The official launch weekend of the new Fiat Croma has been judged a huge success, with Fiat reckoning that more than 100,000 people visited the 850 points of sale.

Unveiled at the Geneva Salon back in March, the new Fiat Croma is an innovative and technology laden 'stationwagon' that aims to build on the success of the original Croma which arrived in the mid-1980s. Over the weekend the 'new' Croma was presented in showrooms across Italy in an event termed the 'Porte Aperte', to officially mark the occasion. Over the rest of the summer the Giorgetto Giugiaro-designed car will be rolled out across the rest of Europe.

Enzo Gioachin, the Sales Manager of Fiat Mercato Italia, was delighted by this huge turn-out of interested viewers. "Is an important result which rewards both an innovative and original car, and the work done by our sales network throughout Italy." He went on to state that there were 'over 15,000' prospective buyers, which he termed as "visitors who showed they were really interested in buying the car."|
 

Meanwhile, Fiat Auto Division Brand Manager, Lapo Elkann, reported that the Croma was already invoking a very good response from those who had seen the new car. "It's to early for us to have a clear picture of what orders are going to be like, it's going to take at least a month," Elkann commented, "but the reception we're getting is excellent - it's because the public is getting a ''hands on tour of the car, which allows its quality to stand out".

For the Italian market, customers will be able to chose from five different engines, nine colour finishes and four interiors, for their Croma. Prices start at 21,950 euros for the entry-level 140bhp 1.8 Active model. The Croma also becomes the first Fiat to be sold in Italy to offer a three year warranty, one more than that required by law.