Fiat Automóveis has released the first images of the Brazilian version of the Fiat Linea as it prepares to launch the sedan onto the key South American markets from September. It will be a much-needed replacement for the ageing Marea which never caught captured the attention of Brazilian car buyers.

Externally the images reveal that the Brazilian-built version will be visually identical to the model which was developed by Fiat's joint venture company, Tofaş, in turkey and is so far only built at its factory at Bursa. The 4656 mm long (2603 mm wheelbase) Linea was presented for its world preview at the Istanbul motor show in November 2006 and commercialised, first in Turkey, the following spring. When it goes into production at Fiat Automóveis' giant plant at Betim in the Minas Gerais region of Brazil this will be the second global assembly point for the C-Segment 3-box sedan. Within the next six months it will go into production at a third location, at Ranjangaon in India, while fiat has plans to build it in China, once an impending new venture is finalised in the country, and Russia.

However, under the skin the Brazilian market destined Linea version sees key engineering changes. Two engine options will be available from the launch. Firstly the European-built 155bhp T-Jet will make its Brazilian market debut in the Linea, but it will be adapted by Fiat Powertrain Technologies and Magneti Marelli to run in dual-fuel format. Dual-fuel (gasoline and alcohol) format vehicles account for the majority of new sales in Brazil now; alcohol, which had fallen out of favour with this market, has returned as a cost-effective option due to rapidly increasing oil prices.

The second engine to make its debut in the Linea next month, with be a 1.9-litre 16v 4-cylinder unit which is a heavily developed version of the now defunct European-market 'Torque' engine, but with changes including cubic capacity increased from 1.6- to 1.9-litres, and the incorporation of dual-fuel technology. Power output will be around 128 bhp.

The Linea's manual transmission options haven't been revealed as yet, however Fiat have evaluated 5- and 6-speed gearboxes (the Linea is currently only available with a 5-speed gearbox). Importantly though the Dualogic automated gearbox will be made available in Brazil (it is already available on the Turkish-built model) and this option is likely to account for the bulk of sales. The Dualogic gearbox option has proved to be very popular in Brazil since it was introduced on the Stilo model in February. The revised Stilo saw its sales up 108 pct on January's total during February and after the first seven months of this year its sales are up 54 pct on the same period last year.

by Claudio Perlini