Fiat Freemont ads might have only just started airing in Italy (above the commercial), but the brand new model for Italians borrowed from the Chrysler line-up has already registered some sales success. After the first “open door” dealership event for the Freemont last weekend, 3,000 orders for the model have already been collected.

We’re not at all surprised given what a solid offering the Dodge Journey, now Fiat-badged Freemont, is. With a few interior upgrades, the large MPV is totally new for Fiat, filling a segment that was previously unavailable. According to Fiat, the 3,000 orders (out of nearly 6,000 test drives) have been made on the strength of the seven-seat comfort, flexibility and space of the Freemont.

We think that the price is probably definitely part of the appeal, too. Fiat has managed to offer the Freemont at a starting price of 25,700 euros, getting up to 27,200 euros in the Urban package offering. An extra 1,500 euros gets you an upgrade from Freemont standard to Urban kit, and from 140 hp to 170 hp.

In a stroke of lovely irony for us, the Dodge Journey with its American feel, in becoming the Fiat Freemont, has been adopted by the Italians as the official car of the national Azzurri football team, and will be used as transport for dignitaries and politicians as part of the Republic Day festivities today. Who would have thought it would be so embraced? We had visions of many an Italian family off to the seaside in the Freemont, but we hadn’t expected football stars and politicians.

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