Friday 29th July 2005

Fiat unveils Grande Punto

Make-or-break car for cash-strapped company

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New Grande Punto

Fiat will shortly be unveiling its all-new Grande Punto, which goes on sale in September.

This make-or-break car for the troubled Italian company follows in the wheeltracks of the original hugely successful Punto hatchback, which has lodged over six million sales since its launch in 1993.

The new Grande Punto’s objective is to regain leadership of the highly competitive and crucially important European compact hatchback market.

The Grande Punto is bigger than the original, said Fiat, largely for safety reasons. The new Grande Punto will be available in both three- and five-door body styles, and four distinct versions.

It's designed by Italdesign-Giugiaro in partnership with Centro Stile Fiat. The result of considerable design effort, the cabin is said to be "notable for its bright, friendly feel, as well as its obvious functionality. Grande Punto is designed to quicken the pulses, while offering a level of security, solidity and construction quality of a vehicle from a higher segment. Underpinned by attention to detail unusual in this market segment, Grande Punto is also an exceptionally comfortable vehicle – a factor indicated by its generous external dimensions that put it at the top of the class. Grande Punto measures 403 cms in length, 168 cms in width and 149 cms in height; and with a wheelbase of 251 cms, an extraordinary amount of internal space is guaranteed."

It's not quick of course -- that's not what Puntos are about. At launch there will be two petrol engine options, an entry-level 65bhp 1.2-litre motor and a new 77bhp 1.4-litre lump. There will be four turbodiesels: a 1.3-litre with 75 bhp), or a 1.3-litre with a variable geometry turbine and 90bhp; and a 1.9-litre mill with either 120bhp or 130bhp.

The current Punto will continue in production.

[dinkel]

That looks like a winner to me. Nice lines and good proportions (from what I can see).

Now FIAT please put in a decent 1.6 110 hp (d)ohc and it'll be competition . . .

[Shirkin]

I rather like it too. Got a nice stance. And the wheel at each corner set up should mean it'll handle nicely. Then again that could be a load of old cobblers. But you never know.

[alanc5]

Got to agree with you guys, that's a very attractive looking little car. Very nice stance too.

I hope it pays off for them.

[cymtriks]

It's not quick of course -- that's not what Puntos are about.

But a 1.2 in that size of car? What planet are they on, it wil redefine gutless!

Even a 1.4 will struggle as it does on the Focus.

The 1.3 TD is also a bit underpowered.

That leaves only the top of the range 1.9.

No Abarth?

At least it looks OK.

[CRBox]

Totally agree. Now that all new cars seem to come with most stuff as standard, all you need is to look good and get the price right. Punto has achieved this since launch.
My son runs an '02 Punto Active sport. In 3 years there never been a real issue with the car and every time I drive it I am always reminded what an excellent package the Punto is.

[feck_on_a_stick]

Looks very smart. Sorta reminds me of a baby Maserati from the front or do I sound like Ive been drinking??? haha

[dinkel]

I'm pretty sure there's an Abarth Punto coming up after getting used to this new one . . .

[twin turbo]

FOAS - No, you're not the only one that thinks it looks a little like a Maserati from the front (I posted as much on the Alfa/Fiat forum)

Mind you, you DO need to squint. A lot.

[jimbro1000]

twin turbo said:

FOAS - No, you're not the only one that thinks it looks a little like a Maserati from the front (I posted as much on the Alfa/Fiat forum) Mind you, you DO need to squint. A lot.

Nothing like a Maser but every bit like the new Fiat Croma! What a surprise that is!

[Pasthim]

Looks good to me (to echo everyone's comments). Manufacturers so frequently over look the obvious, i.e. that people mostly buy cars because they like the way they look. I like that Punto a lot however it has a huge task ahead of it. Good luck FIAT I say

[ubergreg]

Wow. And I thought FIAT lost the plot with the Chroma. Considering the new pedestrian-friendly safety regs new cars have to comply with, they did an exceptional job IMO.

And THANK YOU FIAT for eschewing the tall/narrow "city car" look. I hope this car is a huge success.

More pics here:
www.km77.com

>> Edited by ubergreg on Friday 29th July 16:24

[V8 Archie]

It doesn't do anything for me (looks like all the others, surprise, surprise) except:

Blurb said:

Grande Punto is designed to quicken the pulses

Express lentil delivery services or an attempt persuade numpties to do more than 40mph in NSLs?

[LuS1fer]

Bullseye in the design department and if I was looking for a small car, this offers the looks of a chunky Jazz. I really hope it does well as the Punto has been lost at sea for a while now. In fact, it's still the original Punto that looks the best of the last crop.

[annodomini2]

Read on another website that the sporting models were to have a 1.6 turbo, no mention of power output though.

[dinkel]

Some more pics of the blue one . . .

[DELTAHPE]

really looks brilliant my hopes are that it drives as good as it looks...unlike the rather dull stilo particularly the totally dead steering and also that they import the more speedy versions, fiat uk are notorious for this where is the 140bhp multijet stilo diesel or the 1.9 diesel idea ...unfortunately mainland europe only

[Bill Carr]

It looks like an Armadillo from the front and a C-max from the back.

Maserati indeed!

[FestivAli]

Three door looks fantastic. I wish fiat the best of luck, that's really what I like to see in a small car. And that blue works really well.

On another issue, that (spanish?) link that had other articles as well - did anyone check out the new hyundai Getz? They've destroyed it. Looks like it should be in a handbag. I'm a fan of the Getz, I've got one at home (1.5l petrol 5dr auto - mums car) and they're a decent all round package, but the new one looks far too girly for me.

(Sorry, wrong topic I know). But still...

[sb-1]

Good luck Fiat....looks like it could be a winner.

[huge]

Hope its built better than my wife's one.More rattles and squeeks than you can imagine.Noisy and gutless too,with a stopping distance about the same as an airfield.She loves it somehow(?)and I have to admit its never let us down,unlike certain "premium" brands that we've owned over the years!