The Fiat Grande Punto
Published: 11th September 2005
Fiat Grande Punto
The three winning qualities of the new model
Developed by Italdesign-Giugiaro together with the Fiat Style Centre, the styling of the Grande Punto stands out in the current automotive scene for the beauty of the exterior line, which is modern, elegant and distinctly 'Italian', a 'Mediterranean' stylistic language where the tapered rounded lines seem to be inspired by the sports cars of the 1950s and 1960s. Like the exterior, the interior of the Grande Punto represents the most evolved expression of Italian styling, thanks to the quality of the materials and the care that went into every detail. The result is a luminous, welcoming, functional environment.
This is a car created to 'excite', but also to express the solidity that comes from superb quality standards. This is borne out by extremely high safety standards, attention to detail that is unusual in this market bracket, and exceptional comfort. This impression is confirmed by the car's external dimensions which put it at the peak of its category: it is 403 cm long, 168 cm wide, 149 cm high and has a wheelbase of 2.51 metres, measurements which translate into an extraordinary amount of interior roominess. The Grande Punto is clearly a car of superior quality: from the very first stages of the project, the team working on it pursued very high quality standards, drawing on a stringent engineering process, based on a very strong platform, while it applied the most advanced, innovative reliability methodologies throughout the model's development and industrialisation.
And finally, the Grande Punto is agile and enjoyable to drive in all situations. A brilliance derived primarily from its engines, which combine excellent performance, low fuel consumption and absolute respect for the environment (they are all Euro 4). There are two petrol engines (the 65 bhp 1.2 8v and the new 77 bhp 1.4 8v), and four turbodiesels (the 120 and 130 bhp 1.9 Multijet, the 75 bhp 1.3 Multijet 16v and the new 90 bhp 1.3 Multijet 16v with a variable geometry turbo).
'Value' as a key to success
In other words the stage seems set to repeat the market success of the previous model. A car's success is the result of a successful challenge, a flash of stylistic intuition sustained by studies into new fashion trends, customers' emerging needs and projections regarding market performance. In other words, a difficult recipe, which is then tested by the strictest judge: time. Real success lasts for years. This was evident with the Punto: from 1993 to the present day, over six million people in Europe have bought the car, and twenty-five international juries have rewarded it. Even though the Grande Punto makes its debut, manufacture and marketing of the Punto currently on the market will continue, with petrol, diesel and methane versions, and particularly advantageous offers.
Like the previous model, the Grande Punto plays the same trump card: listening to customers and making sure the product evolves to meet their needs. Consistent with the first and most important demand put forward by any customer who buys a car, the new model will offer 'value' above all. This has always been one of the strengths of the Fiat Punto, which has led its segment, one where a huge number of new cars have been launched in recent years. Competition is obviously fierce, ready to enter the fray with every means. But this model has never lost ground, competing at the highest levels and always offering an extra something: safety, value for money and a good performance/consumption balance, and constantly striving for innovation. This is of course Fiat's mission: an Italian company that builds cars with original styling and a wealth of intelligent solutions that are therefore capable of guaranteeing a better quality of everyday life. And today the Grande Punto takes up the baton with the precise goal of respecting this ideal commitment made to motorists.
Fiat Grande Punto
Our Fiat Grande Punto Guide lists the full specification of the current UK Grande Punto range, including car prices, fuel consumption, dimensions and other vital data.
Price Range: £8,560 - £13,450
Body Style:
Fuel:
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Models in the range: 22
Our Car Buyer’s Guide covers all of the UK’s major new cars and includes CO2 ratings and car insurance groups. Data updated on the 6th July 2008
