Fiat is working on a new small car project and everyone knows about it. The car is not meant for the Indian market, as of now, but you never know when the company could change its mind. Codenamed Project 344, the car is a smaller version of the new 2012 Fiat Palio and Fiat Uno and shares its platform with the same.
Recently one of the Brazilian blog has managed to spy the new sub-Palio city car that was creating enough suspense. Since it is for the International market, Fiat is targeting other popular hatchbacks of its segment, Chevrolet Beat and Citroen C1.
image – Fiat Project 344 Small City Car
As far as the design is to be considered, the body of this new project comes from the Fiat Panda small car that is currently being sold in a handful of markets. The small car spied has some resemblance to Maruti Wagon R from the side profile. Being an affordable and inexpensive model not much can be expected It looks very simple and neat with nothing strikingly unique which would blow your mind. A very gentle design has been applied which might appeal to many while at the same time be disliked by the rest.
image – Fiat Project 344 Small City Car
Under the hood it is expected to come with two engine options, a 1.0 Litre 8 Valve Fire Petrol engine and SGE 0.9 NA Multiair diesel engine. For the time being nothing comes as an official announcing about the car’s entry in to our market but if speculations are to be believed it might be launched here soon. Since the Fiat Palio and Fiat Uno has been phased out from India, there were expectations of a new model of Palio or some other small car to replace it.
At present, Punto is the cheapest car in India by Fiat and it falls in thee premium hatchback segment category. The small car segment which is further divided approximately into three segments – Under Rs. 2 lakhs (Tata Nano), Between Rs. 2 Lakhs and Rs. 3.5 Lakhs (Maruti Alto and Hyundai Eon etc.) and Rs. 3.5 Lakhs to Rs. 5 Lakhs segment(Hyundai i10 and Maruti Wagon R segment). Fiat does not have any cars in these small cars segment which is high selling segment in Indian market. An inexpensive car like the Project 344 maybe priced between Rs. 3 to Rs. 4.5 Lakhs and will be positioned lucratively under the Punto in India in coming years. Stay tuned for more updates on the same by signing up for our free email newsletter and like our Official Facebook Page.
source – AutosSegredos
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