What they said when the Fiat Punto was new… (Jul 23 2003)
A STUNNING little diesel engine and a few cosmetic tweaks and changes have transformed the Fiat Punto into a class leading supermini.
On sale as of August 9, the new Punto will feature the world's smallest common rail direct injection engine - and it is a brilliant piece of engineering.
Capable of averaging in excess of 60 miles to the gallon and with ultra-green exhaust emissions, this 1.3 litre engine gives the Punto the edge it has been missing.
This Italian hatchback may have sold more than five million since its launch eight years ago, but its always fell into the "could do better" category. Now it is a car with plenty to crow about.
Fiat was one of the pioneers of the highly efficient common rail diesel technology and its 1.9 litre JTD engine has earned itself a worthy reputation.
The new 1.3 litre engine will follow on from that in no uncertain terms. It complies with the latest Euro 4 exhaust emission regulations due to come into force in 2005 and that makes the Punto exempt from the three per cent tax loading of other diesels.
With the benefits of turbo boost, the 70bhp engine gives the Punto more than enough punch for a supermini with a reported top speed of 102mph and a 0 to 60mph time of 13.4 seconds.
It comes into its own in terms of running costs. Average consumption is a claimed 62.8mpg and having driven the car under a variety of conditions there is no need to dispute that.
CO2 emissions are rated at 119g/km which places the Punto into the lowest of car tax bands.
The diesel will be available only in the base level Active models at £8,595 and the higher specification Punto Dynamic at £9,795 - and they are not the cheapest of the new 22 model range.
Prices start at £6,995 for a 1.2 litre three door model, almost a £500 hike on the previous version, and top out at £11,995 for the sporty 1.8 litre HGT.
The latest models feature a re-styled front end with new look headlamps and air dam which incorporates fog lamps. Changes have also been made to the rear lamp clusters and back bumper.
Fiat has decided to drop the differentiation in front styling between the three and five door models and now both share the same looks. The only exception comes with the Sporting and HGT Puntos which boast pronounced front and rear spoilers as well as honeycomb grilles.
Inside, the latest Puntos have been smartened up with two tone trims and a range of new fabrics which give a quality feel to a car costing less than £7,000.
All models come with electric front windows, central locking, twin airbags, a height adjustable driver's seat and steering wheel and Fiat's dual mode power steering which allows a lighter setting for urban driving.
However ABS is not available on the basic eight valve Punto and makes its debut in the line up only in cars fitted with the more powerful 16 valve 1.2 engine which are priced from £7,995.
Air conditioning and a CD player come in on the Dynamic version which starts at £8,095 while the top range Eleganza at £10,295 for a three door has class leading dual zone climate control, side curtain airbags and steering wheel mounted remote controls for the entertainment system.
Handling has never been an issue with the Punto and the drive on the latest models has been improved with revised transmissions across the range.
In all, seven different engines are available. Four - the eight and 16 valve versions of the 1.2, the 1.8 petrol and the 1.9 JTD diesel - are carried over from the current range and in addition to the 1.3 litre diesel there is also a brand new 100bhp 1.9 litre diesel as well as a new 1.4 litre petrol engine.
The 1.9 litre diesel will be fitted in the Punto HGT giving it sprightly performance with a 115mph top speed and a time of 9.6 seconds from 0 to 60 while averaging 53.3mpg and with a 140g/km CO2 rating.
The new 1.4 litre engine is a development of the smaller 1.2 engine used in the basic Punto and will be available only in the higher specification Dynamic and Eleganza models as well as the Punto Sporting.
It develops 95 bhp, has a reported top speed of 111mph, 0 to 60 time of 9.9 seconds with average fuel consumption of 46.3 mpg and a CO2 rating of 145g/km.
In the £10,855 Sporting, with its uprated suspension and snazzy white dialled instrument panel, it excels, although in this guise the Punto is still only luke-warm - not hot by any stretch of the imagination.
But the new Puntos real strengths do not lie at this end of the scale.
While it looks cleaner and smarter than before it is with the 1.3 litre diesel that it scores. No other car in this class can match it at the moment.
Words: Chris Russon
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