Fiat Punto India

19-May-2012: Fiat Punto joins the IPL party this season with the launch of the Fiat Punto Sports edition. Like the IPL, the Sports avatar will be available only for a limited period of time. The Punto Sport packs in a punch of 90 hp with a base price of Rs 7.36 lakhs (ex showroom Delhi) for the Indian auto market. The engine is 1.3 MulitiJet diesel type with BSIV compliance which is available for a price of Rs 7.58 (ex showroom Mumbai) and for Rs 7.36 (ex showroom Pune).

Punto Sport hits the top power of 93bhp at 4000 rpm with a maximum torque of 209 Nm at 2000 rpm. The Sporty hatchback is also quite efficient with its variable Geometry Turbocharger which delivers a mileage of 20.5 kmpl, which is great keeping in mind the sports hatch tag.

The Sports edition goes all out with exterior and interior styling which is quite different from the rest of the pack, as it is crafted by the Designer of the Century, Giorgetto Giugiaro.

The Limited edition Punto Sport Grande comes in three vibrant shades of Exotica red, Bossa Nova White, and Hip Hop Black. The features list is also fully loaded with Blue &Me tech, My Car digital interface, and Follow Me Home Headlamps, amongst other tech gizmos. So whoever thought that Fiat is a by goner, the launch of the Fiat Punto Sports shows that the company is very well, alive and kicking.

The new Fiat Punto 2012 is indeed a product of intense passion. This hatchback takes great pleasure in springing pleasant surprises on you. The Grande Punto will get the fascia and refreshed interiors from the Punto Evo. The new Punto 2012 introduces new engine and a new style. Fiat Punto is available in India with ten variants out of which its five variants are available with two options of petrol engine. The Fiat Punto 2012 engines on offer will be the 1.3 liter FIAT Multijet diesel engine along with Fiat’s path breaking MultiAir petrol engine.

Fiat Punto Engine

Fiat Punto gets 1.2 L FIRE petrol engine and 1.4 L engine with a revised 1.3L MultiJet Diesel engine. The 1.4-litre FIRE Fully Integrated Robotized petrol engine is the same that powers the Fiat Linea. The 1368cc, 16-valve engine delivers up to 90bhp at 6000rpm and produces a maximum torque of 115Nm at 4500rpm. The engine is not a speed sprinter but once you get it beyond the 3000 rpm the car shows its true colours.

The multi jet engine on the other hand is no exception with the turbo lag and shares the same owes of the Indigo Manza and the Indica Vista which share this power plant. However the 90bhp Grande Punto stands up better than the 75bhp multijet and with extra torque will surely burn the rubber. In the traffic you will not find the power punch but on the highways, the extra 15 bhp will surely propel you away. The Grande Punto 1.2 took 21.4 seconds to hit the 402m mark and reached 100kph in 19.4 seconds.

Fiat Punto Exteriors

Starting with the visual upgrades, the headlights have become slightly bigger, the chrome on the bonnet disappears and a new bumper now incorporates a new honeycomb grille. This premium luxury hatch from Fiat features an aggressive Italian modern design which is a step ahead of other cars in its segment. The Grande Punto has always made us weak in the knees, especially with scarlet colour. This is the first facelift Punto will get after its June 2009 launch. The new version will come with completely reworked frosted finish and new fog lamps as well. Moreover, the frames and arches on the body provide a muscular look. Overall, the looks of the new Fiat Punto Evo are sporty and muscular.

Fiat Punto Interiors

The 2012 variant gets a new dashboard, instrument cluster, dials and also a new centre console. The hatchback will get a new blue color interior and that is all the change being done in the 2012 version. The interiors shades however remain similar with the black and grey treatment with only the seat covers showing a new pattern. The new Punto will feature, Tilt adjustable steering and internally adjustable ORVM's, central locking, power windows delay and a new music system with integrated CD and MP3 player with four speakers, across all variants.

Fiat Punto Ride and Handling

The ground clearance of the Grande Punto for the 1.2-litre engine has been increased to 195mm and for the other two engines has been increased by 185mm. The handling isn’t as sharp but this softer character of the suspension suits it better overall. The Grande Punto's driving dynamics however remain unchanged and its ride continues to be composed at both low and high speeds. It is well built and you would have a better ride and handling among the existing hatchbacks. When driving the Grande Punto, has good bump absorption, even on broken surfaces, and the quietness of its ride has the same sweet driving manner as the Panda.

Fiat Punto Colors

The Fiat Punto comes in shades of Fox Trot Azure, Tuscan Wine, Minimal Grey, Medium Grey, Hip Hop Black, Exotica Red and Bossa Nova White and the new Oceanic Blue.

Fiat Punto Specifications

The Fiat Punto comes in three engine option of 1.2L FIRE Petrol, 1.4L FIRE Petrol and 1.3L MULTIJET Diesel with a displacement of 1172cc, 1368cc and 1248 cc engine. They produce 68, 90 and 76 PS respectively and all are mated to a five speed manual transmission. The car has a length of 3987 mm, width of 1687 mm and height of 1495 mm, wheelbase of 2510 mm, kerb weight of 1090 kg, ground clearance of 190 mm, fuel tank capacity of 45 litre and turning radius of 5 m.

Fiat Punto Price 

Petrol
1.2 L Punto Active: Rs.4, 81,279
1.2 L Punto Dynamic: 5, 04,284
1.4 L Punto Emotion: 6, 54,318

Diesel
1.3 L Punto Active            548294
1.3 L Punto Dynamic       611307
1.3 L Punto Emotion        671324

Fiat Punto Models

Fiat Punto Petrol 1.2  Active: Fire Prevention System, Immobilizer with rolling code, Exact door open indicator, rear seat metal back, Body colored bumpers, rear fog lamps, rear parcel shelf, Non- Split rear seat folding, Fixed rear seat head restraint, Tachometer, Programmed service reminder, Follow me Home headlamps, Digital trip meter, Digital Odometer, Digital Clock, Trip Calculator, Programmable Speed Limit Buzzer, 12V Power Socket, Seat Belt Warning Light, Power Steering, Tilt Steering, Clutch Foot rest, Front Power Windows with Auto- down function, Rear foot level AC vents, HVAC.

Fiat Punto Petrol 1.2 Dynamic: Most of the features and specifications same as Fiat Punto Grande Petrol 1.2 Active variant except for a few additional features like Central Door Locking, Fabric Insert on Door trim and Door Arm- rest, Instrument Panel light regulation, Both front and rear windows powered with Auto- Down function.

Fiat Punto Petrol 1.2 Emotion: Features same as the Fiat Punto Petrol 1.2 Dynamic variant except for the Automatic door locking, Height adjustable front seat belts, Front fog lamps, Body colored door handles with ORVM, Dual tone dashboard, boot lamp, 60: 40 Split Rear Seat Folding, Adjustable rear seat head restraint, Distance to empty Indicator, Real time mileage Indicator, External Temperature Display, Speed sensitive volume adjuster for Audio, Desmodronic foldable key, remote keyless entry, Electrically adjustable outside rear view mirror, Rear Window (Wiper + Washer), Rear defogger with timer, Integrated CD/ MP3 and FM Player with 4 Speakers.

Fiat Punto Petrol 1.4 Emotion: Same features as the Fiat Punto Petrol 1.2 Emotion Along with a few additional features like the Anti- Locking Brake system (ABS) with EBD, 3 point ELR seat belts with pretensioners and load- limiter, Dual Stage front airbags with Early Crash Sensor, Passenger Airbag Deactivation, Driver Seat Height Adjustable, Seat belt warning light with Buzzer, Leather Wrapper steering wheel with gear shift knob, Automatic climate control, Steering mounted audio, Blue & Me controls, Blue & Me (with USB port).

Fiat Punto Petrol 1.4 Emotion Pack: Top end variant, loaded with some advanced features like Automatic climate control, Multi function steering wheel, leather steering wheel and gear knob, dual front airbags, etc.

Diesel Variants

Fiat Punto Diesel 1.3 Active: It is the same as the Fiat Punto Petrol 1.2 Active Variant.

Fiat Punto Diesel 1.3 Dynamic: It is the same as the Fiat Punto Petrol 1.2 Dynamic Variant.

Fiat Punto Diesel 1.3 Emotion:  It is the same as the Fiat Punto Petrol 1.2 Emotion Variant including the Driver Seat Height Adjust.

Fiat Punto Diesel 1.3 Emotion Pack:  It is the same as the Fiat Punto Petrol 1.4 Emotion Pack Variant including the HVAC.

Fiat Punto Diesel 90 HP 1.3 Emotion Pack:  It is same as the Fiat Punto Petrol 1.4 Emotion Pack Variant including the Chrome finished door handles, although it does not include the HVAC.

Fiat Punto Competitors

The introduction of the new Fiat Punto will fight against the likes of Skoda Fabia, Volkswagen Polo and Hyundai i20.

Compare Fiat Punto with other Models

Fiat Punto vs Volkswagen Polo: Fiat Punto is the attractive car compared to the Volkswagen Polo.  Punto is also more solid in terms of the muscular looks.  However the Volkswagen has a better finishing than the Fiat Punto and the quality of gear box and transmission is also smooth and softer than the Fiat Grande Punto.

Fiat Punto vs Skoda Fabia: Skoda Fabia is much premium and better in terms of the interiors than the Fiat Grande Punto. It is also has more interior space than the Fiat Grande Punto. The Punto however over takes with the steering wheel which is great to hold and gives a better ride on the Indian roads.

Fiat Punto vs Hyundai i20: Hyundai i20 is the safest in the hatchback segment.  The Hyundai i20 also has more space than the Fiat Punto but is also more expensive than the Fiat Grande Punto. The Fiat Punto rides over with a better ride quality on uneven roads while the Hyundai i20 gets shaky on the bumpy roads.

Fiat Punto vs Ford Figo: Fiat Punto is any day better in terms of the interior quality compared to the Ford Figo. The quality of plastic in the Ford Figo is really cheap. In terms of the overall fit and finish both the cars are even with no adjustable headrests. Ford Figo is spacious at the boot while the Fiat Punto has got the better steering feel and grip.

Fiat Punto Mileage

The Fiat Punto Mileage is 20.3 kmpl for the 1.3 multijet engine. The 1.2 L petrol engine delivers 15.2 kmpl while the 1.4 L petrol car delivers 14.6 kmpl mileage.