Fiat model line-up set to expand in Australia | CarAdvice

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Fiat model line-up set to expand in Australia

By Jez Spinks |
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The Fiat Panda, Fiat Bravo and Fiat Punto are among the Italian small-car specialist’s vehicles that are under consideration for Australia.

The plans for an expanded Fiat line-up follow a switch of local importer from Ateco Automotive to the newly formed local subsidiary of FiatChrysler.

Ateco had shrunk the offering of local Fiats to only variants of the Fiat 500 city car, but FiatChrysler Australia says it has greater ambitions for the brand, along with premium stablemate Alfa Romeo that it also secured from Ateco.

“One of our major aims is to increase volume of Alfa Romeo and Fiat models, and one of the obvious ways is to broaden the product range,” said FiatChrysler Australia spokeswoman Lenore Fletcher.

“There are a number of vehicles [by Fiat] that are appealing to the Australian market. Their smaller vehicles are very stylish, very fuel efficient … all the things that appeal to Australian new car buyers.

“We do see it as lots of possibilities. We have to select the vehicles firstly that are available in right-hand drive and then see if we can make a successful business case from that.”

Fiat Panda - 1

FiatChrysler’s director of product planning, Alex Tam, has been to Fiat’s base in Turin recently to research prospective models for the Australian market.

The Fiat Panda (pictured above) is one of the models FiatChrysler Australia is considering, including a new AWD mini-SUV announced this week.

The Panda is one of Fiat’s cuter-looking small cars, and is offered with a range of engines in Europe including a 0.9-litre two-cylinder ‘Twinair’ petrol engine, 1.2-litre petrol and 1.3-litre turbo diesel.

The Fiat Punto city car (pictured top) and Fiat’s rival for the likes of the Ford Focus and Mazda3, the Bravo (pictured below), could also make a return to Australia. They were sold by Ateco for a period before the importer decided to focus solely on the 500.

The 4065mm-long, three-door Punto has a broad engine line-up comprising the same engines as the Panda as well as a trio of 1.4-litre petrol engines that include a higher-power turbocharged version.

Fiat Bravo - 1

The five-door Fiat Bravo can be powered by the likes of a 1.4-litre petrol, two 1.6-litre turbo diesels and a more powerful 2.0-litre turbo diesel.

FiatChrysler Australia has already confirmed it is interested in a bigger variant of the 500 city car, the Fiat 500L that is the Italian brand’s answer to the Mini Countryman and could reach Australia before the end of 2013.

Leaked patent images have suggested Fiat is also developing a seven-seater version called the Fiat 500XL.


 

  • O123

    Panda Panda Panda !!!!!!, But in all seriousness a panda is a 15k car not a 25k car, the punto around the same price.

    • Noddy of Toyland

      You got too serious man, everything went lowercase on me.

  • Wikiwama

    Ahh, but they can’t call it the Bravo here, because Mazda still have the naming rights. Ritmo will probably be what they use, but it sounds like a certain savoury biscuit ending with a z.

  • yay

    while i believe they are good cars, incentives like 5 years warranty and capped servicing are going to be needed if they want to people interested in their product again, given the not so credible reputation of the previous importer who damaged the brand a bit, they’re not going to get too many people take the punt with the economy these days.

    • Basil Exposition

      I agree. Also, what auto gearbox options will be offered?

  • yay

    while i believe they are good cars, incentives like 5 years warranty and capped servicing are going to be needed if they want to people interested in their product again, given the not so credible reputation of the previous importer who damaged the brand a bit, they’re not going to get too many people take the punt with the economy these days.

  • UMWHAT

    bring the punto abarth please

  • Skonf

    Drove a Bravo diesel in Italy up in he Dolomites, lovely fun, grippy and economical car. Always wanted one here (yes I know the ritmo), be good to bring them back!!

  • mo

    Good to see the Punto is coming back. One of my mates bought a diesel model as a cheap commuter and apparently its been reasonably cheap to run. Only issues were a premature alternator failure, dodgy stereo and the outside panels are made of cheese (massive dent where he dared to lean against his car). 

  • ABCDEFG

    One or twenty models FIAT Aus line up, it won’t make any difference. That’s the reality of it.

  • Zaccy16

    I like the panda, it will boost sales if it comes down under

    • Basil Exposition

      I also like the Panda.
      To buy one though, FIAT needs to offer a 5 year warranty and a credible auto gearbox with petrol and diesel engines. I doubt the long warranty and 6 speed torque converter autos will be offered, so it will be only niche volume in Oz for FIAT I’m afraid.

      • Guest

        I’ve had three modern Fiats since 2008 (A Punto, Ritmo and 500). To my great suprise they’ve actually been by far the most reliable euro car’s i’ve owned, even with high mileage. I’ve claimed warranty twice on one of them for small non mechanical issues that didnt really affect the cars. The only issue i have is the high servicing costs. 5 year warranty isnt needed on a modern Fiat.

  • Aus_poppa

    Fiat have two hurdles to jump – first they need a proper auto gearbox, which is absolutely critical in our market – and secondly they need a long warranty preferably with fixed price servicing, in order for people to forget the joke that FIAT stands for Fix It Again Tony.

  • LeStori

    I am sure they will sell 10s…..Unless they are cheap they will sit on the show room floor gathering dust

  • Driver

    FIAT for god sake just bring the panda. Honda sells the Jazz for around 20k, bring the panda here for similar money and sell in volume, make money from servicing a volume car and increase brand awareness by getting lots of them onto the road. Stop screwing around by solely concentrating on niche models like the 500 and start pushing the business forward with models like the excellent panda and punto. Get the volume up!