THE LATEST incarnation of Fiat's Punto arrives here on August 9 with new engines and transmissions, subtly revised styling, updated interiors, enhanced specifications and some minor improvements to the driving dynamics.
There is now a 22 model line-up, with six trim levels - Active, Active Sport, Dynamic, Eleganza, Sporting and HGT - and seven engine options. These include a new 1.3-litre turbodiesel, plus two clutchless transmissions called Dualogic and Speedgear.
Prices range from £7,000 to £12,000, which is a rise of £500 for the cheapest entry model.
However, the new Punto now has more kit than that previously offered, including dual-zone climate control, a six button steering wheel hi-fi control system, trip computer, rain and parking sensors, cruise control and several different telematics packages, including a stereo radio with tape player, CD player, CD and MP3 player and satellite navigation.
Three new engines make their first appearance in the latest Punto, including the 1.3-litre 70 bhp Multijet common rail, direct injection turbodiesel, a 1.9-litre 100 bhp turbodiesel and a new 1.4-litre 16-valve 95 bhp petrol unit.
The other engine options are 60 and 80 bhp versions of the 1.2-litre eight and 16-valve petrol units, a 130 bhp 16-valve 1.8-litre petrol engine, and the 85 bhp 1.9 litre turbodiesel.
Transmission choices are six-speed and five-speed manual gearboxes, and a choice of two clutchless transmissions. Speedgear is a continuously variable automatic transmission with selectable, six-speed sequential and manual changes. Althernatively there's Dualogic which is a clutchless, five-speed sequential transmission with manual shift and two selectable automatic modes.
The exterior design changes are not dramatic, amounting to a new front end with large, jewel-bright headlamps and a deeper air dam with circular polyelliptical fog lights.
There are six new metallic paint colours, and a two-tone grey finish to the dashboard, which brightens the cabin.
Fiat is hoping to sustain the success of the Punto, which regularly attracts 50,000 UK buyers a year, and would no doubt like to achieve a similar figure for its larger Stilo model.