Brand boss Luca De Meo introduced Fiat at the Frankfurt Motor Show this morning, and - together with Group Chairman Luca di Montezemolo - officially unveiled the truly stunning new Punto 'Super2000' rally prototype, a car that is set to take the Italian carmaker back to the forefront of the world's most demanding rally tracks.

A broad, spacious stand has been presented by Fiat at the 61st Frankfurt IAA, dominated by the new Grande Punto model, which will make its public debut here, just the day after tomorrow. Four examples of the new 'compact' model are on display in both two and four door format. The array of interlocking stages - laid out with the warm, soft and welcoming colours that Fiat first rolled out in Geneva, back in March - allow the line-up to be viewed in a relaxed and pleasant atmosphere. Joining the gorgeous new Grande Punto is the recently-introduced Croma Stationwagon, the mildly facelifted Idea (Model Year 06), and the Panda 4x4, now fitted for the first time with Fiat's cutting-edge, compact, common-rail technology, 1.3-litre diesel Multijet. A tight line-up, there was however no place for the Mulipla, Stilo and Ulysse.

It was the Grande Punto though that was the star of the show, and the firm focus of the media's attention. Luca De Meo - who was promoted last year to Fiat brand boss, after being regarded as having been largely responsible for kick starting the astonishing recent revival of the Lancia brand - hosted the proceedings.
 

He sees Fiat as already forging ahead, and the Grande Punto as the new model which will naturally drive this revival forward. Remembering how throughout Fiat's century-long existence the launch of new 'compact' segment cars had driven the firm forward in style, he is utterly confident that the Grande Punto is now up to this vital task. The youthful-looking De Meo though sees the whole Fiat range as appealing to what has these days become a very choosy car buying public, and revealing that with 15,000 orders already taken the new Croma was already "achieving expectations", and the Panda Idea were ideally suited cars to succeed in their respective segments. Touching upon the new and facelifted model introduction schedule - as recently laid out by Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne - he sees only strength and broad appeal emerging.

Highlight of the stand though was the brand new Grande Punto rally car prototype which is making its debut in Frankfurt. Built to the FIA's proposed new low-cost 'Super 2000' regulations, the new rally contender from Fiat is set to follow in the footsteps of legendary rally machines such as the 131 and 124 Spider - cars which have quite simply etched their names into rallying folk law - incredibly hard acts to follow, but a task which the new 'baby' will strive to achieve.

De Meo motioned the watching Fiat Group President Luca di Montezemolo to help him with the rally car's unveiling, jokingly telling the audience that "his touch will mean it will be certain to be a winner". The pair swept the white covering aside to reveal an aggressive, exciting machine that had the assembled press quickly squeezing up close to see it in detail. Joined by top Fiat 'cast' members - including brand promotion boss Lapo Elkann, Fiat design chief Frank Stephenson and the car's stylish Giorgetto Giugiaro - the importance and priority of this new rally programme was clear for all to see, another very visual signal that Fiat are back in business.

by Edd Ellison in Frankfurt