Fiat will make diesel engines and cars with Sollers in Russia
Fiat's expansion continues. Following word of the possible return of the brand to the U.S. - in the form of the shapely Fiat 500 - there's news from the International Herald Tribune that Fiat will begin building and selling the Linea sedan (above) in Russia and will also make up to 90,000 diesel engines a year there. Through two joint-venture agreements (one with Fiat Group and Sollers and the other with Fiat Powertrain Technologies and Sollers), production at the Sollers JSC plant where the Fiat Ducato LCV is currently made will be ramped up to also build up to 50,000 Linea sedans annually, starting later this year. If we could just get Fiat to start building that crazy Phylla solar-powered concept car somewhere in the world, we'd be getting somewhere.Gallery: 2008 Fiat Linea
[Source: International Herald Tribune, thanks to Justin C. for the tip]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Wave54 2:43PM (6/09/2008)
Hmmm... I wonder if Fiat knows about all the soon-to-be empty plants here in the US?
Come back, big guy. We forgive you for the rust-buckets you peddled here in the 70's.
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Bill 6:24PM (6/13/2008)
Hallelujah! I hope they do come back to the U.S. I've even sent a couple of (unanswered) emails to their web site asking them to consider a return.
We owned two 128s: a new '73 2-door sedan (sorry - I meant saloon), and a new '78 3P. Both had their quirks, and weren't quite ready for the Midwestern USA winters, but the initial fit, finish, feel, and handling made the subcompact offerings from Ford and GM look like absolute crapola. As for handling, maneuverability, and holding the road in gusty sidewinds, NOTHING I have driven since was as good as the 128 sedan (when it was equipped with the ugly little Michelin X tires). It was the only car I've ever driven that didn't force the driver to steer to maintain straight-line travel in gusty crosswinds (between semis, etc.). All you had to do was hold the wheel in position. The body might be rocking back and forth like mad in the wind, but the car just kept going straight down the road. (My only complaint with the tight steering was when my wife was driving - she is a confirmed "steerer", which really drove me batty with the constant jerky side-to-side motions.)
I also liked the precision sound and feel of the little SOHC 128 4-banger.
Just before Fiat bowed out of the U.S. market, they introduced the Strada, and I saw some of those on the road for a long time, and heard stories of Stradas that ran well over 100,000 miles. (With serious rust, but then, I'm starting to see quite a bit of rust on some U.S. makes that aren't very old.)
Anyway, I hope they come back - I would certainly give them a long, hard look.
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