Speculations are doing the rounds that Italian car maker Fiat is planning to launch tweaked Punto hatchback and upcoming Avventura in Nepal. The launch is expected to take place by mid-September, since these cars will be manufactured in India, therefore India launch is likely to happen by mid 2014.
Fiat sells its cars in Nepal through its official distributor, Batas Brothers. It is also being suggested that Punto facelift could be priced at 2.5 million Nepalese Rupee equal to Rs 15.6 lakh and Avventura crossover could come with a price tag of 4 million Nepalese Rupee, equivalent to Rs 24.9 lakh. The director of Batas Brothers’ is eyeing to sell 500 units of upgraded Punto in a time span of 12 months.
Fiat is planning string of launches this year for the domestic market, the company had displayed upcoming vehicles at the 2014 Auto Expo, held at Greater Noida in February this year. From the current line-up, the company has already launched tweaked Linea sedan and will be bringing the refreshed Punto facelift soon. 2014 Linea sedan was launched in India in the beginning of March at a competitive starting price of Rs 6.99 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi). Several upgrades have been made to the new version of the sedan including interior tweaks that render a fresh look to the cabin.Besides this, array of new features have also been inducted in the sedan.
Similarly, facelifted Punto will get a host of updates inside the cabin, however the exterior revivification will be limited. Fiat could offer new Punto at a starting price of Rs 5 lakh. There will not be any changes in the mechanical front. Avventura is a new product from the stables of Fiat that will be making its debut in the domestic market by mid 2014. Avventura crossover is conceived on Punto hatchback and will borrow design cues from Punto. Besides borrowing design cues, the vehicle will also be equipped with the same set of engines as offered on Punto. With Avventura, Fiat will venture into the hatchback crossover segment in India which has been blossoming of late.
Next in line is Fiat’s performance oriented brand Abarth, Fiat 500 Abarth will be the first vehicle to be introduced under this brand. The vehicle will be available in India as a completely built unit. The Indian automotive industry is also abuzz with the news of Fiat bringing Chrysler products in India, however if Fiat launches Chrysler models in domestic market it will be through CBU route. Local assembling of Chrysler vehicles is also a possibility, provided company receives a good response.
