Fiat launched the Linea in 2008 as a premium offering in the mid-size sedan market in India. It was instrumental in shaping a niche image of the Italian brand in the domestic market but couldn’t hold ground against the completion. On the other hand, Honda and Hyundai kept updating the City and Verna which saw a major transformation from its inception to its present day new generation avatar. Modern design and premium features, made then more acceptable.
The Linea did get minor updates in the form of a minor facelift and also an upgrade in the form of powetrains, especially the T-Jet which made it a favourite among enthusiasts but couldn’t help the model sell in greater numbers. But all of this is set to change as Fiat Aegea is likely to take over reigns from Linea in 2017. This premium sedan which was rolled out first at the Istanbul Show will compete against cars like Volkswagen Vento, Honda City, Hyundai Fluidic Verna and Skoda Rapid.
Designed at the FCA Design Centre in Turkey, the Aegea will be manufactured at the plant in Bursa. It has already started reaching dealerships in Turkey and deliveries are expected to begin in November as officially conveyed during the Motor Show unveiling. The Fiat Aegea was designed and created by a group of 2000 people who worked on the project during its three years of development.
Fiat claims that the Aegea was designed to be a sedan and not just an extended hatchback like its peers. The aggressive styling of the exterior paired with the compact dimensions of the overall profile make it look unique. The flowing lines on the side that originate from the headlights and travel to the rear give it a dynamic stance even at standstill. All the proportions and contours have been kept at a deliberate minimum to make it look more expressive than gimmicky.
The interiors of the Fiat Aegea will be top notch and will possess a strong challenge against its rivals. It boasts of features like the 5" colour touch screen, a hands-free Bluetooth system, audio streaming, text reader and voice recognition, AUX and USB ports with iPod integration, steering wheel controls and, on request, a rear parking camera and TomTom satellite navigation system.
Fiat India has not dropped any hints yet about the Aegea coming to India anytime soon but we expect it to arrive on Indian streets by early 2017.
