I am afraid with Fiat's current hit-and-miss marketing (see: Alfa Romeo and Lancia), neither of the brands are in question, but rather some convulted solution of making something like "Gingo" a brand or sub-brand...
AutoBlog said:Fiat is toying with the idea of spinning off the car, currently dubbed the "new Uno", as a separate brand. Over the years Fiat has absorbed a wealth of Italian auto brands and, as it did with Abarth, could revive either the Innocenti or Autobianchi marques.
So you think they'll create a new brand (if they decide to do this) rather than just reuse the Autobianchi or Innocenti brands?I am afraid with Fiat's current hit-and-miss marketing (see: Alfa Romeo and Lancia), neither of the brands are in question, but rather some convulted solution of making something like "Gingo" a brand or sub-brand...
Yes, it was (and is), but it's shelflife is rather short right now. They've been talking of a replacement model for some time.Wasn't Fiat's Palio supposed to be a "world car"? or am I mistaken in thinking that?
They sure took a leaf out of the 1950s book of American automotive design in that they facelifted the cars beyond reason, but they didn't fix the obvious crappiness of the interior :/Still, I admire Fiat for what they did with the Palio-based range.
Good info all around Bravada.Innocenti is an "alien" brand to Fiat - it was a license vehicle for British Leyland for most of its time, and then a sales channel for Daihatsu hardware, competing directly with Fiat. They bought it mostly to eradicate all competition in Italy, and relegated it to selling rebadged Yugo Korals, Milles and Elbas (the Elba being the second most reviled Fiat in Italy after its sedan sister, Fiat Duna). I don't think there is much value in the brand name, let alone sentiment in the Fiat Group to revive it...
Autobianchi was founded to provide a channel to sell premium small cars, as well as test field for novelty technical solutions (like transverse FWD, pioneered in the Autobianchi Primula). Today, the first function is taken over by Lancia, Alfa and Fiat, all to some extent (Ypsilon, Musa, 500, Junior/MiTo), and the second is a necessity and not only a luxury a large automaker can afford. I love the brand dearly, but it is hard to pronunce and, by now, rather obscure, not to mention its premise doesn't fit the decribed function. I would LOVE Autobianchi back, but I'd doubt Fiat would do that.
They sure took a leaf out of the 1950s book of American automotive design in that they facelifted the cars beyond reason, but they didn't fix the obvious crappiness of the interior :/