Fiat Grande Punto

Fiat Grande Punto
Overview
Manufacturer	(2005-2007) Fiat Group Automobiles (2007-2014) FCA Italy (2014-2018)
Also called	Abarth Punto Fiat Avventura (India, crossover version)[1] Fiat Urban Cross (India, crossover version)
Production	2005–2018 (Europe) 2007–2017 (South America) 2008–2018 (India)
Assembly	Italy: Melfi, Potenza;[2] Mirafiori, Torino[3] Brazil: Betim[2] India: Ranjangaon, Pune (Fiat India)[4]
Designer	Giorgetto Giugiaro at Italdesign
Body and chassis
Class	Supermini (B)
Body style	3 and 5-door hatchback 3-door panel van
Layout	Front-engine, front-wheel drive
Platform	SCCS platform[5]
Related	Opel Corsa D Alfa Romeo MiTo Fiat Linea Fiat Fiorino
Powertrain
Engine	0.9 L TwinAir Turbo I2 petrol 1.2 L Fire I4 petrol 1.4 L Fire I4 petrol 1.4 L Fire Flex I4 Flexfuel 1.4 L Fire Turbojet I4 petrol 1.4 L Multiair I4 petrol 1.4 L Multiair Turbojet I4 petrol 1.4 L Fire Natural Power I4 CNG 1.6 L E.torQ I4 Flexfuel 1.8 L E.torQ I4 Flexfuel 1.8 L Ecotec X18XE I4 petrol 1.3 L Multijet I4 diesel 1.6 L Multijet I4 diesel 1.9 L Multijet I4 diesel
Transmission	5-speed manual 6-speed manual 5-speed automated manual
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2,510 mm (98.8 in)
Length	4,030 mm (158.7 in) (2005–2011) 4,065 mm (160.0 in) (2012–)
Width	1,687 mm (66.4 in)
Height	1,490 mm (58.7 in)
Curb weight	1,015–1,040 kg (2,238–2,293 lb)
Chronology
Predecessor	Fiat Punto
Successor	Fiat Argo (South America)

The Fiat Grande Punto is a supermini car produced by the Italian manufacturer Fiat from 2005 to 2018. It is the third generation in the series of the Fiat Punto, and was announced in August 2005, and launched at the Frankfurt Motor Show.^[6]

In 2009, the Grande Punto became an entry level model sold alongside the facelifted, higher spec Punto Evo. In 2012, both were replaced by a revised model, called simply Punto, thus resurrecting the model name of its predecessor.^[7] It was manufactured in Italy, in Brazil (from 2007) and in India (from 2008).

Grande Punto (2005–2012)[]

Fiat Punto (three door) hatchback

Fiat Punto (five door) hatchback

The third generation Fiat to bear the name Punto, codenamed Project 199, the Grande Punto was unveiled at the 2005 Frankfurt Motor Show and went on sale later that year. Styled by Giugiaro,^[8] the car is based on the GM Fiat Small platform.^[5]

Whilst the model shares some of its name with the previous Punto, a large number of its components are new, including a new chassis and body shell.

The engines are the Fiat 1.2 8v Fire (65 PS), a new 1.4 8v Fire (77 PS) and the 1.4 16v StarJet (95 PS). Four MultiJet diesel engines are also available: two 1.3 16v units (75 PS (55 kW) and 90 PS (66 kW), the latter with a variable geometry turbocharger) and two 1.9 with 120 PS (88 kW) and 130 PS (96 kW), all of them with diesel particulate filter. The 1.9 diesel was replaced with the new 1.6 MultiJet starting the end of 2008.

All the engines are Euro IV compliant. In 2007, a new 1.4 16v T-Jet turbocharged petrol engine, 120 PS (88 kW), became available. At the 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show, Fiat introduced 155 PS (114 kW) an Abarth version by Abarth & C S.p.A. It was branded as an Abarth rather than Fiat.^[9]

The car's nose, headlights and front grill look reminiscent of the Maserati Coupé (both were designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro of ItalDesign).

Other markets[]

In Australia, Fiat introduced the Grande Punto in July 2006, sold only as the Punto; it was the first Fiat to be sold in Australia since 1989. In 2009, the Punto was discontinued in Australia, due to slow sales. The car was reintroduced in 2013 after Fiat began factory distribution in Australia, the car was repriced at a much lower price, that was more in keeping with its rivals. In September 2015, the Punto was once again pulled from the Australian market due to slow sales.^[10]

Fiat Grande Punto Dynamic with Skydome electric glass roof, front and back interior

It was launched in Mexico in November 2006. The Grande Punto is placed above the Fiat Palio in the Mexican Fiat car lineup. Initially it was sold with the 1.4 16v StarJet 95 PS (70 kW) engine with six speed manual gearbox in five door Dynamic and three door Sport trims. In December 2007, the 1.4 16v T-Jet 120 PS (88 kW) variant was launched.

The Italian made Grande Punto was launched in Chile and the Dominican Republic in petrol and diesel versions. The Grande Punto also went on sale in South Africa in 2006, replacing the previous generation.

In the rest of South America, the Brazilian built Grande Punto (called only Punto) was launched in August 2007.^[11] Codenamed Project 310, it is produced in the factory of Betim, Minas Gerais, Brazil.^[12] The chassis is an adaptation of the Fiat Palio, a lower cost compact. Levels of safety were not maintained (airbags and ABS are optional on lower trim levels, and the highest one has only two airbags as standard), but the ride comfort is said to be the same.

The five door version was the only one available in the Brazilian line, and there were no plans for a two-door version (in Brazil, two door vehicles are only accepted for cheaper cars). The engines available at launch were the 85 PS (63 kW) 1.4 Fire 8v and the 115 PS (85 kW) 1.8 Ecotec-Family 1 X18XE engine that comes from GM-Fiat/Powertrain, and later the 1.4 Fire 16v TurboJet, also available for the Linea.

For the model of 2011, there were added the new E.TorQ engines 1.6 16v and 1.8 16v. Produced by Fiat Powertrain Technologies, they were based on the discontinued Tritec engines.^[13] All non Turbo petrol models produced in Brazil are flex-fuel.^[14]

Mr. Dot, Grande Punto's logo forming the letter P and representing a seated person driving

The Grande Punto was launched in India during the Delhi Auto Expo in January 2008, with sales starting in June 2009. The Punto for the Indian market was manufactured by the Fiat / Tata Motors joint venture Fiat India Automobiles Ltd (FIAL) in a new plant in Ranjangaon, Maharashtra.

The Indian Grande Punto was based on the same 310 project of the Brazilian Punto. In August 2014, Fiat launched a facelifted Punto Evo based on Fiat Avventura style with new front fascia, new front and rear LED lights and new interior (the same of the European Punto Evo).^[15]

A related sedan car, the Fiat Linea, was launched in the beginning of 2007 to replace the ageing Fiat Marea. It is built on an extended version of the Grande Punto's chassis, with a total length of 4,560 mm (179.5 in), making it part of the superior small family car segment.

Safety[]

The Grande Punto was awarded with five stars in the Euro NCAP crash test for passenger protection, and three stars certification for pedestrian safety.^[16] The most powerful engines have electronic stability program and anti slip regulation fitted as standard, and it is an optional extra on some of the lower powered engines.

However, in a later test in December 2017, the car was retested with a zero star rating by Euro NCAP, receiving 51% for adult occupants, 43% for child occupant, 52% for pedestrian and 0% for safety assist.^[17] One of the given reasons for this is the fact that the third generation Punto was launched in 2005, making the car a twelve year old model, whose safety standards were never actually updated.^[18]

Abarth Grande Punto (2007–2010)[]

Abarth Grande Punto Essesse

The first car from the newly created (2007) Fiat owned Abarth & C. S.p.A., the Abarth Grande Punto differs significantly from its donor car.

Initially the Abarth Grande Punto was released with a 150 PS (155 PS when using 97 RON fuel) 1.4 turbo engine, but from 2008, there was available an Essesse kit, which could be installed at official Abarth service centres rather than in the factory. Amongst various refinements included uprated brakes and suspension, the Essesse kit provided an uprated power output of 180 hp (134 kW).^[19]

Punto Evo (2009–2012)[]

Fiat Punto Evo

Abarth Punto Evo (first facelift)

The Punto Evo, a facelift version of the Grande Punto, was presented at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show. It has two new engines, a 1.3 L second generation Multijet diesel and a 1.4 L petrol engine with the MultiAir technology. It also features a new navigation system integrated to the Blue&Me system called Blue&Me–TomTom.^[20]

Abarth Punto Evo (2010–2015)[]

The Abarth Punto Evo was shown at 2010 Geneva Motor Show. It has a 165 PS (121 kW; 163 hp) 1,368 cc (1.4 L) MultiAir Turbo inline-four engine. The top speed is 213 km/h (132 mph) and acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) takes 7.5 seconds.^[21]

A new Esseesse version was released in 2011, which was an optional upgrade that improved performance, with a 0–100 km/h (62 mph) time of 7.3 seconds. The Abarth Punto Evo was discontinued in 2015, after slow sales.

Punto (2012–2018)[]

2012 Fiat Punto 1.4 Natural Power (facelift)

2012 Fiat Punto (facelift)

Fiat introduced the 2012 Punto in September 2011 at the Frankfurt Motor Show,^[22] as a facelifted version of the Punto Evo that re introduced the Punto nomenclature (without Grande or Evo). Since 2015 (when the production of three door version was cancelled) only five door version was available in Europe.

In June 2016, Fiat introduced the new Techno Pack with the 5” touchscreen infotainment system and cruise control.^[23][24] Production of the Punto ended on 7 August 2018, with no direct successor being announced.^[25] The last Punto assembled in Melfi was a red five door model.

The last Fiat Punto produced the 7 August 2018 in FCA Melfi factory

Engines[]

Interior of 2012 Fiat Punto Evo

The 2012 Punto was available with two new engines: the 0.9 L TwinAir turbo petrol, with two cylinders and 85 PS (63 kW; 84 hp), and the new 1.3 L MultiJet II diesel, with Start&Stop air technology, 85 PS (63 kW; 84 hp) and CO₂ emissions reduced to 90 g/km. The new engines did not replace the previous engines (1.2 Fire, 1.4 MultiAir, 1.3 MultiJet and 1.6 MultiJet).

The 2012 Punto had updated front and rear bumper clips along with new alloy wheels. The interior is also updated with new fabrics and a revised Blue&Me system.

Punto Evo (India, 2014–2018)[]

Fiat Punto Evo 2014 at a dealership in Bangalore.

Fiat India gave the Punto Evo an extensive facelift in August 2014. The facelift consisted of large, swept back headlamps, a new grille and chrome inserts, whilst the rear of the car received LED taillamps from its European twin, and the dashboard from the European car.^[26] In August 2015, Fiat launched in India the Abarth brand, imported from Poland the Abarth 595 Competizione and the locally produced Abarth Punto, based on the 310-Punto five door.

Indian Abarth Punto come with a 1.4 Turbojet engine with 145 PS (107 kW; 143 hp) and new sport kit for exterior and interior including revised Abarth badge and retuned chassis. Transmission is a five speed manual.^[27] Production in India ended in November 2018, together with the Abarth and Adventure versions. As a result, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles decided to withdraw the Fiat brand from the Indian market, leaving space to the brand of Jeep.^[28]

Avventura (2014–2018)[]

Fiat Avventura 1.3 Multijet

Fiat India launched a crossover version of the Punto Evo called Avventura in India on 21 October 2014, at a base price of INR 5.99 Lakh. The Avventura was aimed at the market inhabited by the likes of Toyota Etios Cross, Volkswagen CrossPolo and Ford EcoSport.^[29]

Engines[]

Source: FiatAutoPress.com^{[permanent dead link]}

See also[]

• Fiat Linea

References[]

External links[]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Fiat Grande Punto.

• Official Fiat Punto website