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Fiat Grande Punto

Manufacturer	Fiat
Also called	Fiat Punto
Production	2005–present
Assembly	Mirafiori plant, Turin, Italy[1] Melfi (Potenza), Italy[1] Betim (Minas Gerais), Brasil[1]
Predecessor	Fiat Punto
Class	Supermini
Body style(s)	3/5-door hatchback 3-door van
Layout	FF layout
Platform	Fiat/GM SCSS platform
Engine(s)	1.2 L I4 1.4 L I4 1.3 L I4 diesel 1.6 L I4 diesel 1.9 L I4 diesel
Transmission(s)	5-speed manual 5-speed semi-auto
Wheelbase	2510 mm (98.8 in)
Length	4030 mm (158.7 in)
Width	1687 mm (66.4 in)
Height	1490 mm (58.7 in)
Curb weight	1015 kg (2238 lb) - 1040 kg (2293 lb)
Fuel capacity	45 L (9.9 Imp. gallons) (11.9 U.S. gal)
Related	Alfa Romeo Mi.To Fiat Linea Opel Corsa D
Designer	Giorgetto Giugiaro

Rear end of Grande Punto

The Fiat Grande Punto is a car manufactured by the Italian automaker Fiat.

[edit] Overview

The third generation Fiat supermini 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,^[2] the car is based on the Fiat/GM SCCS platform. 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 Fire 8v (65 PS), a new 1.4 Fire 8v (77 PS) and the 1.4 16v (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 will be replaced with new 1.6 JTD starting in the end of 2008.

All the engines are Euro IV compliant. In 2007 came new 1.4 T-Jet turbocharged petrol engine (120 PS (88 kW)) available. In the 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show Fiat introduced 155 PS (114 kW) Abarth version produced through the Abarth & C S.p.A. company and branded as an Abarth car rather than Fiat.^[3] The car's nose, headlights and front grill look reminiscent of the Maserati Coupé, both were designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro of ItalDesign.

[edit] Non-European markets

In Australia, Fiat introduced the Grande Punto in mid 2006; it is the first Fiat to be sold in Australia since 1989. Shortly after its launch, the car (the 1.3L 90 PS (66 kW) diesel) was recognised as the most economical car on the market.^[4]

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 1.4lt 16V 100 PS (74 kW) engine with 6 speed manual gearbox in 5 door Dynamic and 3 door Sport trims. In December 2007 the 1.4lt T-jet 120 PS (88 kW) variant was launched.

The Italian-made Grande Punto has already been launched in Chile and Dominican Republic, in petrol and diesel versions.

In the rest of South America, the Brazilian-built Grande Punto (called just Punto) was launched in August 2007. Codenamed Project 310, it is produced in the factory of Betim, Minas Gerais, Brazil.^[5] The chassis is an adaptation of the Fiat Palio's, a lower cost compact. Levels of safety were not maintained, but the ride comfort is said to be the same. At the beginning, the five-door version will be the only available in the Brazilian line. The engines are the 85 PS (63 kW) 1.4 L FIRE 8v and the 115 PS (85 kW) 1.8 Family 1 engine that comes from GM-Fiat/Powertrain. A later addition will be the new Torque 1.9L MultiJet with 8 and 16v, 121 PS (89 kW) and 134 PS (99 kW). In Brazil, both 1.4 and 1.8 engines are currently available in flexible fuel technology, working on both gasoline and ethanol.

The Grande Punto also went on sale in South Africa in 2006, replacing the previous generation. It is sold with a variety of petrol and diesel engines, beginning at around R120,000.

A sedan version of the Grande Punto, the Fiat Linea, was launched in early 2007 to replace the aging Marea. It will be built on an extended version of the Grande Punto's chassis, giving a total length of 4,600 mm (181.1 in), making it jump to the small family car segment.

Grande Punto and the Linea sedan, both were launched in India during the Delhi Auto Expo in January 2008. However both the models are expected to be available in the market only in the second half of 2008. As of current reports Linea would be available in the markets first followed by Grande Punto. In India both the cars would be manufactured by the Fiat-Tata Motors joint venture in a new plant.

[edit] Engines

[edit] Petrol

[edit] Diesel

[edit] Safety

The Grande Punto was awarded with 5 stars in the EuroNCAP crash test for passenger protection and Euro NCAP 3 star certification for pedestrian safety.^[6] 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.

• Adult occupant =
• Child occupant =
• Pedestrian =

[edit] Abarth Grande Punto

Abarth Grande Punto Essesse

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

Initially the Abarth Grande Punto will be available with a 150 PS (155 PS when using 97 ron fuel) 1.4l turbo engine, but from 2008 there will be an essesse kit available, which will be installed at official Abarth service centres rather than in the factory.^[7]

[edit] Engines

[edit] Fiat Grande Punto Series 2

The second series of Fiat Group’s successful and widely acclaimed Grande Punto has just gone on sale in the UK.

The popular supermini range, which is an important player in the hotly contested B segment of European markets, receives a number of significant changes, notably a five year unlimited mileage warranty, Fiat’s Blue&Me hands-free entertainment and communications system as standard equipment across the range, the introduction of a new ‘GP’ version, and the addition of Fiat’s acclaimed 1.4 8v engine to Active and Dynamic specification cars.

“Two and a half years after the launch of the Grande Punto, we have used the opportunity of the Series 2 range to adjust it to respond better to changing market trends and customer demands,” says Elena Bernardelli, marketing director, Fiat Group Automobiles UK. “We are delighted to announce the arrival of this new car.”

The 1.4 8v engine joins the Grande Punto’s current range of 1.4 16v and 1.3 and 1.9 MultiJet turbo diesel engines. The petrol units provide a significant improvement in performance and driveability while maintaining low levels of fuel consumption and emissions. The 1.4 8v engine will be available in Active and Dynamic specifications and is expected to form the core of sales in those trim levels.

Last year Fiat introduced the Active Sport range and created the choice between comfort (Dynamic & Eleganza) and sport (Active Sport & Sporting) versions. The introduction of the new GP version has helped to simplify the structure. It joins the Sporting version under the ‘sport’ banner while Dynamic and Eleganza trim levels come under ‘comfort’.

New GP version added to range The new GP version replaces the Active Sport. Featuring a unique sporty interior trim, sports instruments, new ‘dark’ headlights, foglights, rear spoiler and new, larger 16-inch alloy wheels, its price positions it competitively in a part of the market which includes young drivers who want chic styling and a sporty appearance without insurance-crippling performance. The new GP is available with the latest 1.4 8v (77bhp), the lively 1.4 16v StarJet (95bhp) and the widely acclaimed 1.3 16v MultiJet diesel (75bhp) engine.

New interiors, instruments and front grille make the Series 2 Sporting version visually distinguishable, while the addition of cruise control as standard will please many customers. The 1.4 16v engine has been deleted from this version but the 5-door 1.9 130bhp MultiJet has been added. The prices of the petrol T-Jet versions have decreased slightly when compared with the outgoing range.

The addition of Blue&Me to the entire range includes the entry level Active specification, which also gains body-coloured wing mirrors and a digital instrument display incorporating an exterior temperature read-out. This version is also now powered by the 1.4 8v 77bhp engine as well as the 1.3 16v MultiJet. The Dynamic version also gets Blue&Me while the 1.2 engine has been replaced by the 1.4.

The top-of-the-range Eleganza version is enhanced with even more equipment. As well as attractive 16-inch alloy wheels, the Eleganza gains ESP, cruise control and rain sensors as standard, for a minimal increase in price. Two engines, the 1.4 16v StarJet (95bhp) and the 1.3 16v MultiJet (90bhp) have been added to this range.

^[8]

[edit] References