Fiat Freemont 2013 News

Manufacturers including BMW, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA), Peugeot and Citroen have issued recalls via the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC).

The Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) has knocked a star off an imported seven-seater.

Look familiar? It should, because the Fiat Freemont crossover is a rebadged version of the Dodge Journey, albeit with some changes.The five-seat version is walking out the door right now from just $27,000 drive-away - although the seven-seat version will cost $1500 extra.Fiat’s Freemont is available in three specification levels: Base, Urban and Lounge. It's powered by either a 2.4-litre four-cylinder petrol engine or an economical 2.0-litre four-cylinder diesel.Both engines drive the front wheels via either a six-speed automatic transmission (petrol engine) or a six-speed manual (diesel engine). The diesel, by the way is priced from $32,600 (plus on-roads).The 2.4-litre petrol engine produces 125kW/220Nm while the diesel is good for 125kW/350Nm, the latter from a low 1750 revs.Standard equipment levels are impressive across the range and include Uconnect phone with Bluetooth audio streaming, keyless entry and start, child-booster seats, rear-parking sensors, USB & AUX inputs, automatic headlights, auto-tint rearview mirror, active front headrests, alarm with anti-intrusion system and tyre pressure monitoring system. Triple-zone climate control is also packaged with the seven-seat option.Freemont kicks off a new-model offensive for Fiat. The stylish Panda and Punto models will follow later in the year, following an expansion of the 500 range in June. 

The American shell is just the same, but the Freemont has an Italian heart that reflects the future of transatlantic development deals between Fiat and Chrysler.It comes to Australia with a starting price of $27,000 driveaway, as well as smaller engines and a five-seater cabin - with seven on call - that provides clear space around the Journey and a new opportunity for Fiat.The Italian brand claims the Freemont is the most fuel efficient vehicle in its people mover class, thanks to the 2-litre turbodiesel that starts at $32,600. The Freemont is not the most imaginative model spawned by the Fiat-Chrysler Alliance, with Maserati set to tap the Jeep well for its upcoming SUV and also picking up parts from the 300C, but it shows the new thinking at the company"This is the start of our new product offensive. You have to start somewhere," says Clyde Campbell, the president of Fiat Chrysler Group Australia."This was readily available and we thought we should give it a go. We think it will do reasonable volume, be a good contributor." Campbell, who has led the re-branding the re-positioning of Fiat and Alfa Romeo in Australia, says there is a lot happening at the Italian-American conglomerate."The thinking behind the Fiat-Chrysler alliance, which has become more than an alliance, now, is that they can share from what each other does well. We'll see it in multiple platforms."Fiat is good at small engines, so the Freemont gets launched here with a four-cylinder petrol and a good little diesel engine. Dodge and what Dodge stands for is probably not a 2-litre petrol."The Freemont is a mid-sized people mover with a flexible cabin that brings five seats and up to 1461 litres of cargo space - third-row seating costs $1500 - with Base, Urban and Lounge trim levels but even the starter car getting remote central locking, 17-inch alloys, aircon and power steering, rear parking radar, tyre-pressure monitoring and a 4.3-inch touch screen for an infotainment system including Bluetooth audio streaming."There's a lot of value. And there are a lot of trim levels, compared to the Dodge," says Campbell. But it's the planning around the Freemont that shows where Fiat-Chrysler is going."Chrysler builds it and ships it. But they fit it with the Italian engines," Campbell says. And he says there is much more action planned for 2013."We've got other Fiat product coming this year. We're going to re-launch the Punto and launch the Panda."We've already re-positioned Fiat and Alfa here with lower prices and more models. Now it's the product."This reporter is on Twitter: @paulwardgover 

Though Italian car maker Fiat is a giant player in Europe it has been sadly under represented in Australia until very recently. That’s probably because the previous importer seemed to concentrate on the halo marques in the Fiat empire – Ferrari and Maserati – at the expense of the affordable models.That situation suddenly changed midway through 2012 when Fiat’s head office took over the Australian arm of the company from its previous private importer.As further background to this story, Fiat took control of American car maker Chrysler during the fallout from the GFC, something that has helped both car makers; Chrysler now has the capital to keep itself and Jeep operating. Fiat has picked up the American company’s expertise in SUVs.The fastest growing of a multitude of vehicle segments in Australia is that of medium SUVs, and Fiat has thrown its Italian hat into the arena with the Freemont. Though Freemont is more people mover than SUV, the looks lean in the latter direction and we can see Aussie buyers comparing it with the big range of SUVs now on our market.It seems there’s no better way to grab the attention of Australian buyers than with low price tags. Hence the introduction of the Fiat Freemont with a price list that starts at just $27,000 driveaway. Fiat Freemont is available in three specification level: Base, Urban and Lounge.The entry-level ‘Base’ is far from being a stripper, it has 17-inch alloy wheels, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, dual-zone air-conditioning and keyless entry and start. Then there are automatic headlights; rear-parking sensors; an alarm system with an anti-intrusion feature; and tyre pressure monitoring system.Interestingly, built-in booster seats for children are standard, an excellent idea for the people mover buyers. The so-called base ‘Base’ even has Fiat’s Uconnect infotainment system with a 4.3-inch touchscreen CD/MP3 and integrated telephone with voice command and Bluetooth audio streaming. There are USB and Aux inputs.Added to the extensive features of the Freemont Base, the mid-range Fiat Freemont Urban also has a larger screen, at 8.4 inches, for its Uconnect infotainment system. It gains a DVD player; automatic temperature control in the air conditioning; six-way electronic adjustment for the drivers’ seat, a leather-wrapped gear-lever and Sunscreen glass.The range-topping Fiat Freemont Lounge gets satellite navigation; 19-inch alloy wheels; accent-stitched leather upholstery and premium door trims; heated front seats; chromed roof bars; an Alpine audio system with a subwoofer and 368-watt amplifier.The Fiat Freemont comes standard with a five-seat layout. A seven-seat configuration is available as an option, this includes three-zone climate control. The second row of seats can slide forward by up to 100 mm from their rear most position, giving parents easy access to children sitting in the second row. All seats, including the front passenger seat, can be folded down to create a flat load area.Theatre-style seating in seven-seat Freemonts ensures good visibility for those travelling in the back seats. The options list includes a ‘Rear Seat Video Group’ that has a second row overhead screen and wireless headphones.Fiat Freemont is powered by either a 2.4-litre four-cylinder petrol engine or a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel. The 2.4-litre petrol engine produces 125 kW of power, and 220Nm of torque at 4500 rpm. The diesel has up to 125 kW, and 350 Nm between 1750 and 2500 rpm.Both engines drive the front wheels (despite its appearance, the Freemont isn’t offered with 4WD) via either a six-speed automatic transmission when the petrol engine is fitted, or a six-speed manual with the diesel.