Fiat, in conjunction with Tofaş R&D, revealed its new compact three-box Aegea sedan project at the Istanbul Motor Show. The new sedan, which will get a different name when it goes to production, is the first of three new models to be introduced for the EMEA region, replacing the Linea sedan and Bravo hatchback.
Designed in Italy and engineered in Turkey, the Aegea project sits atop the same ‘small wide’ platform as the Fiat 500L/500X, Jeep Renegade and (to a lesser degree) Dodge Dart. With a wheelbase of 2,640 mm (103.9 inches), the Aegea is only 2.5 inches shorter than the Dart at the wheels. The new sedan sits at 4,500 mm (177.2 inches) long, 1,780 mm (70.1 inches) wide and 1,480 mm (58.3 inches) tall. Fiat also states the sedan is “large enough to seat 5 well built passengers comfortably with a load capacity of over 510 litres.”
Four engines will be available in the Aegea family. Two Multijet II turbodiesels and two gasoline engines, mated to manual and automatic transmissions, will produce between 95 and 120 hp.
The Ægea name pays tribute to the Aegean Sea that is “the symbolic bridge between East and West.”
The new sedan will go on sale in Turkey in November and later in other EMEA markets.
NOTE: The car will be built at the same plant where there’s currently a labor dispute. That November on-sale date could slide a bit if the situation isn’t resolved soon.
” Fiat also states the sedan is “large enough to seat 5 well built passengers comfortably with a load capacity of over 510 litres.”
The Mercedes S-class is “large enough to seat 5 well built passengers comfortably…
There are very few cars – due to the transmission tunnels and rooflines of today’s cars big enough and comfortable enough to seat 5 passengers for durations.
Most cars can handle 4. But 5? I think not.
Furthermore, the Dart was very uncomfortable for me and has been derided by many-a-reviewer for interior space (so it’s not just me).
“Well built passengers” in most of the world means something different than it does to those of us in Canada, the U.S., England and Australia. We are FAT!
You may also have an overly sensitive First World Americanized view of what “discomfort” is.
As well, it appears from all the pictures I can find that most S Class’ only seat 4. The ones that do have a fifth seat don’t look any more comfortable for that fifth passenger than any other rear middle seat I’ve used, what with the narrow humped seating surface and the intrusive transmission tunnel.
Well built passengers in Northern Europe are likely to all be over 6ft. Two with the seat all the way back may be comfortable, but no more. Not 4, and certainly not 5.
The people of Turkey aren’t especially lithe, either.
If these stupid car companies would stop putting ridiculously underpowered engines in their cars – mated to poorly programmed transmissions, it would stop them from getting poor initial reviews from “professional car reviewers”.
Hopefully, the diesels will provide enough early torque to make this car feel powerful enough for typical driving.
All that said: I’ve never met anyone with a Dart who didn’t enjoy/love their car. This is the tri-state area and THERE ARE NO “turns” so for the most part no one notices any “handling” problems. Not whilst sitting in bumper-to-bumper traffic or sailing down highway straights.
From the headline I was hoping to hear it was going to be built on the same line as the Dart near Chicago.
Fiat Viaggio is Dodge Dart.
Fiat Aegea is in the class of Nissan Versa and Ford Fiesta built on a Renegade/500X platform.
It’s bigger than a Versa or Fiesta, only about 3 inches shorter than a Dart.
The Giulietta/Dart based Viaggio is for the China market. This version is apparently Fiat’s “World” car.
I like this interior better than the Dart.
Hopefully, these drivetrain offerings will work better than the US ones.
I think the exterior is better than the Dart as well. The Dart looks very immature to me, and like they’re just chasing the same Neon customer they’ve been going after since 1993.
That wouldn’t be so bad if there was some ACR/SRT love for the Dart. The Fiat exterior does look better, though.
Maybe we’ll get this interior for the Dart’s mid-cycle refresh.
*looks* good!
I really think they should call this the Fiat 124. Like the original 1966 124 this would be a mainstream sedan and just like the original it will soon be joined by the 124 Spider (Mazda MX-5 derived). I seem to remember reading last winter that Fiat registered the 124 and 124 Spider trademarks in the US, remember that the original 124 and its offsprings (Lada Riva anyone?) were wildly successful especially in the markets targeted by this new model.
Not a bad idea, ewm91.
Fiat has been backing away from numbers/letters for awhile now, in favor of model names. That’s a trend I’d like to see expanded to other automakers.
“The Aegea, paying homage to the Aegean Sea- the bridge from East to West. Now available in optional Corinthian leather and Athenian Marble interior accents.”
Sorry.. I had to.. surprised no one did already.