Fiat world premiered the Punto-based Avventura crossover at the 2014 Auto Expo last month. The Avventura is set to go on sale in India by the end of this year, and is one of three models Fiat India will launch in 2014 (the others being the Abarth 500 and the refreshed Punto).
The Avventura will be made at Fiat India's facility in Ranjangaon, Maharashtra. The company says that 85 percent of the car will be localized, and given that the Punto is already made here, it shouldn't be a difficult job for Fiat to make the Avventura. The Ranjangaon facility, apart from satisfying the local demand, will also export the Avventura to other markets.
Nagesh Basavanhalli, president and managing director of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles India, confirmed that the Avventura will be exported to overseas markets, though he declined to mention these markets, or even put a timeframe to the start of exports.
In India, the Avventura will compete with the likes of the VW CrossPolo and the upcoming Toyota Etios Cross. Though the car is based on the Punto, the design of the headlights and front fascia are redone to differentiate it from the hatchback. At the rear, the spare wheel is mounted on a swingarm mechanism hinged to the rear bumper.
Engine and transmission details of the Avventura remain unknown, though its highly likely for the car to use the same set of engines found in the Punto/Linea. On the sidelines, Fiat launched the refreshed 2014 Linea last week.
[Source - Autocar Professional]
