Two hot sedans for
The big majors are eyeing mid size segment though rolling out small cars is their core aim. Maruti has rolled out its SX4 sedan and Mahindra – Renault has rolled out
Engine and Powertrain:
Toyota Vios is almost same as the
Toyota Vios is powered by a
Fiat’s Linea
For the turnaround of Renault – Nissan its Carlos Ghoshn, while for the Fiat Its Marchionne’s – the man who mastered the new generation Fiat. Linea is one of the products of new generation Fiat and it’s derived from the Fiat’s much popular hatchback Grande Punto
Two engines are available at present: the 1.4 petrol delivering 77 bhp and the 1.3 Multijet diesel with a power output of 90 bhp. Linea may also be powered by a1.4L Turbo T-jet, petrol engin delivering 120 bhp and a much powerful 1.9L JTD engine (uniJet Turbo Diesel is Fiat Group’s term for its current common rail turbodiesel engine). Fiat may consider other engine options too but an engine from FIRE (Fully Integrated Robotised Engine) family and Swift’s, Punto’s 1.3L Multijet diesel is for sure. Manual as well automatic gearboxes will be offered.
Styling and Engineering:
Fiat Linea
For making a sedan take a popular hatchback give it a boot and doors that is what clever engineering in modern automotive industry. Fiat follows the same for its Linea but its not just a extended version of popular Punto hatchback.
Fiat Linea clearly has an international vocation; it was designed by the Fiat Style Centre, and its exterior styling is elegant, dynamic and typically ‘Italian’. The aim was to appeal to the public with uncluttered, smooth lines which confirm the new Fiat family feeling (from the Grande Punto to the new Bravo), while they offer a new reading of the stylistic elements of the great Italian motoring tradition in the saloon segment. This extraordinary stylistic heritage has now produced the Fiat Linea, a 4-door saloon that is sleek and elegant, but with generous dimensions that put it at the top of its class: it is 4.56 metres long, 1.73 metres wide, 1.5 metres tall and has a wheelbase of 2.6 metres, as well as a 500 litre luggage compartment.
The same attention went into the styling of the interiors of Linea, where the lines are harmonious and balance well with the exterior, creating a friendly, light-filled environment that provides an amazing amount of room and superior comfort, where ergonomics and space for the driver and passengers are concerned. And it is in terms of the quality, comfort, practicality and enjoyment of the interior that the Fiat Linea aims to make the difference, backed up by the refinement of the materials and by the colour combinations, as well as the attention paid to every detail and to the assembly. Designed for an elegant, refined clientele with plenty of personality, the Linea is agile and enjoyable to drive in all situations.
Toyota Vios
Unlike the Fiat Linea, Toyota Vios is not an eye catcher. Vios derives most of its design cues from its big brother Camry. After the Hyundai verna, this kind of sedans with short overhang is familiar in
The 3rd generation Vios which is to be launched has almost identical dimensions (4300mm*1700mm*1460mm) to Honda City. Similar to the corolla, you can expect decent space for rear passengers and not for the Driver and the front passenger from the vios. Accessibility to instruments and storage space are only for those with pixie hands also the Thai auto journals criticized vios for its noisy passenger cabin. Though in JD power initial quality study (IQS) vios finds a position, it is ranked below Honda city. But don’t forget Vios is much powerful and frugal than city.
Similar to the recently launched Chevrolet spark Toyota Vios’s instrument binnacle is set in the centre of the dash. This arrangement not only leaves most of the dash clean and uncluttered, it also allows the instruments and warning lights to be at a distance and an angle that allows the driver to read them with minimal eye movement. But some dislike and prefer a conventional location.
Safety and Special Features:
Fiat Linea:
The Fiat Linea is equipped with a reliable suspension layout which guarantees very easy, precise steering, excellent roadholding and the best possible comfort for passengers: an independent MacPherson system at the front, and semi-independent wheels connected by a torsion axle at the rear. Regarding the safety – Stable, effective braking, good acceleration guaranteed by the engines and predictable handling, get the Fiat Linea out of even the most critical situations. Linea is also very well equipped where passive safety is concerned, a fact borne out by the presence of airbags; it also adopts a number of innovative technical elements that ensure the driver always has total control of the car (active safety): latest generation ABS, complete with EBD (Electronic Brake Distribution) and, optionally, the sophisticated ESP (Electronic Stability Program). ESP is supplemented by the ASR/MSR, a system that prevents front wheel skidding in acceleration and deceleration, enabling the Fiat Linea to move effortlessly on low grip road surfaces. The ESP includes the Hill-Holder, a device that lets you stop and start on uphill roads without having to pull the handbrake.
The range also proposes equipment worthy of a higher segment, such as certain sophisticated climate and infotainment devices that improve the comfort and quality of the time spent on board: from automatic climate control, the Blue&MeTH system with USB port, a radio with CD-player (including MP3 files) and Cruise Control, down to rain, dusk and parking sensors. In other words, there are endless possible combinations which may convert Fiat’s Linea an excellent value for money (if correctly priced) and the best price-content ratio.
The safety features and equipments in Vios are on par with sedans of its class available in
A revolution ahead:
Fiat aims to slot in top 10 car manufacturers by 2010 and
Toyota Vios will take on Maruti Suzuki’s SX4, Chevrolet Aveo and segment leader Honda city and vios is expected to hit our shores by the end of this year or early 2008. For the Linea, Fiat has launched the saloon in