Fiat offers glimpse of next sedan
2012-04-16 09:45
BON VOYAGE: The Fiat Viaggio (or voyage) has plans to put Fiat firmly in the Chinese buyer's mindset.
Fiat has published the first official images of its all-new sedan as it is prepared for its world premiere at the Beijing auto show later in April.
Called Viaggio, the all-new model is the first Fiat-Chrysler twin project targeted at China’s compact sedan segment. The model’s Chinese name, Fei Xiang, means flying. It will be unveiled at the Beijing show on April 23, 2012.
The Viaggio sedan is based on the Fiat Group’s Compact US Wide platform (CUSW), developed from the Alfa Romeo Giulietta’s platform, which will also underpin the new Dodge Dart shown at the Detroit auto show in January, 2012.
TURBO ONLY
The latest sedan was designed by the Fiat Group Style Centre in Torino, and shows the current Fiat face with cleanly-designed surfaces and rear tail lamps with LED lights.
The Viaggio sedan will be the first car to be produced in the new GAC-Fiat manufacturing plant in Changsha, Hunan province. The first cars will be produced there from July, 2012.
Fiat contends the Viaggio will be the only car in its segment to exclusively offer turbocharged engines. The automaker’s 1.4-litre T-Jet will be offered there in 90kW and 112kW outputs and matched to either a five-speed manual transmission or a Dual Dry Clutch Transmission (DDTC) developed by Fiat Powertrain.
Fiat SA's Craig Westray told Wheels24: "The Fiat Viaggo at present will only be built in left hand drive for the Chinese market, so there are no plans to introduce it in South Africa."
For more on the 2012 Beijing auto show, click here.
