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The Fiat
Linea has been launched into the Brazilian showrooms
this week; built locally it features new engines and
technologies that have been developed by Fiat Automóveis
specifically for the Latin American market. Brazil
therefore becomes the second global location to
manufacture the Linea, after Turkey, when it was
launched in the spring of 2007 (it is also being
assembled in CKD kit format in Russia).
Fiat Automóveis
has made its return to the luxury saloon segment in Brazil
with a memorable event last week. The combined work of the
Fiat brand in developing and testing Linea for this market,
culminated in a night of pure pomp with all the style and
the daring that that exciting new model releases bring to
the streets of Brazil.
The venue for
the launch party was the luxurious WTC Hotel, São Paulo,
with the unveiling taking place in its Golden Hall, with
more than 3,000 guests being invited, including celebrities,
civil authorities, journalists and dealers representing the
network of concessionaires in Brazil and right across Latin
America. The event brought together the performing arts,
multimedia and Brazilian music of the very best quality to
present in a memorable way the most important new model
launch by Fiat onto the Brazilian market in 2008.
The group 'Nau
de Ícaros' opened the proceedings combining circus art,
music and contemporary dance in a scenic performance that
revealed Fiat Linea in a choreographic manner, the new car
appearing boldly from the abstract scenery in striking
movements, presented in its three versions, and traversing
curved ramps up to the front of the stage. The CEO of Fiat
Latin America Mr. Cledorvino Bellini, welcomed the guests
and presented Linea formally as the main new release from
Fiat in 2008, an addition that is the result of the
continuous concern of the brand with the evolution of
design, style and technology.
According to
Bellini, the new car is the fruit of the never ending
evolution in design, management and engineering by Fiat from
its more than 30 years of presence in the country.
"Symmetrical or asymmetrical, several lines have brought us
here. Today, we have a line expressing design, concept,
technology and attitude. Fiat writes Linea: a modern line,
glamorous, sophisticated and technological," said Bellini as
he welcomed the guests.
The guests
appreciated a dinner which boasted the famous 'Buffet França'
and then watched as Caetano Veloso and Roberto Carlos, two
icons of the Brazilian music scene, shared the stage to
bring a repertoire of classics from the “bossa nova” rhythm,
in an unforgettable show held in the honour of that
undisputed genius of Brazilian music, Tom Jobim. It was an
unusual night, marking a very special moment for Fiat
Automóveis and the market of luxury automobiles in Brazil.
The same aesthetic union and innovation that there is in
each detail of Fiat Linea, perfectly translated into a
sophisticated and modern event.
Fiat Linea
Looking outside,
one sees is a saloon of elegant and surprising lines.
Entering into the car, one is immersed into a refined
atmosphere, comfortable and rich in technological resources,
involving and capturing. Driving the car, it stands out for
its performance, the safety and the pleasure of driving.
This is the Fiat Linea. And its arrival places Fiat
Automóveis once again into the segment for the medium sized
sedans, and it proves its characteristic as a full-liner
brand, with a complete range of up-to-date and very
competitive models, spread across several segments of the
market.
The new car
represents both, the state-of-the-art and the starting point
for new achievements in the future: a new plateau and a new
reference for the Brazilian market. The Fiat Linea is the
most pure translation of modernity and the efficiency of a
company engaged in offering the best. The new model is a
world project by Fiat, developed to compete in several
countries, which means the globalization of the marque;
however in Brazil the Linea has received some
characteristics desired by national market, with increases
in technology and sophistication.
The engineering
of Fiat Brazil, together with Italy, developed the project.
Launched in May 2007, Linea is already sold in different
countries, such as Germany and Portugal, and has already
received the prize Autobest 2008, elected by a jury
of 15 automotive journalists representing different European
countries. Traditionally, Fiat listens to its customers
during the development of a product. With the Linea this was
no different. They wanted an elegant, luxurious and
remarkably designed car, modern engines, a fully equipped
car which could be customised and available with an
exclusive line of accessories.
To offer all
this Fiat Automóveis has spared no resources to develop the
new 1.9 16v Flex engine, and has brought to Brazil the
latest generation T-Jet engine, that reconciles small size,
economy and high performance, from Italy. The Fiat Linea
offers features such as exchange Dualogic; Blue&MeTM;
parking sensors; rain sensors, up to six airbags, digital
air-conditioning and much, much more. The Linea’s harmonious
and slim lines, carefully refined interior, is all of this,
pure Italian style with Brazilian relish.
With such
attributes, the new top line model from Fiat has enough
impact to be the new reference point in the segment, which
is increasingly important, and is the most competitive on
the market. Today, it is the fourth largest segment of the
national market. From 2006 to 2007, growth was nothing less
than 30.6 percent, while the total market grew 26.4 percent
during the same period. In 2007, more than 181,000 cars in
this segment were sold in Brazil, worth a combined figure of
12 billion reais. This year, from January to August, the
segment has already seen sales of more than 140,000 cars,
with an estimated volume of 220,000 units to be sold up to
the end of 2008. The time could not therefore be more
appropriate, and the Fiat Linea arises in this scenario as a
differentiated car, full of attractiveness, with the mission
to conquer the most demanding clients.
In addition, to
reach this goal, the Linea is offered in four different
specification versions: 1.9 16v, 1.9 16v Dualogic, Absolute
and T-Jet. Two new engines, two new gearboxes and three
finish levels. Externally, it has unquestioningly Italian
lines. Internally, refined and extremely functional, an
absolutely harmonious and original car. Created by 'Fiat
Centro Stile', in Italy, the originality of the new car is
evident in its clean and fluid lines, which give it a
dynamic appearance, unmistakable Italian.
The generous
dimensions of the Fiat Linea, 4.56 meters long, 1.73 m wide,
1.50 m high, confirm the large size impression when you see
it for the first time. And the same way that the outside is
perceived, the passenger compartment of the Fiat Linea is a
legitimate expression of Italian style, with the quality of
the internal finish to be found in all places, in the
tasteful colours of the coverings, in the textures of the
materials, in the round outlines and across the dashboard.
The Linea brings
with it the sophisticated Blue&MeTM NAV, and becomes the
first car to be fitted with this type of equipment in
Brazil. The system has a pen drive of 2 GB, which covers 111
cities across the national territory, as well as more than
48,000 kilometres of roads. There exists 709 interlinked
cities through the highways. It also includes more of 3,800
points of interest divided in 15 categories, carefully
organised to facilitate easy searching. It is also possible
to customise Linea with a wide line of exclusive
accessories.
The Linea will
be marketed with two new engines, the 1.9 16v Flex
developed by Fiat Powertrain Technologies in Brazil, and
manufactured by the unit of the brand located at Córdoba in
Argentina, and the highly-regarded 1.4 T-Jet, that is
imported from Italy. The 1.9 16V Flex engine brings with it
the highest technology available today, resulting in a
latest generation engine with better performance, improved
fuel economy and lower emissions. It has the highest cubic
capacity of all engines produced by FPT Latin America, and
was developed from zero to equip the new model of Fiat. This
work consumed 350,000 hours of project time, more than one
hundred prototypes, and more than 1,600,000 kilometres of
running time.
The result is an
engine which produces a power output of 130/132 bhp
(petrol/alcohol) and a maximum torque of 18.1/18.6 kgm at
4,500 rpm (petrol/alcohol). A major innovation of this
engine is the system of cold start, patented by FPT. It has
a dedicated injector (aside from the ones which feed each of
the four cylinders) located in the admission collector. The
system is much more precise, because it injects the correct
quantity of fuel only if it is necessary, with optimised
spraying, resulting in better transmission when cold, with
more efficient and smooth starting, as well as reducing the
level of emissions.
The new owners
of the Linea will be part of an exclusive club, the Clube
L'único. A relationship program with an extensive list of
personalised accessories available in the dealerships, a
three-year warranty, an exclusive call centre and a
specialised professional for the maintenance and revisions.
by Claudio
Perlini
Linea 1.9 16v
Absolute - Technical Specifications
Engine
No. of cylinders: 4
Arrangement: in line, front transverse
No. of valves per cyl: 4
Capacity (cc): 1839
Compression ratio: 11,5:1
Max. power output: 130/132 (petrol/alcohol)
Max. torque: 18.1/18.6 kgm (petrol/alcohol)
Fuel supply: Magneti Marelli MPI phased sequential
electronic
Transmission
Drive front
Clutch control hydraulic
Gearbox
No. of speeds 5 (1st 3.909 : 1; 2nd 2.238 : 1; 3rd 1.520 :
1; 4th 1.156 : 1;; 5th 0.919 : 1; Reverse 3.867 : 1)
Steering
Type rack and
pinion with hydraulic power steering
Turning circle (m): 10.9
Brakes - D
(disc)
Front: (mm): D
284 (ventilated)
Rear: (mm): D 228
Suspension
Front:
independent MacPherson type, telescopic dampers, anti-roll
bar with small con rods and spherical joint;
Rear: torsion axle, telescopic hydraulic dampers
Measurements
Wheelbase (mm):
2603
Front/rear track (mm): 1476/1482
Length/Width/Height (mm): 4560/1730/1505
Luggage capacity VDA (dm3): 500
Wheel
Tyres: 205/55
R16
Weights/Consumables
Weight ready for
the road DIN (kg): 1320
Max. weight towable (kg): 500
Fuel tank capacity (litres): 60
Performance
Top speed
(km/h): 186/188 (petrol/alcohol)
Acceleration 0 to 100 km/h (sec.): 10.7/10.5
(petrol/alcohol)
Consumption (km/l): Urban cycle: 11.5/8.1 (petrol/alcohol);
Out of town: 15.3/10.7 (petrol/alcohol)
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