Finally, the long wait for the hot hatchback Abarth Punto from Italian auto major Fiat is over. The Abarth Punto was launched in India on Monday, along with the Abarth Avventura crossover. Fiat has priced both its powerful offerings at 9.95 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi).
The two new products are part of the company’s revival strategy plans in India where it has been struggling to win consumers.
“All these are part of the jigsaw that we are putting together. We are understanding what is needed for Fiat to be great again in India,” Fiat Chrysler Automobiles India President and Managing Director Kevin Flynn said.
He said the Abarth Punto is designed indigenously and is a “homegrown, home engineered” product that is targeted at racing enthusiasts.
The Abarth Punto, powered by a 1.4 litre petrol engine, delivers power of 145 hp.
Flynn said the company is also widening and strengthening its product portfolio with the introduction of Avventura powered by Abarth, also powered by a 1.4 litre petrol engine with a power of 140 hp.
“We are confident that these two new category defining models from Fiat stable would catch the fancy of car enthusiasts and perk up sales during the festive season,” Flynn added.
Stating that India forms a “massive part” of the company’s plans he said: “we are really determined to bring more upmarket products here.”
In August this year, the company launched its premium sports hatchback Abarth 595 Competizione priced at Rs 29.85 lakh.
In July, Fiat Chrysler announced it would invest USD 280 million (over Rs 1,780 crore) in its manufacturing joint venture with Tata MotorsBSE -1.81 % to support production of Jeep model which is expected to roll out in the second quarter of 2017.
Ranjangaon, Maharashtra, will be the fourth plant outside the US for volume production of Jeep vehicles. Jeep branded vehicles are currently manufactured in Italy and Brazil and the company will begin production in China in the fourth quarter of 2015.
At present, Fiat has a capacity to produce 1.35 lakh cars per annum from the plant. In 2014, Fiat Chrysler had announced plans to launch 12 models in India in five years.
(With inputs from PTI)