Fiat has launched the 2012 Linea and 2012 Punto in India. However the 2012 versions are not much different than the 2011 counterparts and have no changes to their mechanicals whatsoever. Fiat has just changed features and variants and revised prices, keeping them introductory for the moment. Both the cars continue to be powered by the same 1.3-liter Multijet diesel and 1.4-liter FIRE petrol engines. The Grande Punto is also powered by a 1.2-liter FIRE petrol engine. A new colour, Oceanic Blue also debuts on the 2012 Fiats. Fuel efficiency is improved on both the Punto and Linea. The diesel Linea now returns 20.4 kmpl while the petrol Linea returns 14.6 kmpl. The Punto 1.2 returns 15.2 kmpl, the Punto 1.4 returns 14.6 kmpl and the Punto 1.3 diesel returns 20.3 kmpl. Fiat also revealed its plans to open 22 exclusive Fiat branded showrooms across India in 2012. These will be in agreement with Tata Motors. The 2012 Fiat Linea and Grande Punto now have a ground clearance of 185mm, with the Punto 1.2 Petrol having a ground clearance of 195mm.

2012 Fiat Punto and Linea Prices (ex-showroom Delhi)

“At FIAT it is our constant endeavor to provide customers with newer and better cars with timely upgradation in comfort and technology. Since customer satisfaction is of utmost importance, we continuously look at ways to provide better value through our cars. With the launch of 2012 Linea and Punto this year our customer can enjoy an experience which is delightful and uniquely FIAT,” Mr. Rajeev Kapoor, President and CEO, FIAT India, said.

Team Fiat is going to Raid De Himalaya this year with Pavan Choudhary (Rally Driver) and Captain Nitin Anand (Navigator) in a Fiat Grande Punto 90HP. The duo are participating in the adventure category with the journey commencing at Shimla and reaching Srinagar, covering close to 2000 kms and 6 legs over a span of 10 days. The 13th edition of the rally is being organized by Himalayan Motorsport Association and approved by National Sports Federation recognized by the Government of India and will see participation of 291 contestants. In its unique format this time, the X-treme and Adventure category will compete on their own treacherous paths initially but will meet at Rangdum (Rangdum, situated 3,657metres, 11,998 ft) above sea level, in an isolated region of the Suru valley in the Ladakh region and continue together via Penzi-La till the final stop at Srinagar.

“Fiat’s Punto 90 HP MULTIJET is known for its power, drive and fuel efficiency. Our cars have a strong build and all the essential features to enable a smooth drive across most terrains. It would truly be a proud moment to see the Fiat brand standing tall on one of the highest altitudes of the country. We wish the team a great and memorable journey with Fiat’s Punto 90 HP MULTIJET,” Mr. Enrico Atanasio, Head (Commercial), Fiat India, said.

Fiat’s re-entry in the Indian market was at a crucial point, people only knew the brand for their Padmini, Palio’s and terrible after sales but this time over Fiat shook hands with a very established name in the Indian Auto Industry, Tata Motors. With their JV, Tata Motors offered to sell Fiat cars under the same shelter where Tata cars are sold. Fiat still has only two offerings which were doing fairly well when they were introduced but the sales are slacking mainly due to Tata salesmen misguiding the buyer and suggesting them to settle for Tata cars and secondly the competition has risen. Finally Fiat has decided to sell their cars in a separate dealership with Tata’s support.

Fiat’s Punto Evo which has been in the market for a while now was expected to undergo the makeover phase and here it is. At Frankfurt Fiat showcased the new 2012 avatar of the hatchback. With a new reworked face and rear the car look ready to take on the competition with its up to date looks. There are new 15″ alloys and three new metallic colours Turquoise, Ruby Red and Graphite Grey.

The 2012 Punto now comes with a 900cc gasoline engine producing 85 HP of power, the whole concept is designed by Fiat Powertrain (MultiAir) with the “downsizing” concept and manifests in a small, low-weight engine that ensures excellent performance with low fuel consumption. The special engine tuning and its combination with a 6-speed gearbox confers to the car a perfect balance between eco-friendliness and driving pleasure. The other engine option is the world famous 1.3-liter diesel engine which also churns out 85 Hp of power and 200 Nm of torque. The diesel is more refined and does better justice to fuel consumption. Fiat is contemplating to get the Punto Evo to India which is a generation earlier to the 2012 Punto. What do you think should Fiat get the EVO or the 2012 version of the Punto?

Pictures Source – Autoblog

When the Fiat Grande Punto was launched in 2005, it turned around the Italian automakers fortune completely. At the Frankfurt Motor Show in 2009, the company launched the Punto Evo, the first facelift of the Grande Punto. Two years later and the company is all set to launch a facelift of the Punto Evo at the upcoming Frankfurt Motor Show. But what are the changes made to the Punto Evo? At the front, the headlights have become slightly bigger, the chrome on the bonnet disappears and a new bumper now incorporates a new honeycomb grille. At the side, the alloy wheels have been changed and now sport 14-spokes (earlier model had 12-spokes). The rear has very little changes with slight changes in bumper and tail lights.

Step inside and the only thing you will notice is the all black interiors. There are very little changes on the dashboard but Fiat is now offering two new engines on the Punto. The 1.3-liter Multijet has been tweaked to boost power to 85 bhp (from 75 bhp). Fiat Powertrain Technologies has incorporated variable oil pump and intelligent alternator boosting fuel efficiency to 28 kmpl. The Punto also gets the latest tech MultiAir petrol engine. The 900 cc motor is a twin-cylinder unit using a turbocharger to produce 85 BHP of power and 145 Nm of torque. A 6-speed manual gearbox is mated to this engine offering good three digit cursing ability to the Punto. Fiat does plan to get the Punto Evo to India, but if they get the old version, it will be such a pity, sigh. Meanwhile checkout the differences between the old Punto Evo and the new below (the 1st picture is the new model).

Fiat is running a promotional campaign ‘Diesel at the price of petrol’ wherein Grande Punto and Linea buyers will get a chance to own a diesel Linea or Punto at the price of the petrol variant or receive equivalent cash back. Many winners will qualify for fuel vouchers for a full 1 year’s supply of petrol or diesel. All buyers of Fiat cars in July will be provided free fuel for three months (worth Rs. 13,500/-) in addition to discounts on first year’s insurance and free 50 months road side assistance along with exchange bonus of upto Rs. 20,000/- for upgrading to a Linea or Grande Punto. Linea T-Jet buyers will be eligible for discount of Rs. 1,00,000/-.

“Across the world, diesel technology has evolved and diesel cars are no longer considered inferior to petrol cars. With the rise in petrol prices, diesel cars make for an even more attractive proposition and Fiat has been leading the diesel revolution across the world and even in India. The multitudes of cars which sport Fiat’s multijet engines are a testimony to this fact. With ‘Diesel at the price of Petrol’ we plan to help more car owners have the joy of owning a Fiat diesel,” Mr. Rajeev Kapoor, President and CEO, Fiat India, said.

The Fiat Grande Punto 90 HP Multijet and Linea T-Jet, have been flagged off for an expedition to salute the true spirit of Ladakh. The journey would be from Delhi to Leh and back, covering a distance of close to 20000 kms. Eight Cadets from Chetna college, Mumbai, would undertake this adventurous journey through the most scenic roads along rough terrains on the snow capped mountains and magnificent valleys. During their expedition they would also be visiting Pangong Lake, Thangsey and Nubra valley. This expedition celebrates the true spirit of the Indian army. The proposed route for this expedition would start from Delhi university en-route via Pathankot, Srinagar, Kargil and finally halt at Leh and start the return journey to reach Delhi on Monday, 18th July.

Fiat’s Punto 90 HP MULTIJET and Linea T-Jet are known for their power, drive and fuel efficiency. Our cars have a strong build and all the necessary features to enable a smooth drive on the rocky hilly terrains. It would truly be a proud moment to see the Fiat brand standing tall on one of the highest altitudes of the country. We wish all the cadets a great and memorable journey with Fiat’s Punto 90 HP MULTIJET and Linea T-Jet. – Mr. Rajeev Kapoor, President & CEO, Fiat India Automobiles Ltd

Volkswagen Polo vs Fiat Grande Punto - Click above for high resolution picture gallery

Few people would disagree that the Volkswagen Polo and the Fiat Grande Punto are the two best hatchbacks one can buy in India today. Both cars have their USPs which make them a desirable option for buyers, but when it comes to choose between them, its extremely difficult to get a winner. If you are in this dilemma, fear not, as we intend to answer this very question in this road test review comparison between the Volkswagen Polo and the Fiat Grande Punto. So grab some pop corn and soda, this is going to be a long one!

Styling - The Volkswagen Polo looks very well proportioned. It is a mini-Golf lookalike with the overall no nonsense, simplistic design. The front looks sharp with the distinctive new Volkswagen family face, whereas the side shows a distinctively sporty front overhang and extremely short rear overhang. The rear shows a broad shoulder line with the Polo’s tailgate being opened with the VW logo. The rear does look a bit old fashioned but overall a pleasing car to the eye, specially in the colour red.

The Fiat Grande Punto was born exactly six years ago and still looks like a masterpiece. If the Polo looks stunning, than the Punto simply looks super-stunning (such a word doesn’t even exist, but as you know, the looks of the Punto can’t be described). The mini-Maserati front and the bold side profile are totally eye catching. The rear could have been better, but we aren’t complaining. The Grande Punto looks smashing from all angles, in all colours. If there is one car we would buy for pure looks, without even bothering to know the specifications and features, it would undoubtedly be the Grande Punto.

Both look equally stunning when viewed from side. The Polo features an in-built rear spoiler. Fuel tank opening on different sides for both the cars.

Interiors - If the styling competition was swept away by the Fiat and your expecting it to perform on similar linesl when it comes to interiors, I have some bad news. The Volkswagen’s interiors are much better. Both cars feature 3-spoke steering wheels, but the Punto’s dashboard does show its age. The Polo’s dashboard design is simple yet elegant, the Punto, whereas looks slightly confused. The black color doesn’t really offer airiness in the cabin, something the beige interiors in the Polo manage very well. But when it comes to function, the Punto performs much better.

Both cars feature foldable keys, but that is all what is common. The Punto is so well loaded with features. For starters, there are audio controls on the steering wheel, Bluetooth connectivity, climate control air-conditioner and electrically operated outside rear view mirrors. The omission of such features on the Polo are very surprising to say the least. Volkswagen will launch an updated version with the addition of a few features but at that time, we will also have the Punto Evo, which has a better looking interior than the Polo. Come to the plastics and one feels that Fiat could have used better quality plastics, come to the Polo and it excels in plastic quality and feel. Everything feels solid and on par with a D-segment car while the Tata influence seemed to reflect on the Punto!

Ride, Handling, Braking - Both the cars featured here ride on 15-inch wheels and have one of the best ride and handling combination. But there has to be one car, which is better than the other. It was difficult initially to judge as both the Punto and Polo are so close in terms of handling and ride balance. However, the Grande Punto emerges as the winner here. The Punto is sharper than the Polo and no matter what, it just never gives up. Whether your throwing the car through a set of curves, or your driving over potholes, the Punto feels right for the job. Mind you, the Polo is no less and handles beautiful too, but tends to loose grip on very sharp turns.

Both the cars feature anti-lock brakes with decent sized tyres. The Punto has wider rubber at 195mm, whereas the Polo makes do with 185mm rubber. Again the Punto is the better decelerating vehicle and stops dead in its track at any given speed without a hiccup, mind you, the Punto is heavier than its competition here. In the Polo though, the car tends to loose its line slightly with the anti-lock system working over time to keep things in check.

Performance - Theoretically it would be unfair to compare these vehicles as both feature very different powertrains. The Polo makes do with 3-cylinder engines, which when read on paper feels slow and noisy. The Punto on the other hand feels decently fast on paper. But come on the road and things change dramatically. The Polo feels the bigger engined car and the Punto seems to lag a bit. The petrol Polo is very revv happy. Although slightly coarse, the Polo’s petrol unit never feels underpowered. On the Punto 1.2, you do feel the lack of thrust. Fuel efficiency of the Polo petrol is much better than the Punto 1.2 petrol, with the car easily returning 14 kmpl compared to the 12.5 kmpl, the FIRE engine offers.

The Polo TDi again features a 3-pot motor, which is very torquey with a hint of inital turbo lag. Power delivery is linear and the car feels quick once the turbo spools up, albeit a bit vocal. Do we even need to talk about the 1.3 liter Multijet unit which does duty in the Punto? In 75hp form, it feels decent and never underpowered. In 90hp form, it feels quick and in-gear acceleration times are vastly improved. Still want more? We even tested a 105hp Punto, you can read more about it here. Both these engines are very closely matched but the Mutijet is more silent of the two. We choose the Punto 90hp over the Polo for the more power and overall refinements of the national engine of our country.

As can be seen above, the Swift (Our Support Vehicle) is still the king when it comes to engine performance and managed to keep up with us through out the test. But both the Polo and Punto outdo it on the corners. The clutch feel on both the cars is light and well calibrated. The Polo feels so much better going through the gears. The shift action is butter smooth, making the Polo’s transmission easily the best for small cars in the country. The Punto’s shift is decent as well, nothing that we complain about but certainly not butter smooth like the Polo.

Conclusion - Volkswagen offers the Polo in 7 variants, across three engine options. Fiat offers three engine options too but across ten variants. Both these cars appeal to a different class of buyers, but ultimately, it comes to whether you think from the  heart or the head. The Polo would appeal to those who want a no nonsense hatchback which would return very good mileage, never break down and offer excellent quality. Servicing a Volkswagen is much more expensive than a Fiat, but you know the dealership will do a better job than what Tata Motors would, as Fiat cars are like step siblings in a Tata workshop.

However, if your the kind of person who thinks from his heart, than the Grande Punto is for you. The Punto is slightly cheaper to buy, much cheaper to service and almost equally cheap to run (the diesel). It also offers you more for what you pay and turns heads where ever it goes. Simply for this reason, if we had to chose between the two cars, it would be the Fiat Grande Punto that would win our vote every single time. Its sad but a car of this potential does not do numbers it should and hopefully once Fiat sorts out the chink in it’s armour, the Punto has what it takes to be a best seller, it’s done it internationally and there is no reason it shouldn’t in India.

Fiat India had recently confirmed that they don’t plan to launch anything new this year and even confirmed that a 1.6 liter Linea is all but true. However news has now surfaced which claims that a new improved Linea is on the cards which has undergone some cosmetic changes along with better interiors. Launch is expected b Diwali. Also an upgraded Grande Punto will be launched with the beige interiors (similar to the Linea). The Punto Dynamic variant will get integrated audio system as standard but will loose the rear power windows. We are unable to confirm the developments at Fiat India but the company has to do something amidst fierce competition.

Source – Team-BHP

Just the other day we walked into McDonalds and ordered a filet o fish meal, the guy at the counter asked us if we wanted to upsize it and just at that moment something clicked in our head. We looked over to our Fiat Grande Punto 90hp parked outside and wondered if we could upsize it too, well why not? We did it to the Punto 75 and got 90 hp at hand, so no harm giving this a shot too. So it was time to checkout what the blue box could do the Fiat Grande Punto 90hp.

Since we have already tuned the Punto with the Petes tuning box, we wont get into basic details. For beginners, the Petes box is a small device which is plugged into the engine, and it remaps the engine settings, thereby deriving power on demand.

Motorbeam’s love for quality is long known and Pete’s tuning box just left us hungry for more. It can swiftly change a car from a feeble sheep to a roaring lion. Dyno readings look somethings like this -

Evident from the readings is that it on a 0 – 100 run, the tuned Punto shaves off 3 whole seconds as compared to the stock car. Though the 0 – 50 reading almost remains the same the overall driveabilty of the car is greatly enhanced, and the magic works more so at higher speeds. The turbo kicks in at lower RPM’s and low end torque gets a boost too making start/stop traffic driving relatively easier.

The Stock Punto 90 hp Dynometer Graph

Petes Tuned Punto 90 hp Dynometer Graph

The Punto 90 is a powerful hatch in its segment and the big question which pops is basically how many extra horses does the 1.3 Multijet generate? The answer is pretty astonoishing, a full 105 hp and the VGT has a extremely important role to play in this. Amongst other things one will notice, the turbo kicks in faster, the revs came in stronger faster and at a power output of 105 HP, the fuel consumption is marginally more but it sure doesn’t drill a hole in your pocket.

The results can be summed up as -

The Punto 90 had us impressed since long and this small boost makes it a more desirable car. The Petes box can turn it into pretty much a value for money sports car, so get on it, burn real rubber on the road and not on a console.

* Results are taken as an average of 12 runs.

- By RJ Rishi Kapoor

Today there was a flagoff ceremony of the Securing Borders Drive – An epic 18 day drive upto the Wagah border via Sir Crick in Rann of Kutch, and Longewala Battle field in Jaisalmer in the Fiat Grande Punto 90HP MULTIJET by students from Chetana College of Commerce in Bandra. More updates on the drive as it progresses.