IT was yellow - bright yellow. The sort of yellow that detaches retinas and leaves all self respecting optic nerves pleading for mercy.
The paint job on the Fiat Grande Punto that arrived at my home left nothing to chance in terms of getting noticed - and with other colours available including Psychedelic Azure and Bolero Red, there is no doubt that loud paintwork, sweet exterior lines and cool styling are going to attract young buyers to its doors in droves.
The punchy 1.4-litre T-Jet petrol engine gives the Italian supermini warm hatch performance, while excellent handling gives the car a sure-footed feel normally the preserve of a mountain goat.
The ride is a little firm due to the suspension set up, but not to the extent that dental work will be needed. The upside of the sporty ride is that cornering is excellent with the Punto treating bends as if on rails. There is no noticeable lean and the steering is well weighted giving the driver a good feel for what is happening on the road.
The interior is comfortable, but not in a fuddy duddy sense. Sports seats hug the body while the modern dashboard and switchgear are neat and fashionable. Good quality materials are used giving the cabin a solid and sturdy feel.
There is loads of space thanks to the Grande Punto being one of the largest cars of its type on the market. It is Grande by name and by nature with plenty of room for four adults, with a fifth accommodated with ease. It is simplicity itself to get comfortable behind the steering wheel as it and the driver's seat move to suit all shapes and sizes.
The cabin is reasonably peaceful as the engine is a civilised beast even as the revs increase, while little wind and road noise get through to disturb the car's occupants.
The boot is surprisingly big and is able to cope with 264 litres of shopping or luggage - more than adequate for day to day needs or a weekend away.
Fiat spare no expense fitting the Grande Punto out as all cars get a radio/CD/MP3 player, electric front windows and remote central locking. As well as sports seats and sports suspension, the Sporting version I tested is fitted with 17-inch alloys, front foglights, Bluetooth telecommunications pack, climate control, parking sensors and a leather steering wheel with controls for the audio system.
It also ticks the boxes when it comes to safety after earning a five-star Euro NCAP crash-test rating which means it does a great job of protecting driver and passengers in the event of an accident.
The Grande Punto comes with airbags that judge the severity of an impact then deploy accordingly, while only the entry-level model is left without side and curtain airbags. The Sporting trim benefits from the addition of stability control to help keep the car on the road.
The inclusion of all this kit is particularly impressive when you consider that the Grande Punto is keenly priced with reasonable running costs. Low insurance bandings, rain forest-friendly carbon dioxide emissions, and good fuel economy make it less of a drain on the bank account than some rivals.
And despite the new Punto Evo replacement being imminent in 2010, Fiat have decided to keep the Grande Punto on as a lower-cost run out model, giving customers an even cheaper option in these economically challenged times.
FAST FACTS
Fiat Grande Punto 1.4 T-Jet 120 Sporting 3dr
Price: £13,100
Mechanical: 118bhp, 1,368cc, 4cyl petrol engine driving front wheels via 5-speed manual gearbox
0-62mph: 8.9 seconds
Max speed: 121mph
Combined mpg: 42.8
Insurance group: 6
CO2 emission: 145g/km
BiK rating: 17%
Warranty: 3yrs/ unlimited mileage