Fiat India is bracing up to launch the Avventura crossover on October 21. This is an important launch for the Italian carmaker as they begin to expand their lineup in India which so far included only the Punto and the Linea.
The Avventura is based on the Punto hatchback and will share the same powertrain and mechanicals, but has quite a few distinguishing factors over its hatchback form. It gets a tailgate mounted spare tyre, body cladding and a higher ground clearance of 205 mm which is a segment best for hatchback-based crossovers. It gets gizmos like the compass and tilt meter inside and 16-inch alloy wheels as standard. Like other Fiats it will be available in three trim levels – Active, Dynamic and Emotion.
Power will come from two engine options – one petrol and one diesel. The petrol motor is the familiar 1.4-litre FIRE engine producing 89bhp and 115Nm of torque. The diesel engine is the 1.3-litre MultiJet mill churning out 92bhp and 209Nm of torque. These engines are mated to a five-speed manual gearbox powering the front wheels.
Fiat is pulling up its sleeves in slow motion and there is no harm in experimenting with the product portfolio. But, one must remind Fiat that there are hatchback-based crossovers like the Toyota Etios Cross and the Cross Polo which haven’t excited Indian buyers. So, will the Avventura be an exception and do justice by selling in numbers, it seems like a big task. A lot will also depend on its pricing and going by the pricing of the recently launched Punto EVO we expect it to be competitively priced.
