Fiat India’s third big launch for 2014 will be the Avventura crossover styled hatchback, which will be marketed with turbodiesel and petrol powerplants borrowed from the redesigned Grande Punto. It uses the same platform as the former and the same holds good with the interiors. Nonetheless, the vehicle gets butch looks, which result from a major style makeover.
Unlike Fiat Grand Punto, the Avventura gets ground clearance of over 200 mm, 16 inch wheels, roof rails, body cladding, a spare wheel mounted on the hatch lid and revised rear and front bumpers. It will sit in the crossover-styled hatchback segment, which currently plays host to the Toyota Etios Cross and the Volkswagen Cross Polo.
A key change on the production version of Avventura, when compared with the concept version showcased at 2014 Delhi Auto Expo, is the omission of daytime running LEDs. This change apart, the production version of Avventura looks quite similar to the concept version and the vehicle is likely to be introduced in India before September 2014. However, the redesigned Fiat Grande Punto will precede the Avventura into India. The B+ class hatchback borrows styling cues such as grille and headlamp design from the Avventura.
The Fiat Avventura offers two engine choices: the FIRE 1.4 liter petrol engine that’s rated at 89 horsepower with 114 newton meters of torque and the Fiat Multijet 1.3 liter turbodiesel engine, which is good for producing 92 horsepower with 209 newton meters of torque. A variable geometry turbocharger is expected to be available in the Avventura. Both these powerplants already do duty on the Linea and Punto, and are therefore tried and tested units.
The Avventura is expected to be priced about Rs. 50,000-60,000 higher as compared to equivalent variants of the redesigned Grande Punto, and the vehicle will be aimed at B+ segment hatchback shoppers who want the looks of a crossover but who’re unwilling to fork out the extra money, for example Renault Duster and Ford EcoSport.