Italian car maker Fiat has launched Grande Punto, its first premium small car in India, in both petrol and diesel variants.
Fiat Grande Punto, petrol engine fans can choose between a 65bhp 1.2 litre and two 1.4s with either 77bhp or 95bhp. There is also a turbocharged 1.4 T-Jet engine with 120bhp. The 75bhp 1.3-litre diesel needs to be worked hard, but it is willing. The gutsier 90bhp 1.3 diesel suffers from too much turbo lag.
The Punto handles sharply, thanks to good body control, plenty of grip, and quick, responsive steering. The light steering helps you when parking, but doesnt provide enough feel on twistier routes, so not one for the country road. The ride is firm and fidgety around town, but improves at higher speed.
The 1.2-litre petrol engine gets loud as the revs rise, but the 1.4-litre unit is generally smooth and civilized. It can be heard at the national limit, but its never overbearing. The diesel units are impressively smooth, and become all but inaudible on the motorway. Unfortunately road and suspension noise intrude on poor surfaces, and wind noise picks up at speed, so the Punto isnt as quiet a cruiser as the Renault Clio.
Everything inside the Grande Punto looks good and feels sturdy enough, but the controls dont have the same solidity as a Renault Clios and there are a couple of suspect areas, such as the hard, sharp interior door releases and the flimsy-feeling headlining.
The Fiat Grande Punto was awarded the maximum five-star Euro NCAP crash-test rating. All models come with driver and passenger airbags, with variable force deployment, according to the severity of the impact. The entry-level Active trim does not have side and curtain airbags, and is the only trim level not to offer this. An engine immobiliser is standard, but deadlocks are not fitted. Only Eleganza and Sporting trim levels get stability control as standard.
The Punto handles sharply, thanks to good body control, plenty of grip, and quick, responsive steering. The light steering helps you when parking, but doesnt provide enough feel on twistier routes, so not one for the country road. The ride is firm and fidgety around town, but improves at higher speed.
The 1.2-litre petrol engine gets loud as the revs rise, but the 1.4-litre unit is generally smooth and civilized. It can be heard at the national limit, but its never overbearing. The diesel units are impressively smooth, and become all but inaudible on the motorway. Unfortunately road and suspension noise intrude on poor surfaces, and wind noise picks up at speed, so the Punto isnt as quiet a cruiser as the Renault Clio.
Everything inside the Grande Punto looks good and feels sturdy enough, but the controls dont have the same solidity as a Renault Clios and there are a couple of suspect areas, such as the hard, sharp interior door releases and the flimsy-feeling headlining.
The Fiat Grande Punto was awarded the maximum five-star Euro NCAP crash-test rating. All models come with driver and passenger airbags, with variable force deployment, according to the severity of the impact. The entry-level Active trim does not have side and curtain airbags, and is the only trim level not to offer this. An engine immobiliser is standard, but deadlocks are not fitted. Only Eleganza and Sporting trim levels get stability control as standard.
The models are priced between Rs3.99 lakh and Rs6.11 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi).
The launch of the Grande Punto comes a week after Honda introduced its small car Jazz. Grande Punto was first launched in Europe in 2005. The small car segment comprises 70 per cent of the Indian market.
The car would be rolled out from Fiat's plant at Ranjangaon in Maharashtra in four variants each in both petrol (1.2 / 1.4 litre) and diesel versions (1.3 litre).
Commenting on the launch of the car, Fiat India Automobiles' chief executive officer Rajeev Kapoor said, "The launch of Grande Punto marks a new milestone for Fiat in India as we bring the quintessentially Italian designs to Indian shores."
Fiat believes the small-car segment is under-tapped, and there is demand for international brands on Indian roads, he added.
Grande Punto is a hatchback and a joint venture Fiat and Tata Motors. The car comes with premium features like anti-lock braking system and electronic brake distribution.
The petrol version has 1.2 litre and 1.4 litre engines delivering 65hp and 77hp respectively and would cost Rs3.99-5.61 lakh. The diesel variant comes with a 1.3 litre multijet diesel engine and would cost Rs4.85-6.11 lakh.
Fiat India Automobiles is a 50:50 joint venture between Italy-based Fiat SpA and Tata Motors.
The new car will have as competition other premium hatchback models like Honda Siel's Jazz, Skoda's Fabia, Maruti Suzuki's Ritz, and Hyundai's i20.
The launch of the Grande Punto comes a week after Honda introduced its small car Jazz. Grande Punto was first launched in Europe in 2005. The small car segment comprises 70 per cent of the Indian market.
The car would be rolled out from Fiat's plant at Ranjangaon in Maharashtra in four variants each in both petrol (1.2 / 1.4 litre) and diesel versions (1.3 litre).
Commenting on the launch of the car, Fiat India Automobiles' chief executive officer Rajeev Kapoor said, "The launch of Grande Punto marks a new milestone for Fiat in India as we bring the quintessentially Italian designs to Indian shores."
Fiat believes the small-car segment is under-tapped, and there is demand for international brands on Indian roads, he added.
Grande Punto is a hatchback and a joint venture Fiat and Tata Motors. The car comes with premium features like anti-lock braking system and electronic brake distribution.
The petrol version has 1.2 litre and 1.4 litre engines delivering 65hp and 77hp respectively and would cost Rs3.99-5.61 lakh. The diesel variant comes with a 1.3 litre multijet diesel engine and would cost Rs4.85-6.11 lakh.
Fiat India Automobiles is a 50:50 joint venture between Italy-based Fiat SpA and Tata Motors.
The new car will have as competition other premium hatchback models like Honda Siel's Jazz, Skoda's Fabia, Maruti Suzuki's Ritz, and Hyundai's i20.
Variants of Fiat Grande Punto car are :
- Fiat Grande Punto 1.4 Petrol
- DynamicFiat Grande Punto 1.3 JTD Diesel
- DynamicFiat Grande Punto 1.9 JTD Diesel Emotion
- Fiat Grande Punto 1.9 JTD Diesel Sport
Fiat Grande Punto Specifications :
- Engine Specifications -Displacement: 1368cc, 4 Cylinders, In-Line
- Engine Type: Petrol
- Maximum Torque: 115 Nm @ 4500 rpm
- Maximum Power: 90 Bhp @ 4000 rpm
Other Specifications
- Tyre Size: 205/45 R17
- Seating Capacity: 5
- Brakes: Front Disk, Rear
- DrumSuspension: Independent McPherson Struts, Coil Springs
- Steering: Power
- Kerb Weight: 1170.00 kgs
- Trip Meter: 2
- Gears: 5 Manual
Dimensions
- Width 1687
- mmLength 4030
- mmHeight 1490 mm