Entries Tagged 'Fiat' ↓

The Fiat Punto Evo, the evolution of the Grande Punto, will make its debut at the next Frankfurt Motor Show. It is destined to repeat the success of its predecessor and become the new pacesetter for innovation, safety and style, thanks to its many innovative features.

The epithet “Evo” identifies a level of car design that is capable of satisfying even the most demanding customers in terms of technology, driving pleasure and respect for the environment.

The Punto Evo expresses its technical excellence first and foremost through a wide choice of Euro 5 engines, including a 1.3 second generation Multijet diesel and a 1.4 petrol engine with the revolutionary MultiAir technology developed by Fiat Powertrain Technologies and eventually to be incorporated in all Fiat Group engines. Fiat’s innovative and conventional powerplants are also joined by dual-fuel methane and petrol units to create the most complete and ecological range of engines in the segment. With reduced consumption and emissions in mind, the new Punto Evo also offers Start&Stop, the system that switches off and restarts the engine in stop-and-go traffic. Start&Stop is being introduced as standard on all Euro5 petrol and diesel engines. Another system making its first appearance on the Punto Evo is “Blue&Me-TomTom”, the new portable satellite navigation unit that lets you manage telephone, navigation and information functions on a practical colour touch-screen.

In the area of safety, the Punto Evo sets new standards thanks to 7 airbags, including a driver knee airbag. The Punto Evo is one of very few cars in its segment with a driver knee airbag fitted as standard on all versions. Other innovative safety systems are also available, including Hill-Holder to help with hill starts, adaptive ‘cornering’ front fog lights that switch on automatically with dipped headlights according to the angle of steering, and Fiat’s tried and tested ABS, EBD (Electronic Brake force Distribution) and ESP (Electronic Stability Program) systems.

Finally, the new Punto Evo is even more attractive thanks to the work of Fiat’s Centro Stile. The interiors (fascia, seats and instrumentation) have been completely renewed to become even more prestigious and elegant, and the outside has been given a thoroughly restyled look too.

The Fiat Punto Evo goes on sale in the second half of October with the precise objective of consolidating its role as one of Europe’s market leaders in the highly important compact segment.

Continue reading →

Source : Autoweek.nl

the 500C retains its roofline and arching C-pillar, which should keep its structural rigidity intact while keeping blind spots at bay. However, with the canvas roof retracted, it looks like rearward visibility is seriously compromised. The power-operated cloth-top will reported come in three colors – ivory, red and black – and a new spoiler, incorporated into the retractable roof, keeps the third brake light visible whether to the top is up or down. Both the 1.2- and 1.4-liter engines will carry over, along with the 1.3-liter Multijet equipped with Start-Stop technology. Expect sales to begin later this year in Europe, with U.S. distribution likely in 2010.

The Pop, Lounge and Sport trim levels from the 500 hatchback also remain. Later on, there are firm plans to have a turbocharged 1.4-liter Abarth edition with 133 hp. All manual-five-speed-equipped 500Cs will have standard Start & Stop fuel-saving technology.

This electronically retractable ragtop look, as opposed to a full convertible top, retains much more of the car’s rigidity, not to mention greater safety, as well as much more of the heritage feel. Fiat says the engineering behind the parallelogram roof hinge means the cargo space is practically unaffected when the roof is open. Another nice item is the glass rear window.

There’s also speculation that Fiat is planning a long-wheelbase ‘Giardinetta’ wagon to be added to the lineup sometime next year.

India is set to play an important role in Fiat’s plans to launch an all-new global low-cost car brand by 2010.

While the
Italian auto major is looking at possibly marking India as one of the key hubs for supply of components for this brand, the company may also tap into the experience of its Indian partner Tata Motors, that already holds the distinction of rolling out the world’s cheapest car, Nano.

Silverio Bonfiglioli, chief operating officer of Fiat Group Automobiles International, told TOI that the company sees India as an important participant in the ambitious low-cost brand project, though clarifying that their plan is not aimed at developing a Nano-type ultra cheap car.
“The Nano is positioned in the bottom end of the A segment. We have experience in developing vehicles in the top-end of the A segment or the bottom end of the B segment. It’s that area where we probably want to develop a low-cost car,” Bonfiglioli said.

Indian component suppliers would be tapped for this project. “Local Indian suppliers are cheaper than the suppliers in other countries. And their quality is good too. So we can use India as a base for supply of certain components,” he said.

Fiat already has a purchasing office at New Delhi for components and expects to export parts worth euro 250 million by next year. On help from Tata Motors for the low-cost brand, he said Fiat would rely mainly on its own experience of producing low-price cars, especially in South America. “And if necessary, we will use the Tata experience,” Bonfiglioli said.

To revive its operations in India, the company has lined up aggressive model launch plans. It made a strong entry into the mid-size car segment with the Linea sedan that would compete with the likes of Suzuki Dzire and Honda City.
The petrol Linea costs between Rs 6.17-7.2 lakh while the diesel version costs between Rs 7.1-8.3 lakh (ex-showroom Mumbai). The next new launch
from the company is that of Grande Punto hatchback. “We are hopeful that these two models will help us increase annual sales to 70000 cars by 2010,” Bonfiglioli said.

Fiat has revamped its production strategy in India and now has a JV with Tata Motors for manufacturing cars and engines at Ranjangaon in Maharashtra. The company had a poor 0.2% share of the domestic car market in 2007-08, which it hopes will see a healthy turnaround on the back of the new launches.
Also, it hopes to benefit from the sales and service tie-up that it has with Tata Motors as part of which its cars are sold through select Tata dealerships across the country.

Bonfiglioli said the current slowdown in the market will not see the company scale down its investment plans for India. “The investments would continue as we have to plans for the future,” he said.

source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com

October 21, 2008 – Fiat Automóveis will present at the 25th Salão Internacional do Automóvel, which is set to take place from 30 October up to 10 November in São Paulo, a brand new concept car, that has been dubbed the Bugster, and which has been totally developed by automotive engineering division of the Italian carmaking brand in Brazil.

Bugster is a vehicle that seeks to unite two concepts that are very relevant today, the environment and fun, as it is a rich mixture of ecologically-correct components as well as being a fun car to drive. Besides the futuristic design, the concept is fitted with a zero-emission producing electric engine, and its bodyshell is constructed using only natural fibres, renewable sources that have less impact on the environment, and nanotechnology to build lighter and more resistant pieces.

Continue reading →

Following its cues from its competitors in India like GM, Hyundai, etc, Fiat S.p.A. is weighing the possibilities of earmarking its Ranjangaon plant near Pune as a global base for some of its models, especially small cars that are meant for Europe and other developed countries. Fiat India Automobile Private Limited (FIAPL) is also keen to establish a full-fledged R&D centre in the country, in association with its joint venture partner Tata Motors. Currently, the Indian arm of the Turin-based company has developed a small R&D unit at its existing plant dedicated to testing of its current models.

“It eventually boils down to standardisation of volumes. Perhaps our own low-cost car for Europe could even be made in India,” said Sergio Marchionne, chief executive officer of the Fiat group. “This facility has the infrastructure to build the Fiat brand in India. It can be an integral part of the manufacturing footprint of Fiat worldwide and that is a big issue for us,” he said.

Continue reading →

Mumbai: Fiat India may reschedule the launch of its forthcoming product range. The company is considering launching the Fiat Linea first and then the Grande Punto, Giovanni de Filippis, Managing Director, Fiat India, said.

Earlier, the company had announced plans of launching the Grande Punto first, followed by the Linea. However, at that time the Linea was not launched.

The company’s evaluation on launching the Linea first is primarily due to the growing C-plus segment. As of now, the segment has grown to 18,000-plus units on a monthly basis. This is likely to grow further. Moreover, the company, when it launched the Fiat Linea globally, has targeted to attain sales of 2,80,000 units by 2012 of which India, a prominent player in this project, is expect to cross 50,000-60,000 units on an annual basis by 2012.

The C-segment car will be available with (1.4-litre petrol and 1.3-litre diesel) engine options. As a price indicator for the forthcoming Indian market, in Turkey, the vehicle is available in the price range of Turkish Liras 15,000-21,000. It has a localisation level of 60 per cent though the Indian model is likely to have a higher local content as the powertrain would be manufactured locally, said De Filippis.

The sedan will be manufactured at Fiat India’s plant at Ranjangaon in Maharashtra.

Besides the domestic market, there is high potential of India becoming the hub for the RHD (right hand drive) markets in the world, De Filippis said. Likewise, the country may become the export hub for the 1.4-litre petrol and 1.3- litre powertrains for select markets in the near future.