Your ticket to style

Meet the Linea, the car Fiat hopes will give it an all-new image and banish memories of the past. And judging the Linea by its looks, Fiat might be on the verge of achieving just that.

Meet the Linea, the car Fiat hopes will give it an all-new image and banish memories of the past. And judging the Linea by its looks, Fiat might be on the verge of achieving just that. There's a sense of style about the Linea's silhouette that makes it extremely desirable. The theme concentrates on interesting surfaces and shapes. The highlight is easily the arch of the roof and the front and rear quarter-glass areas, which shout chic. The Linea's nose with its huge grille and the headlamps has an understated, elegant look.

The inside story
The styling of the interior is a step up from previous Fiats. The company seems to be on a mission to give you maximum bang for your buck it has installed features which were once unthinkable on a car at this price. The build quality is typically Fiat solid. There is a real built-to-last feel about the cabin. Except for some plastics, that is.

The cabin styling is impressive too. The centre console features a simple and intuitive layout the big buttons are very easy to operate when you are on the move and the steering wheel offers a meaty grip.

There's plenty of technology on offer too with features like Bluetooth connectivity for your cell phone. Called the 'Blue & Me', it connects your phone to the car and has its controls on the steering wheel and responds to voice commands as well. There are other features too, like climate control and airbags. The Linea is also the only car in its class to offer air-conditioner vents for the rear passengers.

The fine driver's environment includes supportive front seats, which offer generous thigh and back support. The rear offers good legroom, but the sloping roof limits headroom for taller passengers.

Behind the wheel
The Linea has the same 1.3-litre diesel engine that has thousands of buyers waiting for months for the popular Swift diesel. But Fiat has used a sophisticated variable-geometry turbo to boost power from 75bhp to 90bhp.

Start the engine and you'll be greeted by the familiar diesel clatter. This settles down in a bit but the motor turns gruff and the cabin gets a bit boomy as speeds build up.

Floor the accelerator and power comes in a rush once the motor spins past 1400rpm. The best useable power seems to be between this and the 4000rpm mark, so you'll have to shift quite a bit to keep it in the right power zone and get the best out of the engine.

You will also be impressed with the Linea's comfortable ride quality. No matter what surface you're on or speed you are doing, the ride is always pliant. The Linea remains composed on the worst road surfaces and you can rest assured that you won't have to slow down at the sight of a broken road.

Fiat also seems to have worked hard on the steering, which is hugely responsive and accurate too. Body roll is well controlled and you can push the car into corners with confidence. The ABS-assisted brakes are confidence-inspiring as well.

In terms of economy, the Linea offers 12.9kpl in the city and 17.5kpl on the highway, respectable figures for its class and size.

Price wise
The good news is that Fiat will price the Linea between Rs 7-9 lakh, which makes it a winner in more ways than one. You get an efficient and powerful diesel engine. The exterior styling makes it look
more posh than it is. And you get a cabin that excels on style and build too.