Fiat's new Grande Punto raises the hatchback game
What you see before you is Fiat's new car, called the "Great Point," or Grande Punto to give it its proper name... Sounds better in Italian, doesn't it? I wonder what the Italians think of the name? Anyway, the Grande Punto won't directly replace the current Punto, which soldiers on as the value-for-money supermini of the Fiat range. Instead, the new car sits in between the Stilo and the Punto in terms of size and price, to go head-to-head with the more upmarket cars in the class such as VW's Polo.
Designed by Italdesign-Giugiaro, in partnership with Centro Stile Fiat (the in-house design team), the Grande Punto will be available as either a three or five door hatch. There is a strong family resemblance to the new Fiat Croma around the nose, and a distinctively sporty profile. Fiat claims "class leading quality credentials" so expect an upmarket interior with plenty of elbowroom in comparison to the regular Punto.
The Grande Punto debuted at the Frankfurt Motor Show and shortly goes on sale in left-hand drive on the Continent. The Grande Punto will not hit the UK until early 2006. All engines at launch will conform to Euro 4 emissions and include two eight-valve petrol units: 1.2-litre (65bhp) and a new 1.4-litre with 77bhp; and no less than four turbodiesels: 1.3-litre 16v MultiJet (75bhp), or 1.3 MultiJet with a variable geometry turbine turbocharger (90bhp); and 1.9-litre MultiJet with either 120bhp or 130bhp. Prices have yet to be announced, but should be competitive.
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