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This is part of the ItalianCar.net archive - go to ItalianCar.net now NEWS ARCHIVE Punto in UK and NZ
The new Fiat Grande Punto, set to arrive in Australia in the middle of the year, has become the fastest growing UK volume brand with sales of 5,600 Puntos in March, lifting Fiat UK sales by 64 per cent over the same period last year. While the whole UK car market shrunk last month, the Grande Punto drove Fiat to a 2.45 per cent share of the UK market and helped the Punto maintain its position as Europe's most popular car for the second month Meanwhile Fiat New Zealand is gearing up for the Punto launch in June: "The new Punto is much more than just another new car for Fiat in New Zealand," says Lawrie Malatios, Fiat's New Zealand General Manager. "The Punto competes in a sector of the car market in which Fiat has always excelled, stylish, fun-to-drive small cars. It inherits the mantle of such cars as the Fiat Topolino and the Fiat 500 which means that a great deal is expected of it, and the Punto is also the first of a whole new family of cars from Fiat that will arrive in 2007 and 2008, transforming our presence in New Zealand." Sales in Europe have been driven by styling which has been described as the "the sexiest small car on the market" and "what a small car would like if it was designed by Maserati," as well as a highly competent performance on the road. Pricing has played a major factor in the new Punto's European success and this is set to be an even more important factor in New Zealand. "Fiat has always offered great value for money, but the Punto will set a new standard," explains Mr Malatios. "This is because it will arrive here as part of Fiat's return to Australia and that means our pricing will be based on the total volume of both markets. Its to early to say exactly what that pricing will be, but I know it will surprise our rivals and anyone thinking of buying a small car should wait until the new Punto arrives in June as it will be a great car at a fantastic price!" "The launch of the new Punto will be the start of a very exciting period for Fiat in New Zealand and it will transform our position in the market. In the UK it has almost doubled their sales and we expect at the very least a similar result in New Zealand," says Mr Malatios. "When it is followed by the next round of new models in 2007, Fiat will be playing a much more significant role in the New Zealand car market. Fiat plan to pull wraps of the new Punto in New Zealand
in June with a range that will include both three and five door versions,
with a range of petrol and diesel engines, including a high performance
1.9 litre diesel, with 130 bhp and 280 Nm of torque, making it a contender
for New Zealand's first diesel "hot hatch". Pricing and specifications
will be announced when the Punto arrives in June.
© italiancar.com.au 16/04/06
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