Fiat finds new style

FIAT Group has brought the design departments of four brands together in a new operation based in Turin.

The new Style Centre will house the design operations for Fiat, Lancia, Abarth and Maserati in the refurbished industrial building called Officina 83.

Located within Fiat’s massive Mirafiori production complex, the design centre building used to be a machine shop. Now it will house around 200 people involved in the design process, including stylists, CAD specialists and model makers.

Fiat, Daimler venture

IN THE first step of a new strategic alliance announced last week between Fiat Powertrain and the DaimlerChrysler Truck Group, the Italian auto giant will supply Mitsubishi Fuso with 80,000 examples of the new Ducato’s 3.0-litre JTD turbo-diesel annually from 2009.

Producing 115.5kW at 3500rpm and 400Nm from 1400rpm, the common-rail diesel will power Mitsu’s Canter LCV – production of which is expected to increase significantly by 2010.