New Fiat Linea launched at Rs 6.99 lakh

Fiat India has launched the facelifted version of its Linea mid-size sedan in Mumbai at a starting price of Rs 6.99 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). First shown in India at the Auto Expo in February, the 2014 Fiat Linea gets a few minor but effective exterior styling tweaks and a thoroughly revised interior.

The updated Linea gets a restyled grille and bumper, new fog lamps and lots of chrome on the front. The rear comes with a restyled bumper and the number plate has now moved up to the bootlid. There are no major changes to the side profile, except that the wing mirrors now come with turn indicators. There’s a new design for the alloy wheels too.

The Fiat Linea facelift’s interior gets major updates. The new and more upmarket-looking dash comes in a two-tone beige and black colour scheme with premium feeling soft-touch plastics and upmarket ambient cabin lighting. The centre console is all-new and gets a new glossy black integrated audio system (with aux and Bluetooth), restyled AC vents, and additional cubby holes. The instrument cluster now gets chrome-ringed dials and a big trip computer screen that can read out a variety of information.

The updated Linea will be available with the 112bhp, 1.4-litre T-Jet turbo-petrol motor and the 1.3-litre Multijet diesel – with its power bumped up slightly, to 92bhp. The 1.4-litre naturally aspirated petrol motor – shared with Linea Classic which is  the pre-facelift Linea that the company continues to sell at a lower price point, with less equipment – is only available on the base Active petrol trim.

The updated Fiat Linea is offered in three trims – Active, Dynamic and Emotion – with the petrol range including an additional base Active variant with the 1.4-litre naturally aspirated petrol motor.

The Fiat Linea Active base petrol is priced at Rs 6.99 lakh and gets keyless entry, air-con, powered wing mirrors with integrated turn signals, power windows, central and remote locking, rain sensing wipers, music system with CD player, outside temperature display, programmable follow-me-home lamps, automatic headlamps and a chrome exhaust tip.

The Linea T-Jet Active trim costs Rs 7.44 lakh, while the diesel Active costs Rs 8.15 lakh. This variant gets all the features of the base Active petrol and the T-Jet Active additionally gets disc brakes on all four wheels and ABS with EBD.

The Linea Dynamic trim costs Rs 8.53 lakh for the petrol and Rs 9.27 lakh for the diesel. It comes with the features of the Active, and dual-stage front airbags, 15-inch alloy wheels with 195/60 section tyres, adjustable driver’s seat and front seat belts, automatic climate control, leather-wrapped steering wheel and gear knob. Additionally, it also gets rear AC vents, a four-speaker music system with two tweeters and CD, MP3, USB, Bluetooth and aux-in compatibility, steering-mounted audio controls and reverse parking sensors. The new Fiat Linea gets Microsoft’s ‘Blue & Me’ software that allows pairing of up to five mobile phones.

The top-of-the-line Linea Emotion trim adds leather upholstery, chrome accents on the exterior, ambient light on the dash, rear sun curtains and cruise control. Only the Linea Emotion gets 16-inch alloy wheels wrapped with 205/55 section tubeless tyres. The 2014 Linea facelift will be offered to buyers in two new colours as well. The Linea Emotion costs Rs 9.01 lakh for the petrol and Rs 9.72 lakh for the diesel.

(all prices, ex-showroom, Delhi)