Fiat's New Linea To Be Unveiled in Turkey

TURIN, Italy — At the Istanbul auto show, Fiat will unveil a new sedan previously referred to under the development code name D200 and now christened the Linea, adding a higher-end member to its Palio-Siena-Albea "world car" family.

The introduction in Istanbul is logical, since Fiat's longtime Turkish partner Tofas — a member of Turkish industrial holding company Koc — played an instrumental role in the development of the new sedan. Plans are to build the Linea here and later at other Fiat factories in Brazil and China.

The Linea is based on the extended platform of the Grande Punto, the stylish supermini that set Fiat on an upward path. The sedan measures 179.5 inches long, 68.1 inches wide, and 59.0 inches tall, and with its 17.6 cubic feet of luggage capacity, it has the Dacia Logan firmly in its sights.

Tofas plans to produce 60,000 units of the new Linea. This 102.4-inch platform will also serve as the basis for a new mini light commercial vehicle, also to be manufactured at Tofas starting in 2008, and will be sold badged as a Fiat, Peugeot and Citroen in various markets in Europe and elsewhere.

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