| INTRODUCTION
The long serving Fiat Punto,
which recently saw the 5,000,000th example leave the production line, has
received a mild facelift to tide it over until the arrival of an all-new
model in 2005.
Externally the Punto, at
the front receives fashionable large "bug eye" headlamps, larger new grille
and restyled bumper, while at the rear the lights are extended onto the
tailgate and reflectors are positioned in the bumper. Internally the new
model receives mild cosmetic upgrades to the dashboard and cabin as well
as now having Fiat's infotelematic CONNECT system as an option.
The Punto now offers the
new 1.3 Multijet diesel engine as well as the 1.9JTD, and with a choice
of four manual gearboxes and the two automatic Dualogic and Speedgear options,
the company now claim that the new model has the highest number of engine/transmission
options in the segment.
Safety has been addressed
with the new Punto now offering specifications usually attributed to higher
segment models, including ESP, ASR, MSR, ABS and a Hill Holder.
new Punto
A vehicle of strong personality
with innovative equipment and also a unique range of engines and gearboxes:
meet the New Fiat Punto as it makes its debut in segment B, the heir to
a model that has sold and gone selling over the last few years. A substantially
new car.
The clean lines, unfussy
styling and particular attention to detail displayed by the new mini reflect
the most up-to-date trends. The result is a good-looking car with character.
Its captivating style also makes it look increasingly like a higher segment
car. As is also shown by the roomy, luminous and practical cab where a
meticulous choice of colour and trim makes the interior as pleasing to
the touch as it is on the eye.
Without mentioning that it
is the first car in this market band to adopt two second generation Common
Rail turbodiesels: the revolutionary 70 bhp 1.3 Multijet 16v and the powerful
100 bhp 1.9 Multijet 8v. It is also the only model to offer two automatic
transmissions (the Dualogic and the Speedgear), an automatic dual zone
climate control system and electric power steering with two operating modes.
Uniquely for its segment, the model also offers a Natural Power version
(petrol and methane fuel system).
All in all, the New Fiat
Punto will change the way we perceive compact cars because from now on
they will be able to hold their own against higher segment models. In the
safety field, this is demonstrated by the most sophisticated dynamic control
systems: ESP, ASR, MSR and Hill Holder. The same applies to performance:
the sports version delivers 130 bhp, not to mention a sound and infotelematic
system that makes your car a satisfying place to be: satellite navigation
system, CONNECT OBN, radio with CD and MP3 file player, CD-changer located
on the facia.
The New Fiat Punto also offers
the peace of mind of outstanding roadholding that is due, above all, to
a suspension system specially designed to absorb and reduce vibration due
to road surface roughness. A new, extra-rigid torsion beam increases vehicle
stability. Not to mention the fact that the New Fiat Punto boasts two very
persuasive attributes. The five-door version offers an outstanding passenger
room coefficient (86.4%) and one of the most spacious luggage compartments
(297 litres) plus very effective space management options. These winning
features complement the higher total volume: at nearly three cubic metres,
the model is at the peak of its market band and can comfortably accommodate
five people.
This, in brief, is the New
Fiat Punto's calling card. The mark of a winning model that has proved
a real best-seller in recent years. The figures speak for themselves: more
than five million Europeans bought it, twenty-five international juries
voted for it and it confirmed Fiat's acknowledged position as leader of
segment B since its launch. And Fiat plans to hold on to this position
in the future with the New Fiat Punto as it honours its promise to make
competitive, top-quality products that are also good-looking and packed
with innovative features.
The latest addition to the
House of Fiat marks the start of a new chapter: the next generation on
from the previous model. As did the Punto launched in 1999 compared to
the 1993 model - and as did the Uno when it succeeded the 127. In other
words a car with different layout, style and technical content.
The name remains the same,
as a fitting tribute to a car that was appreciated by so many customers
of different tastes, ages, nationalities and professions. But the New Fiat
Punto has changed its style. This was done specifically to ensure it stands
head and shoulders above its competitors because it will always be one
step ahead. The model's personality has now been reinterpreted: the range
is no longer dependent on a distinction between 3- or 5-door versions but
is now distinguished by the character of its versions: elegant on one side
and sporty on the other. One example is the brand new front end that is
the same for both bodies, though certain details differ between the elegant
and the more sporty specifications. Cloths and trim shades also differ,
as do the facia and instrument panel. The exterior dimensions have been
slightly changed compared to the previous Punto to ensure the car can nip
through town traffic and park with ease. The dimensions are 1.66 m in width,
1.48 m in height, and 3.84 m in length (the 3-door) or 3.86 m (the 5-door).
All the signs indicate that
the new car will be as successful as the previous model. The New Fiat Punto
designers have stayed with the same winning formula as last time, i.e.
listening to customers and allowing the product to grow in accordance with
their wishes. The New Fiat Punto has complied with the first requirement
that any customer expresses when first buying a car because it offers value
first and foremost. This the great strength of the original model that
made such a mark in the same segment and reinvented itself no fewer than
12 times between 1999 and 2002. The competition is obviously very stiff
and ready to do battle with all the means at their disposal. But the Fiat
Punto has stood its ground. It still competes at the highest level and
offers something extra: safety, value for money and balance between performance/fuel
consumption without forgetting the continuous quest for innovation. The
best confirmation of this is the sales figures for the model launched in
1999: around half a million vehicles have been sold each year in Europe,
with a record figure of 543,000 in 2000. Not to mention the fact that the
model was the best-selling compact car in its segment in Italy in 2002
with sales of more than 208,000 units, a volume three times higher than
that achieved by its nearest competitor.
And now the New Punto is
ready to take up the baton, confident in the backing of one of the most
diverse and comprehensive ranges in its segment. A trip to one of the more
than 1400 Fiat sales outlets and dealerships in Italy is bound to reveal
the ideal car for you. More than 40 versions can be obtained by combining
the two 3- and 5-door bodies; eight engines (1.2 8v - 1.2 16v - 1.4 16v
- 1.8 16v - 1.3 Multijet - 1.9 Multijet - 1.9 JTD - 1.2 8v petrol and methane);
four manual gearboxes (three with five speeds and one with six speeds)
and two sophisticated automatic transmissions (Speedgear and Dualogic);
eight specifications (Actual, Active, Sound, Dynamic, Class, Emotion, Sporting,
HGT) - and thirteen body colours for each of which two different interior
trim shades are generally available.
This really extensive range
is another reason people will buy the new model. That and the wide gamut
of services that accompany customers throughout the entire life cycle of
their car: examples include custom finance packages, insurance policies
that can be arranged in the dealership, a warranty with two full years
of roadside assistance and a dense sales and service network in all countries
(Italy boasts some 4450 authorised workshops and bodyshops). |
