Come September 2008 and it will be launch time for the made-in-Ranjangaon Linea saloon. This elegant saloon with tenuous dynamic lines will be available in both petrol and diesel propulsion.

Fiat is getting ready to fire on all cylinders in India. Exactly a decade after it was set up, the Ranjangaon plant near Pune is finally humming with activity, as the Italian car major pushes through a major expansion programme, which should set the stage for a decisive comeback.

Over the next 24 months, Fiat will roll out seven new cars from its global portfolio, including its European best seller, the two-door 500, the Linea saloon and even the world’s best known sports car, Ferrari. It is bringing in the modern Multijet engine technology to Ranjangaon to power most of its new launches.

Fiat is expected to go on a massive hiring spree with a five-fold increase in headcount expected in less than one year. And finally, it is revamping its sales and service network, which proved to be its Achilles heel in the past.

While at present the Ranjangaon plant makes two versions of the Palio (Fiat’s erstwhile Project 178 World Car), come February 2008 a third version will be added. Powered by the highly acclaimed 1.3 Multijet engine which also does duty in the award winning Suzuki Swift DDiS model, the new Palio will kick off Fiat’s new model onslaught.

With a price tag of around Rs 4.5 lakh, this car is expected be the volume model in the interim for Fiat in India, before it gets an all-new Palio based on the previous generation Punto floorpan sometime in 2009. Fiat’s Ranjangaon unit is home to the ultra-modern manufacturing unit for the 1.3-litre Multijet and the new five-speed transmission (which is also making its debut on the new Palio) and this drivetrain will be gradually localised to the extent of about 70% by the time the project hits its peak manufacturing capacity of 200,000 units per annum.

The engine and transmission unit will be commissioned by April 2008 with local production to commence a month later. Early engine and gearbox packs will be imported, not just for the Palio but also for Tata Motors’ Indica evolution, code-named the X1, which is tentatively scheduled for a March 2008 release.

But Fiat has sprung a huge surprise by opting to take the CBU (completely built units) route with even small evocative hatchbacks. So far, no one has dared to adopt such a radical approach to brand building and it perhaps drives home the point that Fiat will be launching its distinctive neo-retro design, the Cinquecento in May, followed a couple of months later by the Bravo.

The iconic two-door Cinquecento, to be priced around Rs 10-12 lakh, is without doubt one of the most distinctive cars of 2007 and while it will certainly not be cheap, it is at least indicative of Fiat’s desire to focus on a youthful approach and also return back to its roots with strong design and engineering. The classically styled five-door Bravo, expected to be around Rs 14-15 lakh, will follow in the same vein.

Come September 2008 and it will be launch time for the made-in-Ranjangaon Linea saloon. This elegant saloon with tenuous dynamic lines will be available in both petrol and diesel propulsion (the latter being a more powerful adaptation of the 1.3 Multijet) and Fiat has high hopes for this Corolla, Civic rival. Fiat officials are highly optimistic of this car taking the fight to the established class runners and trumping them. A very competitive price tag, in the region of Rs 9.5 to 10 lakh, is just one of the major attributes the company has penciled in for the Linea.

The Grande Punto which was expected to be launched first has been strategically deployed for a mid-2009 launch schedule. With a price tag of around Rs 5 lakh, this European Car of the Year should boost its maker’s presence in the top end hot hatch category at about the same time that Japanese biggies Honda and Toyota are aiming to launch their large hatchbacks onto Indian roads.

While the Alfa Romeo CBU programme is currently being given the once over, the even more exciting news is the early homework being done to usher in the world’s most poignant sports car brand, Ferrari. In fact, Ferrari could be opening its first dealerships in the country as early as the last quarter of 2008 and prior to this it will be doing a spectacular Pan-India drive of the type it executed in China a year ago.

In fact, the complete range of Fiat cars for India plus also selected Alfa Romeo models would be showcased at Auto Expo in New Delhi next month. The entire Fiat India range would be sold through selected co-branded dealerships with its Indian partner Tata Motors. The present dealership strength stands at 65 but by the end of 2008 this will be bumped up, to 100 dealerships or more.

Report courtesy of the Economic Times