Fiat is evaluating a replacement for the Linea, which is nearing the the end of its lifecycle.The possible options being considered are the production version of the Fiat Aegea concept that was unveiled in May 2015 at the Istanbul Motor Show or the Grand Sienna that the manufacturer currently sells in the Brazilian market.
The Aegea concept is yet to go on sale internationally as a production car (albeit under a different name) and Fiat has only developed the car for left-hand-drive markets. But to launch it in India, Fiat will have to invest in tooling for a right-hand-drive (RHD) version which will be hard to justify if India is the only market for the RHD car. The current Linea sells on average 171 units a month and these volumes are too low to amortise the costs of expensive tooling for a new RHD dashboard and other ancillaries.
The other option is the Grand Sienna. The car is essentially a heavily reworked derivative of the Linea developed for the Brazilian market. As with the Aegea concept, the Sienna is also a left-hand-drive and will go through the same steps to adapt it for right-hand-drive markets.
Fiat is set to significantly upgrade its model range sometime in 2018 with a family of new cars spun off an all-new platforms. The Aegea or Grand Siena hence may only be a stop gap arrangement till then.
Dipan Sur
Viraaj Bhatnagar
Uday Singh
Hormazd Sorabjee
Kiran Murali
