Fiat Urban Cross Bookings Commence

Fiat cars are beautifully designed and drool-worthy for anyone who appreciates automotive aesthetics. But in India, Fiat has always struggled to sell its cars. There are two reasons -- a weak service network and a steeper price tag for all its offerings when compared to the competition. With the Urban Cross, Fiat wants to change its fortunes in the Indian car market.

Showcased at the 2016  Auto Expo, the Urban Cross drew a lot of attention from potential customers. Good news for them as Fiat is now accepting bookings for the Urban Cross hatchback across the country for a  minimum deposit of Rs 21,000. The Urban Cross like its sibling, the Avventura, is based on the Punto hatchback, but unlike the Avventura, the Urban Cross is a softer, prettier version of the Punto.

There are two engine options on offer. The petrol motor powering the Urban Cross is the same unit under the Avventura’s hood - a 1.4-litre T-Jet petrol engine churning out 140PS of power and 210Nm of torque. The diesel motor is the same 1.3-litre Multijet that powers the Punto Evo hatchback. It delivers a peak power of 93PS and a maximum torque of 209Nm. Both the engines will be mated to a five-speed manual transmission and the set-up will power the front wheels.

On the inside, expect a dual-tone trim, touchscreen infotainment system with Bluetooth, AUX and GPS navigation. Standard safety features such as airbags and ABS (anti-lock braking system) should make the final list as well.

The price list of the Urban Cross has not yet been revealed because the car is yet to be launched. However, if Fiat wants to make money from the Urban Cross, it must price the hatchback competitively. We expect the price to be in the range of Rs 8-9 lakh. The official launch however, should take place towards the end of September 2016.