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New Fiat Linea Spied: Fiat Plans to Reinvent the Budget Sedan for 2017

The Linea might be just a budget sedan for many of you, but Fiat has big plans for the affordable model, and we're here to discuss these while showing you the latest spyshots.
2017 Fiat Linea spyshots 7 photos
Photo: SB-Medien
2017 Fiat Linea spyshots2017 Fiat Linea spyshots2017 Fiat Linea spyshots2017 Fiat Linea spyshots2017 Fiat Linea spyshots2017 Fiat Linea spyshots
The all-new Linea was recently spotted while out testing and the carmaker is still keeping the four-door under heavy camouflage. Nonetheless, it’s obvious the overall silhouette of the Linea will be a bit more fluid while the luggage compartment area appears to be a bit shorter.

A previously-shown Fiat five-year plan showed the new Linea was supposed to debut in 2016, but there will most likely be a one-year delay. Fiat websites in markets such as Brazil, for example, introduce the current Linea as the 2016 model, so expect the all-new model to arrive on the market as the 2017 Linea.

In fact, Fiat currently has an aging line-up, with FCA CEO Sergio Marchionne turning to this business strategy in order to pursue future success. Speaking of which, the Fiat brand is looking to increase its global sales from 1.5 million units in 2013 to about 1.9 million cars in 2018.

Returning to the Line, Fiat has tasked its engineers with seriously upping the ante on all fronts. The budget sedan market is now more mature than ever, with even the cheapest models, such as the Dacia Logan, offering plenty of assets - for instance, the Logan comes with an optional R-Link touchscreen infotainment system and a hood strut.

Of course, the Linea targets the upper side of this entry-level segment, with rivals such as the Peugeot 301. For one thing, this model will get a rebranding, along with many other Fiats.

The platform is expected to come from the Fiat 500X and Jeep Renegade, in which case we’ll be talking about the Small-Wide architecture. These crossovers will also borrow most of their engines to the Linea. This will result in a range of downsized units, such as the 1.4-liter turbo petrol and the 1.3-liter diesel.

Fiat announced back in November 2014 that its Turkish joint venture, Tofas, would produce a new family of subcompact cars starting between 2016 and 2013. Feel free to fill in the gap with the Linea.
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About the author: Andrei Tutu
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In his quest to bring you the most impressive automotive creations, Andrei relies on learning as a superpower. There's quite a bit of room in the garage that is this aficionado's heart, so factory-condition classics and widebody contraptions with turbos poking through the hood can peacefully coexist.
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