The Abarth Linea will get upgraded with more power, improved suspension, reduced ground clearance, rear disc brakes, Abarth badging and meatier tyres with new alloys.
Appealing to the heart, Fiat India finally introduced the Abarth brand in India with the 595 Competizione earlier this year and is all set to launch the Abarth Punto Evo next month, the most powerful hatchback in its segment, following it up with the Abarth Avventura that will further entice the power cravers with its dose of practicality and performance. However, the company doest not intend to stop there. As per a recent report, Fiat is considering to introduce the Abarth derivative of the Linea sedan in India in a bid to appeal to enthusiasts.
Like the Abarth Punto Evo and Avventura, the Abarth Linea will be drawing power from the same 1.4-litre T-Jet turbocharged petrol motor tuned to produce 143 BHP of power and 200 Nm of torque, paired to a 5-speed manual gearbox. The Abarth branded Linea will be witnessing a ton of upgrades including Scorpion badges, Abarth decals, new alloy wheels and colour options, while mechanical upgrades are likely to include rear disc brakes, an upgraded and stiffer suspension setup, reduced ground clearance by 20 mm (same as Abarth Punto) among other changes. The interior is expected to get minimal revisions and safety tech including ABS and dual front airbags will be offered as standard.
Despite being a driver’s delight, the Fiat Linea could never leave a mark on the sales chart with the automaker struggling to sell this C-segment sedan. Solely targeted at the enthusiast, the Abarth version will further add to the excitement of driving and will also be the most powerful offering in its segment. Pricing is expected to be a shade above the Rs. 10 lakh mark (ex-showroom) making it very much attainable. All said, the Abarth Linea is yet to get a nod from the head honchos at Fiat to make it to production and the Abarth Punto and Avventura’s success are sure to play a contributing factor.
Source – AutocarIndia.com