Fiat Linea Makes its Market Debut

3 May 2007

The Fiat Linea.

The Fiat Linea, presented in Istanbul last October, is making its market debut. The three-box C-Segment sedan was developed by Tofas A.S., the 50-50 joint venture between Fiat Auto and Koç Holding.

The Linea offers a variety of engines, including a new 1.3 Multijet with combined fuel consumption of 4.9 l/100km (48 mpg US) and 129 g CO₂/km. A special version of the Linea will be marketed in Brazil, powered by the new 130 hp 1.9 Flexfuel engine running on gasohol (which contains about 22% ethanol) and pure bioethanol.

The new Multijet featured on the Linea uses a variable geometry turbo. With power output of 90 hp (66 kW) and torque of 200 Nm (148 lb-ft), the Multijet Linea has a top speed of 170 km/h (106 mph) and accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 13.8 seconds.

The combustion system has also been modified, increasing the permeability of the inlet and exhaust manifolds, reducing the turbulence in the combustion chamber and consequently modifying the geometry and the compression ratio from 18:1 to 17.6:1. The emissions control system uses an EGR valve with electrical activation, managed directly by the engine control system, a heat exchanger to cool the recirculating exhaust gases (EGR) and a close coupled catalytic converter.

The compact engine (130 kg, 50 cm long and 65 cm tall) meets the Euro 4 emissions limits without a particulate trap.

The C-Segment accounts for 20% of the Western European car market, with about 3,000,000 registrations per year. The majority of the cars in that segment, however, are two-box hatchbacks, while 3-box models (sedans) only account for 5% of that market, with 150,000 registrations per year (this is expected to reach 160,000 units by 2013).

The share in other non-European countries is more significant. In Turkey, for example, the C-segment represents 52% of the whole market, and sedans account for 75% of this, with 170,000 registrations per year (approximately 50% of these are premium cars, and the sales mix is 50% gasoline and 50% diesel models).

Fiat expects the Linea to become a strategic car for its range in China. Car sales in China are expected to reach 7,500,000 units by 2013, up from 4,000,000 in 2006.