems I encountered.

1) One day on highway the clutch started to stick to the floor without any spring action (I could have met with an accident), they just oiled it and it happens again, I fought and they changed it.

2) They AC was not adequate for Indian condition, after feedback from many they change to improved AC only to give lot more disturbing noise louder than a diesel car, they said it can’t be rectified.

3) Within six months the Blue&Me stopped working, they changed it now again it had stopped working.

4) Only in 15 min of driving the driver seat moves down 2-3 steps & the horn stops working every 2-3 weeks, they are not able the rectify any of it.

5) Remote worked properly only for 2-3 month after that it never worked properly, complained but no action.

6) There are other fit & finish problems which are aggregating each day like gear knob is dislocating interfering in driving, window switch box popping out, parcel try pins and thread coming off, seat belt caps, petrol cap & gaskets coming off, plastic locks breaking.

The problem is getting dirty as they are always short of spare parts.

The service intervals are longer amounting to one year, some may think it to be great but the car doesn’t hold till that period and starts giving problem after every 3-4 months. I have given feedback directly to the company but nothing, they revert back to the service center ‘waste of time’.

The car is good on highway but in city disgusting and tiring with zero fun to drive also the fuel efficiency in city is very bad generally 5-7 kmpl.

My final conclusion ‘I will never ever buy Fiat & Tata.

India is a country where if anybody wants to successfully sell their products then they have to pay personal attention instead foreigners are selling on their name concentrating only on profits exploiting India’s weak system.

As time is going by you will notice that the buying & user experience is consistently deteriorating.

Then & now, I hear on TV and read in newspapers that now it’s a buyer’s market and I fail to believe as I practically notice & hear that customers are being manipulated from head to toe.
Rohit on December 11th, 2011 2:13 pm

@Somebody above^^

I own a GP 1.2. Its really surprising for me to read your problems there. I really wonder what went wrong.

I for one, am very satisfied with my car. No complaints about the fit & finish. About the a/c, my friends say that its one of the most chilling a/cs they’ve every seen in a small car. I believe you are one of the earliest buyers of TGP, coz I remember them telling me that the initial model had the italian a/c which was built to suit the italian cold & clean environment. They’ve now changed it as per Indian dusty & hotter climate with pollen filters etc.

The only complaint is that the car is a bit sluggish with the pick up… it being an SOHC engine. I wonder when Fiat would solely stick to DOHCs. Even smaller cars like Beat & Brio etc & lower level cars like Ritz have DOHC engines now. :/

Rest everything fades away when I see heads turning onto my black beauty! :D
Nitin on December 13th, 2011 3:15 pm

@somebody, I can say that you are not a owner of Punto. You mentioned lot of problems but few things don’t seems logical like horn stops working after every 2-3 weeks. I am sure there is no program like this.

I own Punto for more than 2 years now. I am exteremly satisfied with my car. I enjoy every bit of my car. I’ve acheived 23.6 kmpl on highway from my petrol punto 1.2

Comon buddy don’t be biased. People consider feedback when they spend big amount of hard earned money and this kind f feedback can misguide them.

Things have been changed since UNO-Palio time. ASS is very good now. Yes still Fiat is coming up with seperate service centers soon.

@somebody, You forgot your name , becaue of your Punto’s issue?

@My suggestion for new buyers: Pls take back to back test drives for all shortlisted options. Take them on highway, on bad roads, check braking capabilities, handling etc and then decide.