Fiat Viaggio teased ahead of Beijing debut

Fiat Viaggio Tease

A new Fiat model – the Fiat Viaggio – is teased ahead of a Beijing Motor Show debut. A Dodge Dart under the skin, it will be built in China.

The whole Fiat Chrysler tie-up is yielding all sorts of mongrel variations on a theme, and the Fiat Viaggio – which Fiat are teasing ahead of its Beijing Motor Show debut – is another example of new clothes for new markets.

Under the skin the Fiat Viaggio is a Dodge Dart, which is based on the platform of the Giulietta – the same platform that will underpin the Alfa SUV – that has been modified and stretched for the purpose and gets a catchy little moniker – Compact US Wide. With us so far?

Fiat say the Viaggio saloon, which has been designed by Fiat in Turin, will be the only car in its segment in China to offer just turbo engines, with a 1.4 litre T-Jet in both 120 hp and 150 hp outputs with a 5-speed manual ‘box or DDTC auto.

Fiat will build the Viaggio saloon at its new GAC-Fiat plant in Changsha for the Chinese market, but it’s expected that a hatchback version of the Viaggio will arrive before too long, be built in China and exported back to Italy – and other Western markets – as a replacement for the Bravo.

Which should go down well with the Italian unions.