Milan, Sept 21: Fiat Auto, the loss-making unit of the eponymous Italian industrial group, is launching a bevy of small cars to spur sales after several lean years, while waiting for a new boss to be named. The latest Fiat presentation was the new version of its Panda model -- typical of the firm's trademark compact cars -- which accompanied the roll-out of Lancia's Ypsilon and followed a revamped Fiat Punto unveiled in June.

The automaker produces models under the Fiat, Lancia and Alfa Romeo brands, but also owns a majority stake in the luxury car makers Ferrari and Maserati.
Four million copies of the panda have been sold since it was first introduced in 1980, but this was the first real makeover of a car designed for city use.
In mid October, fiat is to unveil the idea, a monospace version of the Punto, the company's biggest selling model.
The raft of new models has little to do, however, with the arrival in February of managing director Giuseppe Morchio, who runs the parent fiat group along with Umberto Agnelli, head of the family that controls the Italian industrial giant. Bureau Report