News June 24 2006 – Page 2

The Punto – some history

The original Punto was introduced in 1993 and immediately became a hugely successful product throughout Europe. By its second year in production, it had already been voted European Car of the Year, and became Europe’s best selling small car, ahead of the Ford Fiesta, Peugeot 206 and Renault Clio. In 1997, it was the best selling car in Europe, outright. Fiat’s expertise in small cars started with the original Fiat 500, launched in 1936 as the world’s smallest mass production car and nicknamed Topolino, or Mickey Mouse.

The price of the original Fiat 500 made it accessible to people who had hitherto never been able to afford one, and it did it with the style and panache of much larger, more expensive cars.

In 1955 the Fiat 600 was launched, followed by a new 500 in 1957. Another classic small car, the 600 was also the basis for the Fiat 600 Multipla, launched in 1956. With its revolutionary six seat layout in a small car, it laid the foundations for the millions of people movers that followed more than 40 years later.

These original classic small cars, which in many cases made the ‘man on the street’ mobile for the first time, have been followed by others such as the Fiat 127 in 1971, fore-runner of the modern front-wheel drive hatchback, the first and second generation Pandas, the Fiat Uno, and the first generations of the Fiat Punto, a car that has been purchased by more than six million people, and is still in production.

The all-new Punto, therefore, has a hefty reputation to maintain! Developed by Italdesign, together with the Fiat Styling Centre, the new Punto (or Grande Punto as it is called in Europe to distinguish it from the standard version) certainly looks a bit different to your standard small car fare.

The car is also quite large for its category at 4030 mm long, 1687 mm wide, 1490 mm high and a wheelbase of 2510 mm, this larger size means it wins out in terms of interior space/comfort, as well as in crash safety performance.

ItalianCar recently had an opportunity to drive the new Punto in its 1.3 and 1.9 litre diesel versions – look out for our report coming soon.

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New Fiat Punto pricelist

Punto Dynamic

1. Body: 5 door
2. Trim: Cloth
3. Engine/gearbox: 1.4 litre 57 kW / 5 sp man
4. Recommended retail price: $19,990
5. Options: Metallic paint: $ 750, Pastel paint: $ 750,
   Electric sunroof: $ 1950

Punto Dynamic

1. Body: 5 door
2. Trim: Cloth
3. Engine/gearbox: 1.3 litre 66 kW diesel / 6 sp man
4. Recommended retail price: $22,990
5. Options: Metallic paint: $ 750, Pastel paint: $ 750,
   Electric sunroof: $ 1950

Punto Emotion

1. Body: 5 door
2. Trim: Cloth
3. Engine/gearbox: 1.9 litre 88 kW diesel / 6 sp man
4. Recommended retail price: $27,990
   
5. Options: Metallic paint: $ 750, Pastel paint: $ 750,
   Electric sunroof: $ 1950

Punto Sport

1. Body: 3 door
2. Trim: Sports Cloth
3. Engine/gearbox: 1.9 litre 96 kW diesel / 6 sp man
4. Recommended retail price: $27,990
   
5. Pastel paint: $ 750, Electric sunroof: $ 1950

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