The Punto Evo hasn't been
a big hit with European consumers in the way its
predecessor, the Grande Punto, was, despite significant
under the skin improvements; and so now a year into its
life Fiat is rolling out a highly specified version at a
very competitive price.
The biggest problem
facing the Punto Evo has been its styling, rather than
setting the car design standard, a position it excels
at, Fiat instead chose to copy the opposition and the
resulting packaging for the Grande Punto's mid life
restyling simply doesn't stand out from a very crowded
and competitive market place. The Punto Evo was launched
last autumn onto major markets but has since struggled
to retain a foothold amongst the European top-ten best
sellers and is unable to match its key B-segment rivals
in volume terms although it retains its position as
Italy's best-selling cars. To address this deficiency
Fiat is introducing a special version of the Punto Evo,
called the "Punto MyLife", which offers improved
equipment levels and cosmetic detailing all at a very
competitive price, an improved overall package that
usually comes much later in a model lifecycle.
The Punto MyLife will
be available across all the European markets in 3- or
5-door format. At launch, in Italy, the 3-door version
equipped with the 69 CV 1.2-litre Euro 5 compliant FIRE
engine fitted with Start&Stop will cost just 9,900 euros
and 10,700 euros for the same specification in 5-door
format.
On the outside the
Punto My Life is instantly recognisable thanks to a
number of "nero lucido" ("glossy black"), "pianoblack",
inserts including the distinctive front and rear bumper
sections and (at the front) adjoining grilles as well as
the door handles. The door mirrors are painted in the
colour of the body while the headlights and tail lights
are now slightly darker. Inside the cabin is also a new
and softer cloth finish for the seats.
The Punto My Life will be available across a wide range
of the Punto Evo's Euro 5 compliant engines, all coming
with Start&Stop as standard (on both petrol and diesel
models). These powerplants are made up of two petrol
engines (69 CV 1.2 8v and 77 CV 1.4 8v, the latter
fitted with Dualogic transmission) and one turbodiesel
(75 CV 1.3 Multijet 16v). As well as these three engine
options the Punto My Life specification level is to be
made available on the 77 CV 1.4 8v Natural Power
(petrol/methane) and 77 CV 1.4 8v Easy Power
(petrol/LPG) niche versions.
Equipment levels will be impressive for a car that
starts at under ten thousand euros. Active and passive
safety includes two front airbags, curtain bags (which
also protect the rear passengers), ABS, EBD and ESP with
Hill Holder, while the area of infotainment will be
covered by the inclusion of a radio with CD-MP3 and
Fiat's integrated multimedia system incorporating the
new navigation device, Blue&Me-TomTom. In particular,
this device allows the driver to manage - from a
practical colour touch-screen - telephone, navigation
and control information. Now the system has been
enhanced further with an additional functionality that
allows management of the media player through the
touch-screen interface.
Environmentally friendly, the Punto MyLife can also be
fitted out with the innovative "eco:Drive" software -
delivered via the USB port of the Blue & Me-TomTom -
analysing driving style of 'help to optimise driver
behavior in terms of consumption and thus reducing
emissions. Information and tips on driving style from
the "eco:Drive" service is displayed directly on the
screen of the TomTom. Meanwhile to enhance comfort and
well-being manual climate control comes as standard,
there are radio controls mounted on the steering wheel,
remote control system for opening the doors, a
height-adjustable driver's seat and steering wheel with
adjustable height and depth.
As Fiat looks to boost Punto Evo sales with the addition
of the MyLife and a new advertising campaign, dubbed,
"High Tech - Human Touch", will be rolled out telling of
a journey where dreams and reality mingle. The
protagonist in the adverts is the Italian composer and
pianist of international renown, Giovanni Allevi. The
movie has two parallel stories that interlock:
sensitivity of touch and respect towards the world
around us. Thus the Punto MyLife is a "high tech" car
capable of offering great feelings to its owner.
