Fiat Linea 125s first got unvieled in Indaia in February 2016 at the Auto Expo bhy the Fiat Chrysler Automobiles. The Italian automaker launched a more powerful version of the Linea at ex-showroom, Delhi. It is the most powerful sedan in its segment. Fiat India's car lineup has grown with time and the 125 S is just another variant addition to the Linea lineup. The proud Managing Director of FCA India, Mr. Kevin Flynn said, “FIAT cars are known for their performance and by adding more horsepower to our model range we are only living up to our brand promise ‘Crafted for Car Lovers’. Besides that we do make great-looking cars.” The car remains unchanged on the aesthetic front. However, it does get 16-inch alloy wheels and a new exhaust tip like the Abarth Punto. The car's centre of attention is its 1.4-litre turbocharged T-Jet motor that produces 126.7PS of power.
Exterior
Visually, the Linea 125 S is no different from the earlier 2014 model that has been on sale in India for a while now. It gets the same beautiful Italian exterior featuring a chrome rich nose and an attractive posterior. At 4596 mm, it is the longest sedan in its segment and also boasts a class-leading ground clearance of 190 mm. The layout is clean as ever with the only new addition being the ‘125 S’ plastic sticker that sits beneath the T-Jet badge on the boot. It’s still contemporary and the car’s classy persona is supported by elements like the slim chrome strip in the air dam, chrome slat in the rear bumper and of course, the distinctive oval muffler tip.
Interior
Fiat did a great job with the refreshed Linea and gave the car a rare dashboard that’s befitting of the word ‘eyepleasing’. Fiat has also added ambient lighting and has a 5-inch infotainment system with navigation (by MapmyIndia), it gets a much-needed dose of functionality as well. The system supports AUX/USB/SD Card and Bluetooth connectivity, but in the trade-off, you lose Microsoft’s Blue&Me voice command system. The door pockets are too slim to hold 1-litre bottles and the only place for your cellphone is under the handbrake. The 500-litre boot, though accommodating, also has large wheel arch bulges which makes storing full-sized suitcases a bit tricky.
Engine, gearbox and performance
The Linea 125s, with the 125s moniker indicating its power output, is powered by a 1.4-liter T-Jet petrol engine that produces 125 PS at 5,000 rpm and peak torque of 210 Nm at 2,200 rpm, making the sedan the most powerful in the segment and is also fitted with ABS and EBD. Rain sensing wipers, automatic dual projector headlamps, rear parking sensors and OVRMs fitted with indicators are a part of the car’s equipment list. Transmission duties will continue to be handled by the 5-speed manual gearbox. As far as mileage is concerned, it will be around the 15 kpl mark. The increase in power should translate to a reduction in the 0-100 km/h time and an increase in top speed. The new Fiat Linea 125 S has a top speed of 205 KMPH. The car should be sufficiently capable of dismissing 100 KMPH from a standstill in less than 10 seconds.
Pricing and competitors
The Fiat Linea Petrol range starts at INR 7.82 lakh, however the Linea 125 S is priced at INR 10.46 lakhs. Where the car’s competitors are concerned, like the outgoing Linea T-Jet, the 125 S will continues to rival the likes of the Honda City, Maruti Ciaz, Hyundai Verna, Volkswagen Vento and Skoda Rapid.
Priyanka Goswami
