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Monday, 29 March 2010
Car makers are looking to increase prices on the 1st of April. Fiat wants to do something different. It will wait and watch. Based on the results of other car makers in the country, Fiat will take the next step. Car manufacturers are increasing prices because of the stringent BS IV emission norms which will be implemented in 13 cities. The engines are being upgraded to meet the norms, and so, the car prices will increase. But, Fiat prefers to wait and watch. It has been a good year for Fiat. The company will be closing the fiscal year with 24,000 units. The Punto entered during the middle of the financial year and has been doing extremely well. Fiat has great plans for the coming year too. It plans to sell 48,000 units including the Punto and Linea. By June this year, the company would launch the Linea Turbo Jet with the 1.4 turbo-charged gasoline engine. The other launch from Fiat would be the 90 bhp version of the Punto. It is also working on the Punto's CNG version and may roll it out by the end of this fiscal year. This version will carry a gasoline-CNG engine that automatically shifts between using liquid fuel and compressed natural gas depending on requirement. There are greater plans. With inputs from Tata Motors, a new compact car specifically for the Indian market is being developed. The unveiling would take around two years though. Fiat has always been producing small cars and the 50:50 joint venture with Tata may also prove successful. Any guesses about the car’s price? Well, it is likely to be priced in the Rs 3-3.5 lakh range. Fiat wants to make no compromise on quality. Features like safety, storage, emission control, entertainment and high performance may be borrowed from the Fiat 500 which is sold as a completely built unit in India. With a price-tag of nearly Rs 15 lakh the two-door Fiat 500 has sold 64 units since its launch in 2008. This new small car, coming out in 2012, will be produced at the company’s Ranjangaon plant. The plant has a capacity of 160,000 cars and 350,000 engines, besides 300,000 parts and accessories. As of now, the facility makes the Palio Stile 1.1, 1.6 models, Linea and the Grande Punto. The facility also manufactures Fiat's booming 1.3 litre Multijet Diesel Engines and 1.2 and 1.4 litre Fire Gasoline engines. The plant will also produce Tata passenger and next generation cars. The 1.2 litre Grande Punto has been priced at a range of Rs 4.57 lakh to Rs 4.87 lakh which is pretty decent. The idea is to offer more feature at a lower price. Position-wise, it wants to move higher in the B plus segment of cars. Fiat wants to fight it out with competitors like the Hyundai i20, Suzuki Swift and VW Polo. The current version of the Punto itself does monthly numbers of around 1,500 units. So naturally, the new variants could help numbers get closer to the 2,500-unit mark, won’t it? By this time next year, Fiat wants to roll out over 60,000 cars from the Ranjangaon plant. If the new small car is launched by the end of next year, it will help a lot in achieving this target. The Fiat 1.2 Fire Dynamic and Fiat Fire Emotion have just been launched in the hatchback segment in Chandigarh. Fial, which currently has 103 Tata-Fial dealers in India, is looking to ramp up to 124 dealers by June this year. As for the Ranjangaon facility, Fiat plans to use it as a key global car hub eventually. Labels: Fial, Fiat, Fiat-and-Tata, Fiat-India, Fiat-Linea, Grande-Punto, Linea, New-Fiat-Car, New-Linea, Punto, Ranjangaon-Facility
Thursday, 18 March 2010
After having a grandly successful year with Linea and Grande Punto, Fiat is trying to push its luck further. Fiat has launched two brand new variants of Punto in the petrol hatchback segment -1.2 litre Fire Dynamic and Emotion. And the most interesting things about these new launches are the very competitive pricing and the new features that come packed in the new variants of the oh-so-admirable Punto. The Punto Fire comes with an impressive range of features that include tilt steering, front power windows, fire prevention system and programmed service reminder in its entry level 1.2 Active variant. The 1.2 Dynamic will offer rear power windows and central locking system. And as if these things were not enough to pull the crowd to the showrooms, Fiat, as an introductory offer, is giving away music system in the 1.2 Dynamic. Punto 1.2 Emotion variant will come with an integrated music system, fog lamps, electric mirrors, dual tone dashboard and split seats. As an introductory offer, Fiat is also giving away music system in the 1.2 Dynamic. Meanwhile, the 1.2 Emotion variant will come an integrated music system, fog lamps, electric mirrors, dual tone dashboard and split seats. The exterior styling and looks of Punto has been so different, in a way that we like, from the other cars in the segment. While the others look rather like oversized women who would not go to the gym, Punto oozes raw beauty and appeal. It is a common knowledge that automobile industry in India is growing at a tremendous pace and the small car segment, with 60% of car sales, is fuelling the growth. Fiat, so far, has had about 5.5 per cent of the market share and it is looking to double the sales figure with more variant launches in the coming months. Punto Sports is another variant which will be launched during the second half of this year. When talking about Fiat’s efforts to raise the standard of sales figure, we cannot ignore the new Linea 1.4 T-Jet, which is set to make its debut during August – September 2010. When launched, Linea T-Jet will be the only one its segment to have turbocharged petrol engine. Labels: Fiat, Fiat-India, Fiat-Linea, Fiat-Punto, Grande-Punto, Linea-T-Jet, Punto-Fire, Punto-Fire-Dynamic, Punto-Fire-Emotion, PuntO-Sports
Friday, 19 February 2010
India has finally decided to do something about bringing down emission levels. All two wheelers getting out of showrooms effective 1st of April, 2010 will have to comply with the Bharat Stage IV emission norms. That does not give the four wheelers any advantage. All commercial vehicles including cars in 13 cities will have to comply with the same. These cities include Delhi (NCR), Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad Bangalore, Ahmedabad, Pune, Surat, Kanpur, Agra and Kolkata. Cars in the rest of India are allowed to abide by Bharat Stage III emission rules.
It was just last month that we heard the news that Maruti Suzuki would not upgrade its M800 to the new emission norms. Looks like Fiat India too wants to follow the same route. The company had given its Palio a facelift in March 2008. But, the same hatchback which was again supposed to come out with the BS-IV compliant 1.2 Litre engine will soon be driving out of the 13 cities. It would have been really wonderful if it had received the long-awaited facelift instead. Anyway, it’s Fiat India’s decision. It has been made very clear that Palio will not come out as a refreshed variant. They will be stopping sale of the Palio by March 2010. Vehicles all over the country will be ruled by the new emission rules by 2015-16 and that is when the Palio will completely go out of sight.
Fiat India believes that the phasing out of the Palio will not make a major difference. The sale of the car has gone down to less than 50 units per month. The Fiat Palio is dying a slow death. All cities where the Palio will not be sold are already seeing a decline in the sale of the vehicle. The company has also slowly started ramping down its output at its Ranjangaon facility. Have you heard the rumour? The Grande Punto will be taking the Palio’s place in the Indian market. Will it be as successful? Well, let’s wait and watch. Fiat will be putting its heart, mind and soul on the Grande Punto.
The spacious Fiat Grande Punto is all set to run the race. The car being very well designed may attract the Indian car buyer’s eye very easily. The three variants of the Grande Punto, Active, Dynamic, and Emotion are brilliantly engineered. While the “Indian Car of the Year 2002” leaves the stage let’s hope that the Grande Punto plays its part very well. Labels: Bharat Stage IV, BS-IV, Fiat, Fiat Cars India, Fiat Palio, Grande Punto, New Emission Norms
Friday, 12 February 2010
 Well, did it ever occur to you that Reva, the first Indian electric car company might soon have a “Made in Italy” tag attached to it if all things just go right? Just when the electric car company which had said that it could make profit from factories that make just 5,000 electric cars a year and is planning to open a plant near Syracuse, NY, USA, we also have word that Fiat’s Termini Imerese plant in Sicily, Italy could be converted to build the next-gen electric vehicles (EVs). Cimino & Associates Private Equity is raising funds of 50 million euros, to date, around $68 million U.S. to buy the plant and is talking to Reva about taking it over and building vehicles there that cost around 16,000 to 17,000 euros ($22,000-$23,250). Apparently, the project needs 65 million euros to get off the ground. Automotive News says that the plant would need to make 30,000 vehicles a year to break even, which doesn't mesh with Reva's bold claims. Fiat is expected to close the plant in 2011. Reva is currently taking orders for the NXR in Europe and the cheapest option – 9,995 euros or approx. $13,728 is to buy the car and lease the lead acid batteries. The upgraded NXG model, pictured, should be available as a 2011 model sometime soon. Labels: Electric-Car, Electric-Car-Company, Fiat, REVA
Tuesday, 15 December 2009
Italian car giant Fiat does not need an Asian partner to compete with its rivals. Of late, many European car makers are tying up with Asian car makers to grab a bigger share in the world car market. But Fiat says it has no need to find an Asian partner to match recent tie-ups by European competitors with Japanese car makers. Fiat has already bought a 20 per cent stake in Chrysler and the company feels that this tie-up is sufficient for them. Otherwise, the company might choke trying to shallow too much what it can actually intake. Asian car makers have secured several deals recently with other car manufactures. It is just last week ago when Volkswagen agreed to buy 20 per cent stake of Suzuki Motor Corporation for $2.5 billion. This has been followed by Monday’s announcement that Beijing Automotive Industry Holding Co (BAIC) has bought some Saab assets. Fiat is building a plant in China with Guangzhou Automobile, China's sixth-largest auto producer and has a joint venture with India’s Tata Motors. Fiat aims to go to China with the Jeep and its deal with Chrysler “is also aimed at Eastern markets.” Fiat also revealed that its sporty Alfa Romeo marque was not for sale under any circumstances, after a recent analyst report suggested it could be bought by Volkswagen. Fiat would be able to significantly increase output in its native land as the government has requested during negotiations over the car maker’s future strategy and the government's commitment to incentives for trading in old vehicles. Fiat also said Chrysler will allow the car maker to cover market segments the company is not present in till date. Moreover, it expects to shift production of around 270,000 Panda cars from its overworked factory in Poland, either to the southern Italian Pomigliano plant or to Mirafiori, near its home base of Turin in the north-east. Labels: Alfa-Romeo, Chrysler, Fiat, Volkswagen
Tuesday, 17 November 2009
 Fiat India, it seems like, has been doing its home work pretty well. Fiat India playing its second innings in India now by trying to build the brand and reliable and stylish cars has its eyes set on the Palio. Fait Palio which was one of the first models of Fiat after its short lived Indian outing earlier will get yet another facelift to make it appealing amongst the car enthusiast in India. Fiat will relaunch the Palio hatchback in the upcoming 2010 Delhi Auto Expo. The new model of the Palio is already in the markets of Brazil. The new Palio will come with a new heart, possibly with a BS-IV compliant 1.2-litre engine borrowed from the Grande Punto. The new Palio will come with a revamped interior and refreshed styling. The car was designed as a world car, aimed at countries like Brazil, Argentina, India, Turkey, South Africa and China. It is also built under license in North Korea as the Pyonghwa Hwiparam. The Palio ventured into the Brazilian market in 1996 and followed later that year in Argentina. 1997 saw production starting in Venezuela, Poland and Morocco while Turkey started building the same car in 1998. South Africa began production in 1999, Egypt in 2001 and China in 2002. The Fiat Palio has been awarded the Indian Car of the Year 2002. The car was a hit when it made its India debut in 2001. But the car is now dying a slow death mainly because of high fuel consumption and the pricing. So, this time Fiat India will be attaching a very competitive price for the Palio. The hatchback may come with a price tag of Rs 3.5 Lakh for the base model. Labels: 2010-Delhi-Auto-Expo, Fiat, Fiat-India, Fiat-Palio, Grande-Punto
Wednesday, 28 October 2009
After the grand entry of the Fiat Grande Punto, Fiat is planning to enter the Indian car market with new models. The Italian car major is all set to come out with its small car in 2011-2012 and Fiat is busy these days with the sketches of the car. The rumour out there is that this upcoming small car from Fiat will carry a price tag of Rs 3-4 Lakh. The company is currently considering various engine options right from 900 cc to 1200 cc for the small car. The car will be positioned between the Tata Nano and the Grande Punto. This small car will be pitted against the upcoming Ford Figo. With the success of the Linea and the Grande Punto, and a new small car unleashed in the Indian car market, the company is eyeing to sell 2,00,000 cars by 2012 with an aim of achieving 7-8 per cent market share. Fiat is also considering to bring in LCVs and premium cars in India. It has been revealed the the ideal time for Light Commercial Vehicles (LCV) launch is 2012-2014. The LCVs will come with a load carrying capacity between 0.8-1.8 Tonnes in India. Meanwhile, the company will continue to build its network and manufacturing capabilities to create its own market in India and a strong base for exports of small cars. Fiat has organised a 10,000-km drive, the 'Fiat Diesel Drives India', to promote its diesel engines and vehicles across India. Labels: Fiat, Grande-Punto, Small-Car
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
Thursday, 13 August 2009
 It seems like Fiat is echoing itself everywhere in the car market. The car manufacturer is running around, in fact throughout the world, and launching new cars. The new car from Fiat, christened Fiorino, is a first type of its kind, a small van car. The name has it all the car is a crossover of a small car and an MPV. The launch of Fiat Fiorino in Paris can be seen as a very intelligent decision by Fiat as the company enjoys a very stable position in France. This passenger car combined the characteristics of an MPV and a small car in a very elegant fashion. This five seater crossover can be used for a leisure trip with your family or an adventurous journey with your friends. The car with a length of 3959mm, width of 1216mm and height of 1735mm is a true compact car and echoes the design principal of the car “Free Space”. The two models - 1.3 liter 75 bhp Multijet and 1.4 liter 73 bhp petrol engines has the option of 5-speed manual or 6-speed automatic transmission. A very distinctive feature of the car is that it has great fuel efficiency and that too with less carbon dioxide emission, which makes the car is a very eco-friendly machine and a people friendly machine too. And all of this is offered at a very low maintenance cost and buying cost. Labels: Fiat, Fiat-Fiorino, MPV
Wednesday, 5 August 2009
Chrysler under GM when filed for bankruptcy, on April 30, 2009, did not have many hopes for a brighter future. But when Chrysler thought everything was down and out, Fiat pitched in and Chrysler was able to strike a deal with Fiat, which made Fiat the joint owner of Chrysler. This will in future be a very profitable business for both the companies, a give and take policy. By joining hands with Chrysler, Fiat has gained an easy access to the American automobile market and Chrysler has had the benefit of learning new technologies from Fiat, which will help it to make more new-generation cars than ever in the near future. But it appeared to be a tough journey for Chrysler and Fiat when the sale was delayed by the Supreme Court following an appeal by the consumer groups, Indiana pension and construction funds, and others to stop the transaction. But luckily everything started falling into place when Supreme Court cleared the path for the deal and Chrysler sold its assets to Fiat group SpA. Chrysler, with this sale, has been freed from the clutches of bankruptcy. Chrysler has never gone through a similar situation. Even though Chrysler was on the verge of filing a bankruptcy more than once, it has never happened during its 80 years of business. This plight of the company is mainly due to its inability to think in a contemporary fashion. Chrysler failed to bring out new looks and technology in its cars, it was stuck with the long gone design and features. This didn’t impress the car buyers who were flooded with plenty of options to choose from. This brought down the sale of the company and this finally ended up in the filing of bankruptcy. Now with a new lease of life being imparted to Chrysler, It should come out with innovative car designs and features that could charm the car buyers to Chrysler’s showrooms. Chrysler is a big name for America and now with the US government supporting the Chrysler-Fiat partnership, Chrysler should regain its lost glory. But even months after Chrysler joined hands with Fiat, there are not many clear cut plans announced by both the companies. But let’s hope a real come back from this master carmaker. Labels: Chrysler, Fiat, GM
Thursday, 18 June 2009
After having acquired the American automobile major Chrysler Motors, Fiat is contemplating on introducing Chrysler to India. While the alliance has helped Chrysler come out of bankruptcy, it is Fiat's responsibility to bring in revenues. And revenues mean selling more Chrysler Cars. This can happen when Chrysler is able to successfully penetrate into more developing markets. Fiat plans to piggy back on emerging economies such as India and China for the success of Chrysler models. Fiat, now an experienced auto maker to have tasted Indian waters, can infuse the same knowledge to help Chrysler. Fiat also has a strategic partner in the homegrown auto major Tata Motors, which can help Chrysler get a firm footing in India. If Chrysler enters India, it will face its traditional rivals the General Motors and Ford who have already established themselves on the Indian road space. It could be a uphill task for them to sell their cars in India if they do not come up with their right moves. GM and Ford are well known brands which Indians can relate to quite easily. But it is a challenge for Chrysler to make a dent in the Indian automotive space, as they have not yet proved their worth in India and Indians might be a little wary on putting their money on an unproven product. Another problem is that Chrysler has no small cars its portfolio, which could be detrimental for the company’s fortunes in India, a country which tilts towards small cars. However, Chrysler can always brush it off as a simple problem, once it gets firmly established in the sedan and SUV market. Also the pricing factor has to be considered and Chrysler cannot sell cars at prices prevailing in United States. It would be impossible to sell cars at those rates, here in India. Labels: Chrylser-Cars, Chrysler-bankruptcy, Chrysler-India, Fiat
Thursday, 28 May 2009
The world’s largest automobile market of the United States has dramatically changed in the past year due to global economic recession. The automotive industry in Amercia has collapsed after the recession brought leading car players GM and Chrysler at the verge of bankruptcy. And, even other car manufacturers were forced to ask for cash support to keep their businesses live. Many of the U.S. auto companies are finding it hard to recover the losses. Chrysler has already succumbed to its losses and now the Italian car manufacturer Fiat plans to take over the company. General Motors has already taken a huge fund from the government to support its business. It is believed that at present Ford is the only manufacturer in America that has successfully retained its independent position in the auto market. The car manufacturer refuses to take financial aid from the government but then till how long will the company carry on with the losses? The situation in American car market has become so serious that in the future months even Ford may need to borrow money from the government to support its successful business. Car manufacturers there are worried that the number of car buyers will decrease as days go by and the investments made on them will go down the drain. But in India, the situation is not the same. The Indian car industry is climbing the positive track with more and more car manufacturers rolling out new cars to spark a new excitement in the market. All the new cars launched in the market are designed with best of cues and packed with host of technologies to entice waning car buyers. Many Indian car manufacturers like Maruti and Hyundai are witnessing positive curves on the sales graph. However, the severe loss faced by GM in the U.S. has put its impact on GM cars in India as well. Despite of GM’s aggressive marketing strategy and promotional campaigns, the car manufacturer is not successful in regaining its lost position. Maybe the future has something good for GM. India has given a new hope to many car manufacturers and GM may also find its way out of recession. Labels: Chrysler, Fiat, Ford, GM, Indian-car-industry, Maruti, U.S.-Car-Market
Tuesday, 10 March 2009
Small and beautiful Abarth 500 is one of the hottest future cars that retain a blend of Fiat’s lineage and Abarth’s tradition. Abarth is an Italian racing car manufacturer that is now a significant part of Fiat. The styling of the car is not emphasized much on visual appeal and aesthetics but on performance. It is creatively crafted with a need to optimize aerodynamics. And this is done by adding sporty side skirts, a larger roof spoiler, and a deep aerodynamic diffuser at the rear. Complementing the exterior appeal are the twin intercoolers, extended nose, and triple air intakes that reflect the distinctive characteristics of historic Abarth cars. Though the exterior and styling is not much focused the Abarth 500 makes a commanding presence on road. Inside the car exudes warmth with welcoming features like shift-light LED, aluminium pedal, leather steering wheel, sporty bucket seats, advanced car audio system, and Fiat’s innovative Blue&Me hands-free communication system. Safety is also maximized with a host of car safety technologies including seven airbags. The heart of the Abarth 500 is pumped by a 1.4-litre turbo engine with an output of 135bhp. Completely designed on the platform of Fiat 500, the new Abarth 500 is expected to make its entry to the Indian car market in a couple of years. This proposed car with its small structure, beautiful appeal, and powerful technologies will be a significant milestone in the rich heritage of Indian car industry as well as the Fiat’s journey in India. Labels: Abarth-500, Fiat, Future-Cars, Indian-car-market, New-Car-Launch
Thursday, 21 August 2008
At one end of the spectrum, when Fiat announced to open a R&D centre and Maruti is planning to start a design centre, at the other end the Volkswagen is also working on to open a research centre in India. The plan of setting up a research centre in India is a step to expand its market share in the mushrooming Indian car industry. The proposed centre is expected to be in line with the accident research centre of the company set up in China almost three years back. In the established research centre, skilled professionals research the causes, aftermaths and other essentials of the car accident and then use the findings in incorporating safety features in the cars. The similar approach is set for the Indian research centre. The Volkswagen believes that different countries have different cultures, road and weather conditions. These differences invite a need for completely different set of safety measures and features in the cars available in different countries. India also has its own ifs and buts when it comes to car safety and accidents. The company plans to research all the accident sites in the country and then incorporate safety features in accordance to the India specific conditions. Currently, India has limited infrastructure to incorporate a range of safety features.
The company is looking forward to fit in some features while the rest like lane departure indications and night view are not supported by the Indian infrastructure. Volkswagen promises to gradually bring out these features as well. Labels: car safety, Fiat, Maruti, Volkswagen
Tuesday, 19 August 2008
Fiat India Automobiles Pvt. Ltd. is planning to set up a car design center in India which will eventually strengthen the Indian car industry and make it more promising in the global market. Fiat is evaluating the possibility and issues associated with establishing a Research & Design Center (R&D) centre at its Ranjangaon plant in partnership with Tata Motors. Till date, the country drives to the West to design a car but now the emerging Indian market is preparing itself to learn the technical specifications. India is believed to be a hub of technical expertise, but because of lack of infrastructure, Indians were never successful in implementing print to reality. With Fiat planning to settle down a design center in India, Indian car manufacturers will get a better hold on the designing and other aspects of their production. Labels: Car-Design, Car-Manufacturers, Fiat
Thursday, 31 July 2008
The Fiat plans to develop a two-cylinder diesel engine for the global car market including India. This two-cylinder engine is mainly designed for small cars and is known as ‘Fiat’s twin wonder’. The diesel engine is expected to be manufactured at Fiat’s Ranjangaon facility in India. The company also plans to sell the same cylinder to other companies across the global car industry. Fiat has an alliance with the Tata Motors and it was expected to be a confirm consumer for this engine. But Tata Motors is producing its own twin-cylinder for its ultra-cheap car, the Nano. Maruti does not have any such kind of small diesel to fit in its small cars. But do you think will Maruti approach Fiat for its requirement? Maruti is considered to be Fiat's best stake. Through the production of this twin-cylinder diesel engine, the company is planning to strengthen its presence in India. Labels: Car-engine, Car-Manufacturers, Diesel, Fiat, Nano
Tuesday, 29 July 2008
Fiat makes a smart move in the Indian car industry. After the launch of Fiat 500 or Cinquecento, the Italian car manufacturer is planning to bring its other iconic brands like Ferrari, Alfa Romeo, and Maserati to create a new individuality in the market. Fiat is now following a complete revamp plan, wherein the company will not only introduce new vehicles to the market but will also sell the excess capacity of diesel and petrol engines. The famed car engine of Fiat, 1,300cc multijet diesel, is produced at its Ranjangaon factory. The company plans to sell this engine to various other car manufactures and fill the shortage of such engines in the Indian market. Fiat implements the revival plan in India with the launch of Fiat 500. Though the cost price of this coupe is too high, for about Rs 15 lakh, the company is not worried because there is a conform belief that the unique style will showcase the Fiat brand to Indian audience. The car is built with a combination of style, safety, elegance and remarkable engine quality. The company is also in process to roll out its Linea sedan and Grande Punto. The company claims that these cars will be produced locally to suit the Indian conditions. With its revival plan, Fiat plans to compete with leading car manufacturers like Maruti Suzuki Motors, Tata Motors, Hyundai Motors, and Honda Seil India. Do you think Fiat will win the race? Labels: Car-Manufacturers, Fiat, Fiat 500, Hyundai-Motors
Wednesday, 16 July 2008
Fiat is trying to make a comeback in the Indian car industry with its new Fiat 500. The car will be launched exactly 50 years after the launch of the original Fiat 500. Currently, it is difficult to test the compatibility between Fiat 500 and India. No one can say how well the 500 will work in the Indian car market. The older version of Fiat 500 was appreciated by the consumers because of its looks and cheap price tag, but the latest version is a stylish two-door car with loads of luxurious amenities and a higher price tag! The small car segment in India has been the most successful, but buying a small car mostly focuses on affordability. One Fiat 500 will cost the same as 12 Tata Nano cars or 6 Maruti 800 cars or 5 Maruti Alto cars or 4 Chevrolet Spark/Hyundai Santro/Tata Indica cars. Fiat is completely dependant on the car’s advanced features and superb performance to overshadow the price factor. An elegant and striking exterior with loaded interiors may just help Fiat turn the tide and score a 500 win in India. Labels: Fiat, Fiat 500, Fiat Motors
Monday, 9 June 2008
Fiat is trying hard and going around to change their image worldwide and in India. They have already announced many new models for India such as the Linea, Grande Punto, Bravo and 500. In addition to these models, Fiat is planning to introduce a microcar that is based on the same platform as the Fiat 500. The low cost car is expected to come out some time in 2009. 
A replacement for the Fiat Palio Stile is also on the cards. The new car is expected to be classier in design and more comfortable. The Grande Punto and the Linea are ready for launch in late 2008. Labels: Fiat, low cost car, new car launch
Friday, 18 April 2008
Fiat has always been making attempts to keep its customers a happier lot. Now with a line up of new modes slated to be launched in India, the Italian car maker is also planning a successor to its biggest selling Palio model. The Palio’s successor will be based on Panda platform but will have a bigger body. This is a part of companies plan to introduce low priced car in India markets by 2010. The car is expected to be ready by the end of next year. Therefore, with the growing interest of Car makers in manufacturing small cars depict that the trend is moving away from big cars and SUVs due to rising fuel costs and growing concern about pollution. Labels: Fiat, Palio, SUVs
Monday, 31 March 2008
Fiat is re-launching Fiat 500 in India soon. It seems that Fiat is planning to give a tough competition to BMW’s Mini. When Fiat will launch its 500 it is expected to take on the costliest hatchback of India BMW Mini. Fiat priced at Rs 13 lakh onwards and BMW Mini priced at Rs 20 lakh. Both these cars carry the retro design, carrying with it the legacy of European history. It will be interesting to see if these European cars carry their magic to India. These car manufacturers will most probably fight for a thin line of consumer segment, which have an option to buy luxury cars or SUV or 500 or Mini. Maybe the consumer will eventually decide on who is the boss of hatch back cars in India. Labels: Car-competition, Fiat, Fiat 500, Hatchbacks, Indian SUV, new car launch
Tuesday, 4 March 2008
The race is on to capture the small car segment in India. While many car manufacturers are toying with ideas of releasing small cars at ultra-low costs to reach out to the common man in India, foreign car manufacturers are also thinking the same.
BMW, Volkswagen, Audi, Porsche, Volvo and Fiat for example are striving hard to make their cars affordable in India and also to enable at the least upper-middle class to be able to own their cars by shelling out decent amounts. Not to be left behind, Fiat has already decided to roll out its most popular European small car Fiat 500 and the Fiat Bravo at Rs.10 lakh in India. Volkswagen and BMW are waiting to release the Beetle and Mini Cooper brands respectively within the limit of Rs. 20 lakh. The entry of foreign cars with competitive price tags in India will surely make Indian car manufacturers to give good cars at reasonable price. Labels: Audi, BMW-Cars, Fiat, Foreign cars, Small car market in India
Tuesday, 26 February 2008
Fiat enthusiasts now have now another option on the Palio Stile. Fiat is launching a 1.3 liter multi-jet diesel engine to power the Palio. The engine is new technology developed by Fiat and they are planning to use it in almost all the models that they plan to launch in India soon. Maruti too wants to have this engine on a few of their models. The new Maruti Suzuki Swift Diesel already has a multi-jet diesel engine. Labels: Car-Engines, Fiat, maruti swift diesel
Thursday, 21 February 2008
Car manufacturers are coming up with new ideas to attract new buyers. Now, can you imagine a car manufacturer offering free petrol as an incentive? But that is exactly what Tata Motors had announced. The company has tied up with Hindustan Petroleum to offer free fuel worth upto Rs. 20,000 to all new buyers of Tata Indica and selected models of Indigo and Fiat cars. But this offer is limited only to people living in Delhi and the surrounding region. I never thought such a day would dawn in India when petrol is offered free with every car buy. Sounds like a line from an advertisement, but it’s a fact. I wish the same scheme was extended to Lucknow too. From Tata Roadie Labels: Buy Car, car incentive, Fiat, New Car, Petrol, Tata
Tuesday, 22 January 2008
In recent days, I am only hearing about the Nano as the first small car to hit the auto market in the world. How can it be called the first small car when Fiat had already launched such type of a small car long back? Going down memory lane, one of the biggest auto manufacturing companies, Fiat, tried its luck in making the world’s first small car and had launched the “Fiat 500” with much fan fare in 1957. This car had created so much flutter in the auto industry, especially in the European market, that within a span of a few months after launching this small car, the sale of two-wheeler had come down drastically in Europe. Most families opted for Fiat 500 and it has still remained as the first choice for many people opting for small cars in Europe. As far as the Nano is concerned, it should not be called the first small car ever made in the world with people in mind. However, it might be the first car in the world to hit the roads with as low as a Rs 1 Lakh tag. The Nano can be credited and labeled as the first 1 lakh car in the world not as the first small car in the world. At first sight, the Nano looks like a replica of the Fiat 500. The shadow of the Fiat 500 can be noted in various parts of the Nano. In terms of design, style, a rear-end engine, and fuel efficiency, one cannot see much changes between the two cars. Nano is undoubtedly the pride of the Indian auto industry and it will definitely become an integral part in shaping India's car market history.
Article Submitted by N Vishnuprathap
Labels: Auto market competition, Fiat, Small cars market in India, Tata
Thursday, 27 December 2007
All Fiat fans who were forced to opt for other cars have a reason to cheer. Fiat is back! This time with newer and even better models. We hear that the decade old Ranjangaon plant near Pune is finally humming with activity as the Italian car major is pushing through a major expansion programme. This will be a decisive comeback for Fiat. In the next 2 years, Fiat wants to roll out seven new cars from its global portfolio. New releases will include Fiat’s European best seller - the 2-door Cinquecento, the much read about sedan Linea and even the world famous Ferrari. The Fiat service network that used to be about a decade ago is now non-existent. The company will revamp its sales and service network entirely. This move should certainly get the crowd going. Reports suggest that the Pune plant is presently making two versions of the Palio and come February, a third version will be added. The new Palio will be powered by the highly acclaimed 1.3 Multijet engine which currently does duty in the award winning Maruti Swift DDiS. We expect a price tag of around Rs 4.5 lakh on the new model. Labels: Ferrari, Fiat, Italian car, New launch, Palio
Thursday, 20 December 2007
Fiat is coming back and with a bang! The company has lined up seven launches spread across 24 months. The company has re-started production in its plant in Ranjangaon, Pune. The releases over the next two years will be the popular European two-door CBU Cinquecento, the best seller Linea saloon, 5-door Bravo, Palio diesel version, Grande Punto, Alfa Romeo, and the best known sports car Ferrari. At one time India had known only two car makers-Ambassador and Fiat.The flood of new cars almost drove the two auto companies off the roads. It will be a treat to the eyes to see so many Fiats’ rolling over the Indian roads again. Fiat has decided to push its products by combining old goodwill with an aggressive approach. Labels: Ambassador, European, Ferrari, Fiat, Launches, Palio
Friday, 7 December 2007
The Fiat 500 won the car of the year award for 2008. Fiat is the only automobile manufacturer in the world that has won the coveted European Car of the Year award nine times. It was voted the best by a large contingent of 58 journalists from 22 European countries. The 500 was voted ahead of the Ford Mazda II and Ford Mondeo. It is Italy’s national icon, with the original 1957 version selling close to four million units, until it was phased out in 1975. After its re-launch, Fiat decided to regain its coveted place in the European car market and is offering the largest possible offer of 500,000 different ways to configure the car with its myriad options. It is also offering the electric fragrance diffuser for those who love the smell of fresh morning air in the cabin. The available engines include a 1.3-litre multi-jet diesel that churns out 74 bhp (which also powers the Swift diesel in India) and two types of petrol: a 1.2-litre that produces 68 bhp and a 1.4-litre that generates 100 bhp. Fiat comes with a five-star safety rating and is packed with the latest safety equipments including an ABS with electronic stability program. The interiors have a funky design with high quality elements and a digital instrumental panel. India operations: As far as Fiat India’s plans go, the company plans to turn India into a centre for its Asia operations. Indians have a long association with Fiat, but will have to wait for sometime longer for the Fiat 500 compact car to tread on Indian roads. Labels: Auto-Shows, Award winning car, Compact cars, Driving imported cars, Fiat, Ford, Foreign cars
Tuesday, 4 December 2007
It’s a luxury-branded world we live in. Thanks to Google, I’ve got a leak on what Alfa Romeo in India will look like. Iconic, that is the perfect word suited for Alfa in India. I had never seen one of these before so I thought of googling it up more. Really wide, pretty low, and very sporty. It’s rare that we come across some great sporty cars in India. It is interesting in the fact that Alfa will bring a new face for Fiat in India. There are some nice details about Alfa Romeo. Alfa is a car that can compete head-on with the BMW 3 Series and Mercedes C-Class and the Audi A4 in India. The exterior is pretty sweet. The unique grille housed between the jewel shaped headlight offers something we will have to wait for. And the news is that Alfa Romeo 159 will be the mainstay of the brand in the Indian market. Surprisingly the 159 has been Alfa’s most successful compact saloon in recent times. Alfa look forward to price it competitively against the locally-assembled Mercs and BMWs. Alfa will certainly sell up to par with a price that of BMW 3 Series and Mercedes C-Class. However, sources say Alfa 159 should be launched with an entry price of Rs. 28 Lakh. I think sales will heavily depend on Indian road conditions and the company’s service back-up. Article Submitted by Suresh RaoLabels: Audi, BMW-Cars, Car market competition, Compact luxury sedans, Fiat, Mercedes-Benz, New Car, New launch
Tuesday, 20 November 2007
Indians love their small cars. In India small cars go well with the urban living conditions. Fulfilling the growing demands for small cars, Ford in collaboration with Mazda wants to launch a small car in India. However, Ford is still confused about the appropriate model for India. The options it is considering are KA and Mazda2. As the story goes, Ford is considering plans to import the Mazda2 kit from Thailand. Rumors say if it is the Mazda2, Ford will either use the existing Ikon or Fiesta platforms. The new KA is expected to roll out in Europe next year under the Fiat-Ford signature. Fiat’s 500 made under the platform of KA has formally launched recently. Mazda2 got more Wows when it was formally previewed at the Geneva motor show than the Honda Jazz and Fit. From Fords new plans, we can expect either the KA or Mazda2 or both swarming on Indian roads soon. Labels: Fiat, Ford, Honda, Imported cars, Mazda, New launch, Small cars market in India
Tuesday, 13 November 2007
Tata and Fiat are in the news again; first it was with Tata Motors One-Lakh Car, then Tata’s recent partnership venture with the Italian Fiat Auto followed by their first joint venture project Grand Punto and Linea (B and C segment cars respectively) which will be launched by 2008. Today they are on this page because they are taking up another new step in the small cars segment. This new car is to be launched by 2010 and will be a possible replacement to the Palio. Since the Palio has been a slow mover compared to the other small cars of same class, Fiat-Tata decided to replace this model and have already started working on the developments of the new car. This ‘jugalbandi’ is currently concentrating only on the Palio petrol version (1.1 and 1.6 liter). The other versions like the Fiat Palio (diesel version) and Fiat Siena/Petra have been discontinued. Their joint network will definitely increase their distribution and servicing strength. Fiat has approximately 65 dealers and is planning to expand to a 100 more by 2008, when the new Fiat models will be launched. Let’s wait and watch for this new under-cover small car, maybe it will prove to be a lucky charm for Fiat! Labels: cars-India, Fiat, Indian car market, Launches in India, Small Car, Tata
Friday, 26 October 2007
There has been considerable debate over the last few years regarding the best high-end sport- luxury brand car available in India. It was widely thought that the big three brand competitors are BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Audi. Now, I’d like to take a moment to welcome our new competitor, an all new sport-luxury brand from the Italian carmaker Fiat. Here’s the name you’ve been waiting for: the Alfa Romeo 159. In the 2008 Auto Expo, which is going to be happening very shortly, Fiat is going to announce the debut of Alfa Romeo and the date to import it to India in the first half of 2008. Current information suggests that the Alfa Romeo will be available at selected Fiat dealers in India. Well, from what I understand, Alfa’s engine transplants will add either a 2.2 liter engine or a 3.2 liter V-6 engine that will make a very hearty 260 to 730 horsepower respectively. Fiat has confirmed that the entry prize of Alfa will be 28 Lakh. Let’s gaze at the history of Alfa. Alfa was the first car that introduced the trend for twin spark plugs in the 1960s. The Alfa 156, launched in 1997, was the first car that was powered by a common-rail diesel engine. All this and the car is still competitively prized. As far as we know it’s the cars endure in Indian road conditions and the company service back-up that will eventually decide the success of the new ‘Romeo’ in India. Labels: Audi, Auto market competition, BMW-Cars, Fiat, Imported cars, Indian car market, Mercedes-Benz, New launch
Tuesday, 16 October 2007
Let’s hope for a new growth in Track car productions in India in the coming years. Caparo the company known for the T1 track car is developing a new small car for India. The UK based Caparo’s ‘city car’ would be licensed for production to other manufacturers in the local market in India. As global auto makers like Toyota, Honda, and General Motors have announced plans to launch a compact car in India; we can hope that one of these MNCs will franchise Caparo's city car for production in the Indian local market. Learning from manufacturers like Renault, Volkswagen, Volvo, and Fiat, Caparo too sees the value in an Indian foray with a partner to rationalize investments and get a head start for production, sales, & service. Caparo is in talks with multiple potential automakers for a possible alliance in India. The car that is under development in Caparo’s Chennai factory will find a new space in the heart of the hard core car racing enthusiasts. This T1 racing car is a high performance two-seater designed with the style and function that resembles a Formula One race car. T1 offers a lightweight body and chassis made out of advanced composite materials. The T1 will be showcased in India in Auto Expo 2008. Let’s wait till the show to experience the craftsmanship of Caparo. Labels: Fiat, General Motors, Honda, Imported cars, Indian car manufacturer, Indian car market, Mahindra-Renault, Manufacturing new car, Toyota, Track cars, Volkswagen, Volvo
Friday, 12 October 2007
 Is Tata too disappointed on Sumo sales? How can changing the trims not result in better sales? The SUV is going to disappear in favor of new cars in the compact, sedan, and MUV segments. Rumors had indicated Tata will introduce a new MUV instead of Sumo soon. Tata Sumo, one of the oldest SUVs in India started production in 1992. Now, it is going down like the Titanic just when India is turning into an SUV hub. If anybody wants to drive a strong hard core Tata SUV, they'll go get a Safari. Tata quoted this as a space for them to launch a series of new exciting segments. India, where small car is the auto market mantra, especially due to urban driving and traffic conditions, will see more small cars from Tata in coming years. Tata Motors and Fiat India, in a joint venture, is set to introduce two new cars in India: the Grand Punto and Fiat Linea. Also, Tata has quoted that it will launch a new multi-utility vehicle to replace Sumo. However, Sumo seems to be like an unsung hero that has been long overshadowed by the Safari – so maybe its disappearance is for the best. Labels: Fiat, Indian car manufacturer, Indian car market, MUVs, Stopped car model production, SUVs, Tata
Wednesday, 10 October 2007
India’s auto major Tata Motors has taken a first step of its expansion. Tata has tied-up with the Italian Fiat Auto to market the Fiat cars, Grand Punto and Linea in the Indian market. The vehicles will be sold in the country through Tata and Fiat dealers. Tata is one of the strongest bidders for Jaguar and Land Rover. It has been more positive and is taking great initiatives in recent times. A tie-up with the Italian firm shows its capability and firm stance. This joint venture can be taken as a positive mark for all of Tata’s future plans. Tata is the first name that pops-up when it comes to auto makers in the Indian market. It is all because of the One-Lakh Rupees people’s car. The world’s cheapest car is first being manufactured by our own desi firm. Indeed something to make us all proud. Let us all wish a grand success to Tata in all its future ventures! Labels: Fiat, Growth in Indian auto industry, Imported cars, Indian car manufacturer, Indian car market, Launches in India, Tata
Tuesday, 9 October 2007
It’s been a long wait, but it’s true. The Fiat Grand Punto will introduce a new phase of Hatchbacks in India. It may look a little like the Maserati from the front, but no one seems to be complaining! Fiat Grande Punto is a premium B-segment category car with famous Giorgetto Giugiaro Italian design. From Grand Punto’s new style cues we can expect some changes in the familiar looks of small cars in India. The Indian small car market will definitely love the choices. Take a look at the sporty interiors of the Grand Punto. Comfortable and supportive cool looking seats and the sexy dash definitely provide some class. The Fiat Grand Punto has been given the Euro NCAP five-star rating for passenger safety. So expect a small car with strong safety cues. The model is expected to have a 1.3-litre multi-jet diesel engine from the Suzuki- GM- Fiat alliance engine plant. For the launch of Punto, Fiat has signed a deal with Tata Motors. After all, Fiat is well bonded with Tata in its Manufacturing and Marketing. Tata-Fiat is expected to launch Grand Punto along with the Tata Rs 1 lakh car in India in 2008. Labels: Chevrolet, Fiat, Imported cars, Indian car market, launch in India, Small Car, Suzuki, Tata
Monday, 17 September 2007
Ferrari, the Italian car maker, is all set to start its own dealerships in India by early 2008. As part of the existing Tata-Fiat alliance, the launch of Ferrari will be under the navigation of Tata Motors. The world’s favorite sports car - Ferrari will zoom into India’s exclusive sports car market, which is currently dominated by Porsche. Fiat and Tata had earlier announced ambitious plans to manufacture cars and engines under a new 50:50 joint venture between the two companies. Fiat, the parent company of Ferrari, also plans to launch Maseratti and Alfa Romeo in India in coming years. Labels: Ferrari, Fiat, Imported cars, India, launch in India, Tata
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