You get a 1.2L petrol, 1.4L petrol, 1.3 Diesel with 75 hp and another 1.3L diesel with 90 Hp. However, we got the 1.4L petrol engine which means that we were expecting some good performance from our test car. After all you would be paying considerable extra than the regular 1.2L, hence you would be expecting some extra oomph.

So does the Punto 1.4L make the cut as a hot hatch? Let’s find out:

What powers the Punto?

The Punto we tested was powered by a 1.4L FIRE engine which is lifted from the Linea. It generates 90 bhp of peak power at 6,000 rpm with 115 Nm at 4,500 rpm. Although it is an old technology, it has been refined over the years to provide you healthy performance on your daily drive. We were all praise for this engine in the Linea.

However, in the Linea the duty of this 1.4L was to provide regular performance for your daily drives. But when you put the same engine in the Punto, you expect some spirited performance. Unfortunately, the Fiat Punto does not provide the zippy feeling that a hot hatch should.

Don’t get me wrong, it revs freely all the way to the red line. The bottom end torque is also good and so is the mid range. But the main obstacle is the weight of the Punto which deprives the driver of true driving pleasure.

The 1.4L Punto cannot be considered as a hot hatch. It more of a comfortable highway cruiser and does its job brilliantly. We drove more that 500 kms in a single day and we were fresh as daisies.

We have no complaints about the 5-speed gearbox or the suspension setup or the brakes. They all do their job with no hiccups. The ride is very absorbent, change of direction is very easy, high speed stability is exceptional. A special mention to the hydraulic power steering which weighs perfectly at any speeds.

The increase of GC has not disturbed any settings of the Punto’s driving dynamics. There is minimal body roll in the corners and ride is very compliant even on extremely pot-holed surfaces. If anything, you feel more confident now because at the back of your mind you know that the underbelly will not scratch with the raised GC.

What about fuel economy?

Don’t expect impressive fuel economy from the 1.4L mill. We got an average of 9.1 km/l on our trip which had all sections – highways, city traffic, bendy roads, the lot. The 1.2L is a better bet if you want fuel economy.

What about safety?

The Punto comes loaded with ABS with EBD and twin airbags. Also, it has been tested at Euro NCAP returning with a five star rating. Now that says a lot!

What did I not like about the drive?

• No spirited performance from the engine. More of a consistent power mill
• The turning radius is a bit wide
• A bit nose heavy when braking hard
• Not very nimble and at low speeds
• More of a jack of all trades and the master of none when compared to the competition.

Sadly, we were expecting hot hatch performance from the Punto 1.4L and our expectations were not met. We would like to re-iterate that the 1.4L Punto is more of a highway cruiser than a hot hatch.

If you are in the market for a fast hatchback your options are limited. Because most powerful hot hatches in India are in their petrol avatar which could take a toll on your wallet.

I have driven the 90 HP Multi-jet version for a relatively shorter span. This Punto variant make a LOT more sense than the 1.4L petrol from driving performance and fuel economy stand points.

According to an Italian newspaper, Fiat is yet to work out the platform and positioning of the next generation Punto and a new model may not roll out before 2015, about ten years from the current model’s introduction.

It is not known at this point if Italians will collaborate with Tata Motors on the 2015 Fiat Punto. The next generation Indica is expected in 2014, and platform sharing between the Indica and Punto could save boat loads of time and money for both companies.

Fiat and Tata Motors share electrical and mechanical components for their B-Segment hatchbacks. They share factories and source from the same suppliers. They’ve also been sharing retail space. The next stage of the joint venture could be sharing complete platforms, but there has been no news from Tata’s camp on this.

Fiat India has confirmed that it will bring out an India specific car under the Punto. This is the next big launch from Fiat. Fiat India CEO told IndianAutosBlog.com growing segments are being watched closely but prior to diving into product expansion, strengthening their sales web is the priority.

[Source - BlogAutomobile.fr]

The liveliness or vivacity of Punto or the Linea has not eroded and the Italian lines have only got better with time and changing environment. But it is a common practice for car manufacturers to keep their products updated. Competition has emerged in forms of the refreshed Swift and the ‘oh so beautiful’ Fluidic Verna. Both the Linea and Punto hence will go under the surgeon’s knife next year.

Fiat India has two options to choose from. They can bring down the Evo variant (outgoing model) or opt for the refreshed variant showcased at Frankfurt’s IAA. Though isn’t a drastic step forward from the original the facelift will go hand in hand with the inauguration of new dealerships. It will give people another reason or purpose to visit the newly opened stores.

Design updates on the Frankfurt show model include a larger air dam and revised head and tail lamps. A sleek chrome grille and large ‘Punto’ badge in the centre just below the Fiat badge on the boot is about all that’s different.

Fiat India will also be interested in selling the Multi-air petrol engine but with close to 8/10 hatchbacks in its segment rolling out of dealerships with a diesel heart, it won’t be a segment-breaking or fortune-changing move. We’d love to see a 1.6-liter diesel engine under the Linea’s bonnet once Fiat operates out of its own network.

[Head over to AutoBlog.com to see more live shots]

The talk in town is that Fiat is mulling independent/exclusive dealerships in 2012. With new showrooms, Fiat has to present new products to get maximum traction. Fiat could start the lives of these two important cars in their facelifted form at stand-alone dealer points.

Whichever the case is the Linea and Punto would have completed three years in India in 2012. At this point, most car manufacturers opt for a cosmetic revamp to stay updated and give themselves another reason to invite customers and media to talk about their product. Since Punto’s launch, we have seen many new small cars and the next six months will see a few more.

To bow in at the Frankfurt Motor Show, the Punto facelift gets a new set of 14-spoke wheels. Along with the wheels, the car also receives new grille (notice the absence of chrome and garnish), new headlamps with mirror-mounted indicator lamps. At the rear, the exhaust, like on the Linea T-Jet, is chrome tipped.

Interiors have been carried over from the Evo. The interiors have many pieces colored using the body paint to extend the theme into the cabin.

Under the hood, the Punto gets the 500′s 0.9-liter Twin-Air petrol engine that generates 64 KW (85.8hp). Fiat is planning to use the Twin-Air on many of its small cars. It will be used on the next generation Panda as well.

Besides the TwinAir, the 1.3-liter Multi-jet diesel is expected to continue along with the host of FIRE petrol engines depending on the markets.

Will Fiat India launch the latest version or will they drive in the Punto Evo? We’ll see more images from the Frankfurt Motor Show, so stay tuned to IndianAutosBlog.com.

Fiat Punto Facelift Image Gallery

[Source - Auto.CZ]

The Fiat Punto’s a wonderful creation in the world of automobiles. With regular cleaning and care, it seems like the pinnacle of charm.

Click HERE to see how NOT to wash your Fiat Punto
Click HERE to see how NOT to wash your Fiat Punto
Click HERE to see how NOT to wash your Fiat Punto
Click HERE to see how NOT to wash your Fiat Punto

Fiat India spokesperson -

We received complaints mostly from the north and some western parts of the country that the ACs were not cooling the cabin adequately in temperatures of over 40 degrees. Hence, all those customers in those regions are being contacted individually and offered this free of cost upgrade. This is a goodwill gesture on our part where we are acting proactively to a minor issue we felt in the air conditioning system of all petrol powered Punto and Linea.

Recently Fiat India has been unable to see good volumes with its Grande Punto and Linea models. Fiat introduced new variants of both cars last year, but that hasn’t worked in driving the brand forward.

All said and done, that certainly gets a thumbs up from us!

Source – Vicky.in

The invitations for the launch of a new Fiat Punto variant “90hp Multijet” have been issued. The vehicle will be launched on the 16th of this month in Delhi.

Fiat terms this model “The most powerful diesel hatchback (in India)”

The reason for the rise in power is due to the addition of a VGT to the 1.3-liter common-rail diesel engine. Additions to the new model come in the form of chrome door handles, red stitching seat borders and a white Punto logo.

We have long been awaiting the launch of the 90 hp Fiat Grande Punto Diesel which was showcased at the 2010 Auto Expo in New Delhi.

We called up Fiat regarding its launch and they said -

We will launch the “Fiat Punto 90hp” in India on the 16th of July. We will not call it Sports

The Fiat Punto 1.3 liter Multijet diesel engine came only with an ordinary turbocharger and produced 76 hp. This engine along with an unpleasant gearbox played spoilsport on the Punto’s drive. Now Fiat would give an upgrade to Punto’s 1.3 liter Multi-jet engine by adding a VGT (Variable Geometry Turbocharger) from the Linea sedan.

With the addition of the VGT, the Grande Punto’s power would be boosted to 90 hp and torque to 209 Nm. We expect Fiat to slightly tweak the gearbox to bring down the tall gear ratios and induce some linearity in the gear ratios. There would be no external differences between the Punto 90 hp and the regular Puntos but for the ’90 hp’ badge beneath the variant’ badge (Emotion). The car could also come with clear lens rear tail lamps.

The 90 hp Fiat Punto could be priced slightly higher than the ordinary Punto and we guess Fiat would be offering the 90 hp engine only on the top of the line ‘Emotion’ and ‘Emotion Pack’ variants.

Thanks for the tip Motor Beam

Fiat, in spring 2013 is all set to unveil the all new next generation Fiat Punto hatchback. The Punto is a very significant and important model for Fiat as it is the car that single handedly rescued Fiat from a mountain of losses and brought it back in green.

Come 2013, and the current generation Fiat Punto would have been in the market for seven years, surely the right time then for Fiat to be bringing in the next generation all new Punto. The next generation Punto like the current Punto, will continue to be offered in 3 and 5 door versions, but with an all new, fully renovated platform and chassis.

The next generation Punto will not just be a restyling of the current car, but will be a completely new car developed from the ground up. The project designers of the next generation Punto, should have working on the car at the Fiat style centre in Italy.

The engines for the next generation Punto will consist of some engines borrowed from the current Punto’s range of engines while the new range of Multijet engines could also power the car.

Source – autotematic

The news that we’re breaking here on Indian Autos Blog is not on the 90hp Fiat Punto launching on the first week of July, but it not being called “Punto Sports” as we believed earlier.

Indian Autos Blog contacted Fiat India, and this is their reply to our query on the powerful Punto -

The 90hp Fiat Punto will not be called Sports. It will be launched during the first week of July.

When we asked them about the Fiat Linea T-Jet which comes with a turbocharged 1.4-liter petrol engine, this was their reply -

The Fiat Linea T-Jet will be launched in India a month later.

Fiat’s sales numbers isn’t calling for celebrations. The company launched the Linea and Punto last year, and the sales have not been extremely good. But one thing has to be agreed on – Fiat has entered people’s choice list prepared before going in for a car. Could the powerful Fiats help in grabbing more numbers?