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Diesel options from Fiat

THE QUARTER ended 2002 did not speak well for Fiat India. However the new launch of the diesel versions of the Palio and the Adventure was expected to come in competition with the diesel range of automobiles that are already here. Fiat will be the first one to introduce the safety package in the B segment. This includes an ABS, driver side air bag (first time in this segment car optional) power windows with child lock, height adjustable front seatbelts, fire prevention system, collapsible steering wheel, side-impact beams and an Amus crash-tested strong body shell and an electronic brake distribution (EBD).

Driven by a powerful 1.9 litre D-Tech engine is one of the most modern indirect injection, naturally aspirated diesel engines. The new Palio and the Adventure diesel are environment friendly and safe and will offer some new features to customers. The Palio with its power to weight ratio is quite nimble on its feet but the Adventure with a heavier body, will have a few questions to answer in terms of power and performance. Fiat is reluctant to bring in its CRDI (common rail direct injection) technology into India saying the set up is not ready to accept it as yet. Although the competitors have gone ahead and are already offering this refined technology to their customers. The Palio Diesel is aided by an efficient engine management system that allows power transfer smoothly and has a top end of 155 kmph. In the Palio Diesel, the 1.9 litre engine generates 63 bhp at 4500 rpm, with a torque of 12.2 kgm at 2500 rpm. Power steering and air-conditioner are standard across all the variants of the Palio Diesel. The other features of Palio include specially padded bonnet insulation for noise reduction, a diesel adulteration device, which is a lamp on the indicator cluster that senses water contents in the fuel and indicates such adulteration.

The Palio Diesel comes in a range of seven colour options including silver frost, flame red, hazel grey, glacier white, royal gold, and fern green plus thunder black.

Adventure Diesel has a ground clearance of 190mm. The Adventure diesel also share the same engine as the Palio Diesel and offers a power steering, power windows, central locking and an AC plus a heater.

The all terrain Pirelli tubeless tyres, with 14" alloy wheels and moulding on the wheel arch and a new `double-railed' roof rack come in as standard. With clear glass `wrap-around' headlights, an additional pair of protected oval fog lamps and a bull bar, the car looks like a cross-country vehicle. The other features of the car include full door trims, with fabric insert, wooden embellishments on the dashboard, a tachometer and a Kenwood music system with six speakers. The rear wiper and washer, rear windshield defroster, remote boot & fuel lid opener, keyless entry, a child lock for the rear doors and windows and electrically adjustable door mirrors are the additional facilities. It has one of the largest storage areas, with 1540 litres of boot space after folding the rear seats, making it the ideal vehicle for almost any occasion. The Adventure Diesel will be available in five exciting colours, namely, fern green, glacier white, hazel grey, silver frost and thunder black. The rugged Adventure Diesel is sure to make a mark with its contemporary styling and stunning looks that give the car a tremendous physical presence.

Palio Diesel and Adventure Diesel are all set to roll into the B and C segments of the diesel car market in India. These cars are commercially available at Fiat dealerships across the country. The Palio Diesel will be offered in three versions — the Palio Diesel EL, Palio Diesel ELX and the top of the line, fully loaded Palio Diesel ELX SP. The new range of diesel cars are competitively priced and continue Fiat's tradition of offering its customers true value-for-money.

The prices, ex-showroom New Delhi, are: Palio Diesel EL — Rs. 4.20 lakhs; Palio Diesel ELX — Rs. 4.50 lakhs; Palio Diesel ELX SP — Rs. 4.75 lakhs; and Adventure Diesel — Rs. 6.99 lakhs.

Tutu Dhawan

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