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First impressions: Fiat Punto Evo
publication date: Feb 3, 2010
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author/source: Robin Roberts
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With three Car of the Year trophies on the bonnets of
its predecessors, the Fiat Punto Evo has an impressive performance
pedigree.
The Fiat 127 started picking up the awards in 1972, the
successor Uno in 1984, Punto in 1995 and with combined production of
18.6 million versions, the Fiat super-minis have been some of the most
successful of all global models.
Now the Punto Evo aims to build on
these achievements and raise Fiat’s game through added refinement and
sophistication in a market which has seen owners buying smaller,
environmentally cleaner and more economical models but who still expect
“large car” features.
For this reason, Fiat has not just face-lifted
the Punto but carried out more radical surgery under the skin to
produce a new car with appreciable robustness, integrity, quality and
fitted some of the world’s most advanced engines raising both
performance and green credentials, topping off with features not
normally found in this class including knee airbags, double seatbelt
pre-tensioners and ESP with hill holder.
The Fiat Punto Evo series
has been redesigned inside and out to improve looks and practical
appeal of room and comfort and it continues with the firm’s Blue&Me
interface that allows drivers intuitive control of all the car’s major
functions.
All models, except Active, can be specified with the
cutting edge Blue&Me TomTom system. This means fingertip access to
a touch-screen navigation system, mobile phone, trip computer and MP3
player with steering wheel commands.
It also includes Fiat’s
ground-breaking eco:Drive which helps owners lower their fuel
consumption and exhaust emissions. For the first time, eco:Drive is a
fully integrated system in Punto Evo, and customers can now receive
real-time suggestions for more environmentally friendly motoring.
Punto Evo heralds the arrival of two important new ‘Ecotechnology’ engines, the MultiAir petrol family and MultiJet II diesels.
The
Punto Evo’s range of five engines conform to Euro 5 emissions
requirements and are all fitted with Start&Stop technology as
standard. But improved fuel consumption isn’t the only way in which
Punto Evo owners will benefit from its innovative engines. Low CO2
emissions mean customers will also pay low levels of Vehicle Excise
Duty – just £35 in the case of the new Punto Evo MultiJet range.
Whichever
engine customers choose, they’ll have two different chassis
philosophies in Sport or Comfort and five trim levels. All the GP and
exclusively three-door Sporting versions follow the Sport chassis
philosophy with sharper behaviour and more assertive looks. Three or
five-door Comfort versions come in either Active, Dynamic or Eleganza
trims.
Even the entry level Active model features a good amount of
standard equipment including front driver, passenger and driver’s knee
airbag, five standard-size seats, two rear head restraints, front
electric windows, height and reach adjustable steering wheel, electric
mirrors, and Blue&Me infotainment.
Owners can also choose from
an extensive options list, and with a total of 22 versions to select
from at launch, and a 1.6 16v MultiJet 120bhp version joins the range
in October.
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| | Looks good, sounds better | | | Whether or not you think the new Punto Evo is a good
looking car, Fiat want you to believe the sounds good too and it will
be backing a new national music competition, Fiat product manager Fiona
Mackay revealed.
Launching this week and concluding with a
television final in March, the Punto Evo competition sets out to find
Britain’s newest talent and reward them with a record of their music.
There
will be a series of auditions, knock out rounds and a final which will
be televised as the contestants are whittled down and receive mentoring
from acclaimed professionals in the music industry.
Fiat will pay for a record of their best original work which could launch them on an international career.
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| There is an entry level 8v 77bhp 1.4, 105bhp and 135bhp
16v 1.4 MultiAir, and 75 and 95bhp 1.3 MultiJet diesels. Depending on
the engine chosen there are five and six speed manual boxes or Dualogic
five and six speed automatic transmission.
Electric steering is
standard, disc/ drum brakes vary in size and the front suspension is by
MacPherson struts and torsion beam rear axle all tuned to reflect the
Sport or Comfort models and power units.
Depending on choice, the
top speed ranges from 103 to 127mph, the 0-62mph increment varies from
13.6 down to 8.5sec and fuel consumption averages from just under 70mpg
to around 50mpg.
Prices begin at about £11,000 for the 8v 1.4, the
75 1.3 MultiJet is £13,000 with the new 16v 1.4 MultiAir starting at
£13,100 and the 135 1.4 MultiAir is £15,300 while the top of the range
95 1.3 MultiJet with automatic box and top trim is almost £15,600. | | Fiona
(above) said that Fiat is aiming its marketing for the Punto Evo at owners
under 35 years and apart from putting advertisements at strategic sites
nationwide it would be promoting the car at important timeslots on
television channels and in particular on interactive media, sponsoring
the music section on MySpace.
This will link in with the talent
competition in particular.
Fiat Punto Evo will also be available on
personal contract purchase from £195 a month in a special promotion,
aimed at drivers who are comfortable with not owning a car but
regularly budget their costs. |
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
| | There is no denying that the arrival of the Punto Evo has raised the game for Fiat in the super-mini sector.
Immediately
noticeable is the improved rigidity of the three and five door models
which gives added refinement to their nature over bad surfaces and also
helps comfort, handling and responsiveness.
The 105bhp 1.4 MultiAir petrol engine is particularly
smooth and quiet, almost inaudible when idling, and it packs a strong
punch when accelerating hard but does so without complaint or roughness
despite its lack of size. I managed on a brief first drive to average
42mpg. | 
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With the 1.3 MulitJet diesel I saw over 50mpg achieved
without any problem and while it was slightly noisier it was never
harsh and the abundant and strong power delivery meant it was ideally
suited to town driving where you could use the flexibility to save on
gearchanges and aid economy.
| I liked the major and minor controls,
the seats and visibility for a car which will spend a lot of time in
urban areas, and its chassis strikes a good balance between comfort and
capability to cover ground quickly and safely.
The interior is very good for two infront, a slight
squeeze for four altogether, and the boot space rises from 275 to 1030
litres, while oddments room is reasonable.
Probably the single
most significant feature of the new Fiat Punto Evo is the high level of
equipment and the highly desirable options list.
This really makes the
new super-mini a very attractive proposition to anyone looking to
downsize in their driving habits without compromising on style or
sophistication. |  |
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