Fiat Punto
| Fiat Punto | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer: | Fiat |
| Class: | supermini car |
| Production: | 1993 — present |
| Body Styles: | 3-door hatchback 5-door hatchback cabriolet |
| Predecessor: | Fiat Uno |
| Successor: | None |
| |
| Mark 1 | |
| Production: | 1993 — 1999 |
| Fiat Punto Mk. 2 | |
| Mark 2 | |
| Production: | 1999 — 2003 |
| Fiat Punto Mk. 2b | |
| Mark 2b | |
| Production: | 2003 — 2005 |
| Fiat Punto Mk. 3 | |
| Mark 3 | |
| Production: | 2005 — |
| This article is part of the Fiat automobile series. | |
Launch
The Fiat Punto is a supermini car, internally codenamed Project 178, announced in September 1993 and launched in 1994 as a replacement for the ageing Fiat Uno. The Punto was voted European Car of the Year for 1995.
At a time when rival companies like Ford and Vauxhall/Opel were producing dull looking superminis, the Fiat Punto was an instant hit with its Giorgetto Giugiaro design. Another reason for its popularity was the competitive pricing which made it a cheap alternative to a Volkswagen Polo or Ford Fiesta. A wide range of engines included economical 1.1, 1.2 (8 or 16 valve) and 1.7 turbo-diesel units, more sporty 1.6 petrol and a powerful 1.4 turbocharged petrol engine.
Mark 1 (1993-1999)
Entry-level in the Punto range were the 1.1 and 1.2 litre petrol engines and the 1.7 diesel. A more powerful 1.6 Sporting was also available (replaced in 1997 by more economic 16 valve 1.2 unit), but the best performing version was the 1.4 GT Turbo - capable of running over 130mph and reaching 60mph in just 7.6 seconds it was a great fun to drive. The second closest thing to an enjoyable Punto was the cabriolet version - one of the cheapest open top cars in the world.
Mark 2 (1999-2003)
This was exactly what Fiat was thinking of when the Nuova (New) Punto, Project 188 or Mark 2, was launched in 1999. The chassis and interior were completely overhauled and the new Punto became the first Fiat in decades to carry the original round Fiat badge, to celebrate Fiat's centenary.
The 1.1 and 1.4 turbo engines were discontinued due to ecologic issues, and the entry-level models had only a 1.2 petrol unit (with either 8 or 16 valves) or a 1.9 diesel (with or without a turbo). The best performing version of the Mark 2 Punto was the 1.8 HGT which could reach almost 130mph. It accelerated worse than it's predecessor, the Mark 1 GT, but was better in cornering.
Mark 2, Revision B (2003-2005)
In early 2003, Fiat celebrated the rollout of the 5,000,000th production Punto. In the same year, the Mark 2 revision B refresh brought further revisions to the platform to bring the Punto's appearance more upmarket, along with the introduction of the 1.3 litre common rail diesel MultiJet engine. The round Fiat badge, found only on the bonnet of Mark 2 models, was introduced on the tailgate of the Mark 2B. On 1 June 2005, Fiat produced the 6,000,000th Punto at the Melfi plant.
Mark 3 (2005-)
A further refresh of the Punto — the Mark 3, codenamed Project 199 — is due in 2005. It will be sold under the name Grande Punto. Again styled by Giugiaro, the car is based on the Fiat/GM "Small" platform (a new version of GM Gamma platform). The Grande Punto debut was at the Internationale_Automobil-Ausstellung, Frankfurt. The engines are the 1.2 Fire 8v, a new 1.4 Fire 8v and four Multijet Diesel: 1.3 16v (one with a geometric variable turbo 90bhp) and two 1.9 JTD Multijet with 120 and 130cv. The top-of-the-range GT version will be powered by a turbocharged 1.6 engine developing 180-200bhp.
Competition variants
Several competition and homologated versions of the Punto have been produced, such as the Punto Rally, the S1600 and the Punto Abarth. Using the new Mk.III basis, a new rally car has been developed: the Super 2000 Punto Abarth. It is a four-wheel drive car with a 2.0L 16 valve engine with a max output of 280hp.
Trivia
During the original design of the Punto Mark 1, the rear lights that Giorgetto Giugiaro designed were not vertical up along the C pillars, but horizontal. Apparently the boss of Fiat didn't like them and came up with the idea for the vertical rear lights for which is now a recognisable Punto design feature. Giugiaro changed the design to vertical, but his own horizontal original design was used on the cabriolet model.