The popularity of small crossover-type vehicles has really grown these last few years. Models such as the Ford EcoSport, Renault Sandero Stepway and Volkswagen’s CrossPolo have shown that there is interest in models with macho, off-roading looks but no bundu-bashing capability. And now it seems that Fiat is keen to cash in on this burgeoning segment as well.
At the New Delhi Auto Expo held earlier this year, the Italian carmaker unveiled a concept car called the Fiat Avventura, which is based on the company’s B-segment model, the Punto. Avventura boasted additional ground clearance, lower body cladding, chunky tyres and a spare wheel slung out behind the rear door.
Indian motoring website motorbash.com spotted a Punto mule, with raised ride height, out on the open road, which can only mean that a production model is close to being launched.
According to them, the prototype has 16-inch wheels, higher ground clearance and the hump on the tailgate, on which the spare wheel will be hung. Both the front and rear ends will be changed. The fact that plastic trim pieces and metal guards from the concept have been left out hint they might not be cheap enough for potential Indian buyers, who are already accustomed to dings and scratches on their cars.
Based on the Punto, the Avventura will probably share that car’s powertrain options, which is a small capacity turbodiesel or petrol mill. Power will likely be fed solely to the front wheels, as with all the other small crossovers, via a five-speed manual transmission.