Parallel ranges for Fiat’s future

Vehicles sold under the Emotional umbrella will include the 500, in all its various forms, and the soon-to-be-launched 124 Spider.

Fiat is also developing a new flagship model based on the 500X platform, which will take the fight to Mini when it’s launched – possibly as early as next year. Drawing on technology available through Fiat’s family ties with Jeep, this is likely to offer all-wheel drive and more powerful engines for higher-spec models.

The Rational side of Fiat’s new split personality will hover just above Dacia while undercutting other budget brands from Eastern Europe and Korea. With the Panda at its core, it will include a Fabia-chasing supermini as well as slightly larger hatch and estate models.

The focus here will, in Napolitano’s own words, be on ‘functionality and value for money’.

Fiat proposes to offer its Rational models in a single trim level, with very limited options in terms of engines and paint colours. The company is also considering online retailing as an alternative to the traditional dealer network for this range, whose low prices won’t lend themselves to haggling.

Due to be announced in more detail at the March 2016 Geneva show, Fiat’s new plans are designed to reverse a slide in fortunes which has seen its Europe-wide market share crash from 9.44% in 1997 to a more recent figure of just 4.5%.

The expanded 500 range is already showing signs of moving matters in the right direction – so far in 2015, more than a quarter of all A-segment cars sold in Europe have been Fiats. These new plans make it clear that the Italian company sees these improvements as just the beginning.