Nanjing Fiat Automobile Co Ltd has unveiled its first Fiat model to be developed specifically for the Chinese market, at the 4th Guangzhou International Automobile Exhibition this week. The Fiat Perla - as it has been christened - is based on stretched Fiat Siena architecture, and it seeks to hook into Chinese new car buyers' demands for a cost-effective saloon that is able to offer larger and more luxurious pretensions than the Siena affords.

Nanjing Fiat Automobile Co Ltd is a 50-50 joint venture between Fiat Auto and its automotive partner in China, the Nanjing Automobile Group. The joint venture was setup in 1999 and began producing the "Project World Car" Palio (hatchback) and Siena (saloon) in early 2002. Production totals however haven't matched expectations and the operation was recently restructured. Initial signs have been good as output rose 37 pct last year (and 16,442 so far in 2006), but central to the new plan has been the aim of repositioning the Siena's market segment, driving it upwards to meet growing Chinese market demand for more refined, luxurious and prestigious models within the "family saloon" bracket.

Adapting the Siena's robust and well developed "Project 178" underpinnings, the new Fiat Perla (Italian for 'pearl') which will be available with a 1.7-litre petrol engine initially, coupled up to Fiat's C510 5-speed gearbox, has resulted in a much more visually imposing car that boasts higher equipment levels and great interior refinements including the use of new cloth materials. It also makes history in become the first-ever Fiat Auto model to be developed specifically for the very rapidly-expanding Chinese car market. Development of the Perla (which goes under the title of "Project 311") has been carried out mainly in China but in conjunction with Fiat Brazil, who are responsible for the Project 178 "World Car Family", and the Italian parent operation.
 

The Perla has been designed with the Chinese market specifically in mind and thus its styling follows cues seen on recent indigenous models. To give the Siena structure greater visual "presence", larger, more angular headlights (which have twin round internal lens ,and a smaller indicator lens mounted just above them) and tail lights that cut into the wings, feature. An imposing chrome-trimmed radiator grille with horizontal chrome inserts, reflects the current Fiat "family" look. Meanwhile the deeper front bumper includes a large cut-out section in the spoiler area, with deep horizontal and vertical slats, while smaller cut-outs located on either side include small, round mist lights.

The front bumper has also been moulded to include two distinct profile surface changes to either side of its main section, curving just below the headlights. At the rear of the car a new deeper bumper, with a lower lip, is complemented by further use chrome this time on a distinct in a strip which slices across the boot just above the registration plate recess and cuts into the Fiat badge. Other new exterior changes include colour-coded door mirrors and door handles, and optional alloy wheels.

The new Fiat Perla made its public debut at the 4th Guangzhou International Automobile Exhibition in China earlier this week. The motor show, which is running this year from 25th-31st July, began in 2003 after three years' development and it has quickly become one of the largest international auto-shows in the country with national and foreign manufacturers alike using it to showcase their new products.

The last edition of the China Guangzhou International Automobile Exhibition (the third running) took place from 22nd-28th November 2005 and it turned out a blockbuster. The event involved an exhibition ground with an area totalling 85,000 square meters, which was 13 percent up from that recorded the previous year; and employed 8 exhibition halls. Over 370 exhibitors, from 20 other countries and regions, took part whilst more than 1,600 news reporters representing upward of 510 TV and radio stations, newspapers, magazines and online media organisations from China and abroad attended. 541,256 visits were recorded. This year's fourth edition - which finishes on Sunday - is expected to break all these records.