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Wednesday, 6 January 2010
If the sources are to be believed, Fiat India could come out with a hybrid car in India by 2010 end or early 2011 other than the India-specific small car. If the news comes right from the horses’ mouth, we all have every reason to believe it. Rajeev Kapoor, President and CEO of Fiat India said that the hybrid car certainly will be powered by CNG and petrol and also mentioned that Fiat India was also working on an India-specific car but he refused to give out more details. He was speaking to reporters at the ongoing Auto Expo held in New Delhi. Fiat is very optimistic on doubling the sales of its existing models and will be introducing more variants of existing models, but denied any launches of new cars in India. Rajeev Kapoor maintained that "Other than the variants launched today, we will not introduce any new models per se". He also mentioned that Fiat planned to sell about 46,000 units doubling last year’s 23,000 vehicles which were sold. He was quite optimistic that Fiat’s models Grande Punto and Fiat 500 could not pick up sales last year as the models were launched in the end of 2009 but 2010 would be a successful year for them. The company Wednesday unveiled the diesel version of Fiat 500, three variants of Grande Punto and two of the Linea model. Labels: Auto-Expo, Fiat-500, Fiat-Grande-Punto, Fiat-India, Fiat-Linea
Tuesday, 22 December 2009
 Tata Nano is one permanent fixture in Carazoo.com for a long time now. This little wonder car has been around in the portal for many reasons and continues to be doing what it does best. Earning rave reviews. The world’s cheapest car has won one of the most significant awards of the country – Indian Car of the Year aka ICOTY. ICOTY and IMOTY (Indian Motorcycle of the Year) awards are the awards that are unbiased and exhaustive evaluation of all the new cars and motorcycles launched in the calendar year of 2009 in India. Although Tata Nano was a contender for this award amongst other heavy weights like were the Chevrolet Cruze, Honda Jazz, Fiat Linea, Fiat Grande Punto, Maruti Suzuki Ritz, Mahindra Xylo, Skoda Superb, Tata Indigo Manza, and Toyota Fortuner, Tata Nano emerged victorious in the end garnering 63 points. The Managing Director of Tata Motors, Mr. P.M. Telang, received the award from the Vice Chairman & Managing Director of JK Tyre Industries Ltd., Dr. R. P. Singhania, at a ceremony in New Delhi. Kawasaki Ninja 250R won the IMOTY award with 53 points. A 11-member expert jury members of the 2010 ICOTY included Yogendra Pratap and Vikrant Singh of Auto Bild India, Gautam Sen and Bob Rupani of Auto India, Bijoy Kumar Y and Srinivas Krishnan of Business Standard Motoring, Aspi Bhathena of Car India, Sirish Chandran and Bertand D’souza of Overdrive and Vardhan Kondvikar and Girish Karkera of Top Gear India. All these jury members evaluate and test cars as part of their journalistic work and are known for their analytic skills and professional competence. Once a year they come together to vote for the ICOTY. To qualify for the 2009 awards, only all-new cars and motorcycles, whatever the country of their origin, that went on sale in showrooms across the country before December 1, 2009 were considered. Existing cars and motorcycles that have had mere cosmetic facelifts or small mechanical tweaks do not qualify for consideration. The jury members judged the cars and motorcycles on various parameters such as price, fuel efficiency, design, comfort, safety, maneuverability, performance, functionality, environmental responsibility and driver/rider satisfaction among others. In addition, technical innovation and value for money were particularly important factors while deciding on the winner. The selection of the winner is carried out by a simple voting system with each jury member having twenty-five points to allot to at least four cars/bikes. They can give a maximum of 10 points to any one of them. A very fair and transparent system makes the ICOTY and IMOTY amongst the most credible and coveted car and motorcycle awards in India. Labels: Chevrolet-Cruze, Fiat-Grande-Punto, Fiat-Linea, Honda-Jazz, ICOTY, IMOTY, Mahindra-Xylo, Maruti-Suzuki-Ritz, Skoda-Superb, Tata-Indigo-Manza, Tata-Motors, Tata-Nano, Toyota-Fortuner
Wednesday, 18 November 2009
Fiat India plans to launch its first compressed natural gas (CNG-run car for the domestic market in the April-June quarter of 2010. Though Fiat India has been tight lipped on the models it plans to come out with CNG, we are quite sure that Fiat Grande Punto is being seriously considered for the role and Punto would have a fuel mix comprising of CNG and petrol. CNG is ultimately going to be a fuel for most commercial applications, Fiat officials opine, explaining the rationale behind the move. Though Fiat has LPG models in its kitty, they clearly stand by CNG as it is a less expensive fuel option of the duo and the better fuel of the two. This clearly sends across the message that Fiat is not lagging behind when it comes to vehicles running on more viable fuel options. FIAL is a 50:50 joint venture between Fiat Group Automobiles SpA and Tata Motors. Incorporated in 1997, the company has its production unit located in Ranjangaon in Pune, Maharashtra. The unit has a capacity of two lakh cars, three lakh engines and an equivalent number of parts and accessories. Apart from Fiat cars, the facility will produce Tata passenger and next generation cars with an investment exceeding 650 million euro. Apart from this, Fiat India also seems to busy in developing a India-Specific small car in Turin, Italy, that would be positioned between the A and the B segment and will be launched in 2011. Labels: CNG-cars-India, Fiat-Grande-Punto, Fiat-India, Small-Car, Tata-Motors
Thursday, 22 October 2009
It was just yesterday that we had blogged on Fiat Linea due to be launched in India with a more powerful 1.9 L engine to give enough bang for the customer’s bucks. It seems like Fiat is working its charm on the Indian mass in stages. Just when we thought Punto was out of the picture, we get this report of an upgraded engined Punto being tested in Brazil. But this time Fiat Punto has made sure that Brazil gets another variant. Punto 1.4ELX is now available with two optional kits, termed as Punto Creative I and Punto Creative II. Meanwhile Autossegredos, a Brazilian automobile blogger reports Fiat is testing a 1.6 16V Flex engine in Punto. Both the news is equally exciting and can really contribute a lot of momentum to Punto’s successful journey in coming days. Fiat Punto Creative I is Punto 1.4ELX with factory fitted accessories like MP3 CD radio, electric rear panel, knife type key, alloy wheels, rear spoiler and creative stickers in the columns of the front doors. Punto Creative II adds Blue & Me system, operated by voice commands and includes Bluetooth, USB port in the glove and leather steering wheel with radio controls and telephones to the list. Fiat added $1,970 and $2,880 to base price of Punto 1.4ELX for Creative I and Creative II respectively. Now the second excitement, the above Punto was spotted in Brazil with a 1.6 16V Flex engine. We also anticipate the arrival of 1.4ltr 16V Flex engine in near future. Both the engines are capable to return better power (say 5bhp or more) and fuel economy. The 1.6 16V engine uses electricity for valve timing but the previous engines uses belt. The Fiat Punto 1.6 16V and Punto 1.4 16V will hit market by next quarter, let us wait and see Fiat India is planning this upgrades to our market too! Labels: Fiat-Grande-Punto, Fiat-India, Fiat-Linea, Multi-jet engines
Wednesday, 21 October 2009
 Fiat’s stylish sedan Fiat Linea has long suffered from underpowered engines since its inception here in India. Fiat Linea currently runs on a 1.3L diesel and 1.4L petrol that lacks the punch. The owners of the car certainly feel that they haven’t got their share of power for their money with the Linea. The guys in Fiat finally have taken the complaints and grumblings quite seriously and are all set to launch a series of powerful engines by next year in the upcoming 2010 Delhi Auto Expo. Fiat’s sedan Linea and hatchback Grande Punto is of much importance to the Fiat India’s Indian presence as these two models have given tremendous sales figures. Now Fiat India would not want to give their customers a great car with underpowered engines, which takes the josh out of motoring and dwindles the size of their coffers due to poor sales. Fiat India therefore might as well showcase powerful 1.6L or the 1.9L diesel engines for the gracious Linea. If launched in India, the 1.9L diesel engine will come with two configurations that might be 8 valves and 16 valves. These two engines would have four different power outputs that would generate 100PS, 120PS, 130PS and 150PS. Labels: Fiat-Grande-Punto, Fiat-India, Fiat-Linea, Hatchbacks-in-India, Sedan
Friday, 18 September 2009
 What would be rejoicing you the most? Reading about a car, liking it and then getting to know that it will not be launched in your car market or getting to know that it will be available in the native car market, of course it is the latter which interests you the most right? But this is not the governing factor for you to read about a new car. And now you have to read on and know more about the new Fiat Grande Punto Evo, keeping your fingers crossed and expecting it be launched in India, as you will surely love this one. The new Fiat Grande Punto Evo, unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show 2009, has minor changes. On the exterior, it has a new front and rear bumpers, and the larger trunk space, improved seats and stylish dashboard in the interiors, the Punto Evo will be looking better this time. True to its name, the ‘Evo’ with its technology design and other features is readied to satisfy those customers, who will not settle even for the best. The 1.3 second generation Multijet diesel and a 1.4 petrol engine with the revolutionary MultiAir technology are just two of the many Euro 5 engines available for the model. The Punto Evo with its Blue&Me-TomTom feature combines navigation, telephone and other functions into a colour touch screen. With the second generation Multijet engine, the car will provide, by consuming less fuel, ten percent more power, fifteen percent more torque. The Punto, similar to that of Fiat Bravo and Fiat 500, is installed on a start-stop system. With superior Italian designing and most modern safety features the Fiat Grande Punto Evo is a new era, evolutionary car. Labels: Fiat, Fiat-500, Fiat-Grande-Punto, Fiat-Grande-Punto-Evo
Wednesday, 17 June 2009
Finally the much awaited Fiat Grande Punto will ply on Indian roads. This large hatchback of its kind is available in three engine options- the 1.4-litre FIRE Petrol, the 1.3-litre MultiJet diesel and a surprise excise special 1.2-litre FIRE Petrol. All engines are mated to a 5 speed manual gearbox. The diesel engine is capable of generating an output of 75bhp.The car will be available in three variants, namely, the Active, Dynamic and Emotion. The Grande Punto is an absolute jaw dropper. Its teardrop shaped headlights set at far corners of the car's front end are too cute. The highlights, exterior lines, wheel arches and the tight crease running between them, the side mirrors and the bumpers fore and aft make the car extremely attractive. The car has abundant space to offer and a large boot to organize all the paraphernalia. The driver's seat is crafted for better sitting posture and the seats are made of the best fabric. The dashboard is finely set and the white dialed instrument cluster are prize winners and the steering wheel snugly fit in the palms of the driver. The pricing of Fiat Grande Punto is as follows (all prices ex-showroom Delhi): 1.2 Petrol (Active) Rs.3,99,000/- 1.4 Petrol (Dynamic) Rs.4,66,000/- 1.4 Petrol (Emotion) Rs.5,06,000/- 1.3 Diesel (Active) Rs.4,85,000/- 1.3 Diesel (Dynamic) Rs.5,16,000/- 1.3 Diesel (Emotion) Rs.5,56,000/- The Grande Punto has been Europe’s best seller since 2005. The launch of the Fiat Grande Punto comes at a time when Maruti has released the Ritz hatchback which falls in the same segment taking competition to new levels. Fiat eying for the chunk of the market space with its all new Grande Punto will be competing with other popular cars such as Maruti Suzuki Swift, Hyundai i20, Chevrolet Aveo U-VA and Tata Indica Vista which also falls in the same premium hatchback category. Labels: Car-prices, Fiat-Grande-Punto, New-Car-Launch
Tuesday, 9 June 2009
The association of Fiat with the Indian car market and is becoming increasingly admirable by the day. Through the ups and downs in the market, this relation is slowly becoming stronger as Fiat continues to build trust with the Indian public through its successful joint venture with Tata Motors. True to this, Fiat is gifting another chance to car lovers in the country to get more cozy and comfortable behind the steering wheel – launch of Fiat Grande Punto. The elegantly designed and captivatingly sporty Fiat Grande Punto is all set to steal the show after its launch this month. The three important ‘C’s of a car can be fastened to the car - Comfort, Class, and Captivating style. The launch of the majestic Fiat Linea has already created excitement in the car industry and now the Punto is all set to impress. The new car will reveal itself in two variants - Dynamic and Sport. Equipped with the features like Air Conditioning, Cruise Control, Remote Central Locking, Power Windows, Audio system, and Sunroof, the beautiful new car comes with price tags of Rs 5 Lakh and above. The Punto carries 2 different engines under its hood - 1.3 litre JTD diesel and 1.4 litre petrol. Both engines deliver good performance and fuel economy. A Dualogic transmission goes along with both engines. The car is high on safety and is well equipped to ensure it. This curvy beauty is set to covet the Numero Uno position in the hearts of people and will join the soon to be formed list of famous five models from Fiat in India. Labels: Fiat-Grande-Punto
Wednesday, 3 June 2009
Fiat is all set to add a new model to its stable in both petrol and diesel variants on June 17th. The Grande Punto will blend in well with India’s small car favouritism trend. The car, designed by famous car designer Giorgetto Giugario, has been spreading its magic in European markets and is now getting ready to storm India’s small car segment posing a huge challenge to rivals like Skoda Fabia, Maruti Suzuki Swift, Ford Fusion, Hyundai i20, and the upcoming Honda Jazz. Created on the platform of the Fiat Linea, the new car will be seen in three variants - Active, Dynamic, and Emotion. Petrol engine options are 1.2-litre and 1.4-litre whereas diesel engine is a 1.3L multi-jet, same as the one on Linea. There is no confirmation yet about its exact pricing but petrol variants are speculated to fall in the range of Rs. 4.5 Lakh to Rs. 6 Lakh and diesel variants will come with a price tag of Rs. 5.25 Lakh to Rs. 6.5 Lakh. A blend of beauty, solidity, and brilliance along with a very Italian essence makes the Fiat Grande Punto a complete car ready to win millions of hearts. It will be manufactured at Fiat’s Ranjangaon plant near Pune in Maharashtra along with the Linea. Labels: Fiat-Cars, Fiat-Grande-Punto, New-Car-Launch
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