Fiat recently launched Linea in Turkey, a three box segment C saloon with its traditional trademark of sturdiness and Italian styled appearance. It will enter the Indian market in mid-2008 and the Fiat headquarters plan to manufacture the car here. Linea has been specially designed for a very specific target market; Turkey, Spain, Germany, Morocco, Finland, Brazil, China, Russia and India; an unusual production and marketing strategy by the world-renowned automobile company.
An innovative feature which is expected to lure in the consumer who is ever-looking for comforts is the Blue&MeTM, the result of the collaboration between Fiat Auto and Microsoft, and the company hopes it will change the way one communicates and listens to music on the move. Using a series of voice commands, without taking your hands off the wheel you can telephone and listen to incoming SMS messages, interpreted on your Bluetooth Blue&Me mobile phone, consult your phonebook and listen to MP3s. Blue&MeTM supports most mobile phones with Bluetooth technology.
The Linea range will offer two engines (90 bhp 1.3 Multijet and 77 bhp 1.4 16v), three specifications (Active, Dynamic and Emotion), and 11 body colours. The range also proposes equipment which is usually available in the higher segment, such as certain sophisticated climate and infotainment devices that improve the comfort and quality of the time spent on board: from automatic climate control, the Blue&MeTH system with USB port, a radio with CD-player (including MP3 files) and Cruise Control, down to rain, dusk and parking sensors.
As Fiat India prepares the market for this uncluttered smooth looking Linea, the Indian customer will have one more choice to choose from the wide variety of cars available. With more and more automobile giants venturing into India, it’s the Indian consumer who gains the most.
