Fiat Grande Punto

Fiats and Tata's first car that will be launched in India all-new other than the Palio Stile (which was actually a facelift). The brand saver for Fiat, this was the car that helped fiat from going to the footpath, then the bravo, then the Linea and they have inspired Fiat to go on and will surely continue with better models. Fiat Grande Punto, stylish, compact, smooth, curvy and sporty, means designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro of Italdesign. The car will be competing against the master seller Swift, extra Getz and GM's boy, the Aveo UVA.

The Fiat Punto Happenings

After the launch of this car in other countries, this car has been really successful, especially in Europe, thats why I like to call it "The Water for Fiat". Fiat understood that they had to offer a car which goes easy on the people. A car with style, safety features, performance and engines of Petrol and Diesel, and more from what they expect, and all this at a competitive price. They have done it. They will be making this car in its new Ranjangaon plant near Pune.

Engines, Power and Transmission

A big loss for Maruti, because the engines that the Swift offer for the Diesel version is the same that the Grande Punto has. So this will be a huge advantage for Fiat as they will be having the same engine from a popular car that offer better interiors with more space and more sportier styling. This engine was developed with the help of 3 companies - Fiat, Suzuki and GM, as TATA is an alliance of Fiat, this engine will also be put on the next generation Indica. Oh, yes this engine will also be used in the future GM cars.
There are 3 engines that fiat offers in different markets, that is a 1.2 FIRE 8V and 1.4 FIRE 8V Petrol that will produce 65Bhp and 77Bhp respectively, but there might be a possibility of them both coming. And then coming to the Diesel engines, a 1.3L and 1.9L Diesel engines are there, but the 1.9L is almost impossible of coming to India. If they bring it, a hatch of 120Bhp will be crazy. The 1.3 Multi jet 16V produces a 75Bhp and the 1.3 Multi jet Variable Geometry turbine produces 90Bhp. Its is said that which engine you use, the FE will be satisfying, and thats something weird and different from Fiat. The Fiat Grande Punto comes in a 5-speed manual Transmission

Exteriors and Safety Features

The Fiat Grande Punto is a beauty, and made from the Italian drawing boards of the famous Giorgetto Giugiaro of Italdesign. For us looking at the Siena and Uno, the Punto looks a generation ahead in design. The car might enter with Fiats new Red Logo followed by the New Fiat Linea. The swift has got competition in looks, the Swift was the only car in the segment that boasts the name "sporty", and now the Punto will be standing in front of the Swift. The headlights are pure inspiration of the Maserati along with the grille, fog lamps and body coloured side view mirrors with some plastic coverings, and a tail-lamp that is next to the window.
The Fiat Grande Punto has an amazing result in the Euro NCAP tests a five-star overall score, which also got a 3-star pedestrian protection, and also comes with driver and passenger airbags and an engine immobilizer, its also equipped with ABS and electronic brake-force distribution (EBD)and also the usual seatbelt pretentioners. One thing that separates this car is the FPS, i.e the Fire Prevention System, that blocks the flow of fuel after a collision.

Interiors and Comfort

The Fiat Grande Punto is beautiful inside and out, the passenger will be inserted with comfort and high quality materials. The Swift will be scared of its interiors and the extra fitting that the Fiat has, and will definitely give a smile to the getz on interiors space. the dashboard top is shaped like a small step and the console with silver and an arm rest to comfort the driver. The cars interiors are available in serious black and colourful beige, but only one will be coming here, and still looks like the best in class. The driving seat shows equality to all, by helping them giving their best driving spot by height and steering adjusting.
The Suspension region features a McPherson independent wheel in the front and an inter-connected, semi-independent at the rear. Servo-assisted hydraulic at the rear and ventilated disc brakes in the front. Audio controls are in the steering wheel and this will be the first in the category if they bring it. And do help yourself in a boot space of 275 litres with 60:40 split.

Verdict:

The Grande Punto is a big car, and looks sporty and has great interiors with bigger boot and bigger interior space, and is said to give a good mileage and imagine it with great performance, thats it those are the things that people in India want in a car if this is priced at a reasonable amount and 4.5-5.5 Lakhs is surely a reasonable amount. The Fiat Grande Punto is expected to release by 2008 July and then the Fiat Linea. These cars are hopes for Fiat-India, for future planning.

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