Italian carmaker Fiat’s first small-car to be built specifically for the Indian market is off the drawing board, and will reach the road-testing stage within an year. The car has been designed at Fiat’s design studio in Turin. Its 700-1,000cc engine is already being tested on Indian roads, and will be adapted to the country’s driving conditions to ensure optimum mileage and power.
Meanwhile, Fiat India is planning to launch its first CNG-powered car in the second quarter of 2010. The company’s President and Chief Executive, Mr Rajeev Kapoor, said that it would launch multiple CNG models in the country, as CNG would ultimately become the fuel to power most commercial applications. He said Fiat had the requisite technology to work with the fuel, and would roll out its first CNG car in India next year.
Fiat India is also considering launching the Bravo in 2-3 months. The car was scheduled to be launched in mid-2009, before the economic slowdown led to a change in plans.
Fiat is lauching the Grande Punto and the Plaio in CNG. The Palio will be relaunched in the Indian market next year after it is unveiled at the 2010 Delhi Auto Expo.