Undisputed star of Fiat's line-up at the 39th Tokyo International Motor Show this week is the exciting new Grande Punto Rally Abarth Super 2000 prototype, which is now just months away from returning the Fiat name to the forefront of world rallying.

The Grande Punto Rally Abarth - designed to meet the FIA's proposed new 'low cost' rally regulations - made its world debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show last month, were the single example on display dominated Fiat's stand, which was also seeing its road-going sister's range being unveiled to the wider public for the first time. Unveiled by Fiat Brand and Commerical boss Luca De Meo and Group Chairman Luca di Montezemolo, it was utterly aggressive, looking every inch the potent rally machine its aim to be. It was a real favourite with crowds who clustered around Fiat new star all week to examine it closely.

Sporting a three-layer pearl white livery and equipped with an aspirated 2000cc engine, this gutsy little car, derived from the 2-wheel drive production model, has a maximum power output of around 280bhp and will be fitted with all-wheel drive. The Grande Punto Rally Abarth will compete in various domestic and international rally championships.
 

It has now come to Japan to make a second rapid-fire high-profile public appearance, spearheading the launch of the new Grand Punto range which is expected to make a firm impact in Japan, where car buyers always demand style and character to combine with practicality and efficiency. The Grande Punto Rally Abarth has been joined in Tokyo by a second example, a production ready car, finished in orange, and equipped with the sparkling 77 bhp 1.4-litre power unit.

The Grande Punto Rally Abarth is likely to make its rally debut on the first round of the 2006 FIA World Rally Championship, the prestigious Monte Carlo Rally, next January. To this end an intensive testing programme has been underway now for nearly two months. Initially Paolo Andreucci (the project's test and development driver) shook the car down at Alfa Romeo's multi-application Balocco test track. However during the last week, as the schedule cranks up a gear, the prototype has been tested on gravel on Sardinia, using the twisty, dusty gravel tracks that so characterise Italy's new round of the FIA World Rally Championship. This has allowed N.Technology's engineers to compare the car's times directly with the leading WRC runners, and the first impressions are that this new Fiat is rapidly turning into a potent rally machine. The prototype has been quicker than the current crop of highly-developed Group N machines, such as the Subaru Impreza and Mitsubishi Evo, and on a par with the times posted by WRC equipment of a couple of seasons ago, delighting the N.Technology engineers.