Next gen Fiat Linea spotted in Italy

The current Fiat Linea is a pure driver’s delight with its sorted driving dynamics and the really fun T-Jet engine under the hood which makes it a choice for the enthusiasts over the otherwise popular Honda City or Hyundai Verna in the segment.

However, the Linea has been on sale since 2007 making it really old now and Fiat Chrysler Automotive (FCA) has commenced work on the next generation model that was recently caught testing in Italy and will hit the showrooms across Europe sometime in 2016.

While the heavily camouflaged test mule gives out very little information, the next generation Fiat Linea is said to be based on the automaker’s Small US Wide Architecture and will grow longer and wider than the outgoing version. The new Linea is also expected to get a wider grille with sleek headlamps while the tail lights look extremely flamboyant.

If the test mule is anything to go by, the new model will certainly be a good looking C-segment sedan. The camouflaged model also sports a longer wheelbase over the outgoing version which will result in a lot better cabin space.

As earlier reports have suggested, the 2016 Fiat Linea will drop the ‘Linea’ moniker and the sedan will be incorporated as part of the next generation Bravo family. The new model could also be called ‘Bravo sedan’ for all we know and will also have a station wagon variant based on the same that will succeed the Stilo in Fiat’s lineup.

Internationally, the 1.4-litre MultiAir and 2.0-litre MultiJet engines will do duty on the all new Linea with the sedan being produced at Fiat’s facility in Turkey as part of the company’s $1 billion investment. In the Indian context, the outgoing facelifted Linea will serve the market for another two years and expect Fiat India to bring in the new Linea only by 2017.