While Fiat India is still selling the Grande Punto which was launched way in 2005, the situation is quite different else where in the world. The Italian automaker gave the Punto a good facelift in 2009 (calling it the Punto Evo) and the car has now received yet another facelift. Fiat has called this model as the 2012 Punto (not to be confused with the 2012 Punto sold in India as the Indian version is the same vehicle inside-out as the one launched globally in 2005) and launched it in the UK. Now the Fiat Punto is already a splendid car, so how has Fiat managed to improve it?
Fiat has given the 2012 Punto a mild facelift, which now gets revised headlights, new bumpers, new alloy wheels and better interiors. On first glance, one might not notice the changes on the 2012 Punto from the Punto Evo but on close observation one will realize that the headlamps are now smoked and the chrome strip on the hood has been removed. The Fiat badge on the tail gate also function as the boot opener button. The Fiat Punto now incorporates day time running lights as well and is available in new colours. However the cosmetic changes are not as important as the mechanical changes to the Punto, which now gets start/stop system and gear shift indicator as standard across the range. Fiat claims that these systems improve mileage by upto 15 per cent. The Punto range starts at Rs. 9 lakhs in the UK, for which you also get a significant amount of standard equipment.
Fiat has offered a huge list of features on the 2012 Punto, which includes cornering lights, ABS, EBD, ESP, electric steering, rain sensing wipers, cruise control, 7-airbags, dual zone climate control, leather steering wheel, hill hold assist and Blue&Me TomTom LIVE. The most crucial change to the Punto is the host of new engines which now duty in this popular hatchback. Power comes in through a variety of engines, which are extremely frugal and are loaded with the best bit of technology ever to have come out of Turin.
The highlight in the petrol Punto is the 875cc, turbocharged, twin-cylinder, TwinAir engine which produces 85 BHP of power output and 145 Nm of torque output. This TwinAir engine is mated to a 6-speed manual gearbox and has a Eco button on the dashboard which reduces torque to 110 Nm, thereby improving fuel efficiency. 110 Nm on fuel saving mode is quite a lot and is more than enough for cruising. To put it in perspective, the 1.2-litre, 4-cylinder, K-Series petrol engine in the new Maruti Suzuki Swift produces 114 Nm of torque. Fiat also offers two 1.4-litre petrol engines with MultiAir technology. The naturally aspirated version produces 105 BHP, while the turbocharged version produces 135 BHP. The 1.4 turbo engined Punto hits 100 km/h in just 8.5 seconds and has a top speed of 200 km/h.
Coming to the diesel engine, Fiat has given the Punto its latest iteration of the awesome 1.3-litre Multijet engine. Better known as the Multijet 2 Turbo Diesel, this oil burner has two very interesting technologies added to it. The first is an intelligent alternator system, that recharges the battery when the engine is shut off by the Start&Stop system. The second system is the Intelligent Flow, which employs a variable displacement oil pump and optimizes the cooling circuit to improve economy. The 1.3-litre Multijet 2 engine is available in two set of tunes – a 75 BHP, 190 Nm with fixed geometry turbocharger and a 85 BHP, 200 Nm (at just 1500 RPM) with variable geometry turbocharger. These engines are mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox. Fiat says that the Multijet 2 engine is significantly improved over the Multijet 1 engine and has lower emissions and higher fuel efficiency. The company claims a combined cycle mileage of 34 km/l on the 85 BHP Punto diesel.
The second generation Multijet engine is leaps and bounds ahead of the first generation motor. The Multijet 2 features a new common rail injection system with a balanced solenoid servo valve, which controls the quantity of diesel injected into the cylinder with enormous precision to allow for a quicker and more flexible injection sequence than previously. The eight injections per cycle also feature Fiat’s ground-breaking Injection Rate Shaping (IRS) technology which consists of two consecutive injections with zero hydraulic dwell in between. The engine also uses low viscosity transmission fluid and second generation turbochargers, which improves torque at low revs by 25 per cent compared to the previous engine.
Further more, the 2012 Fiat Punto also features something called Eco:Drive which allows the users to download their driving information on to a USB. The info can be uploaded to the computer via Fiat’s website and various parameters about the driving style can be analyzed to improve driving style and extract the best out of the Punto.
Now the 2012 Fiat Punto does have quite a bit of changes, which ensures it remains fresh as a daisy till the next generation model arrives in 2014. The next generation Punto was expected to hit showrooms in 2013 but the crisis in Europe has delayed it. Fiat is quite unsure about what to do with the next generation model as the current Punto is such an awesome car already. The Uno, Palio and Panda have already gone in their next generation but the Punto and Bravo are still left for significant updates. These 5 cars are Fiat’s bread and butter model in Europe and Brazil. Fiat might make the next generation Bravo a crossover, while the next generation Punto could be developed in collaboration with another automaker (probably Mazda but reports almost two years ago suggested that the next generation Punto and Indica would share platforms).
Now the crucial question, how can the Punto outsell India’s best selling premium hatchback, the Maruti Suzuki Swift? Fiat is on the right direction by setting up independent dealerships across the country. However the company is forgetting one crucial thing, they need to get the latest Punto to India and we are clueless as to why the company is not bringing the latest Punto. The 2012 Punto has everything one would want from a premium hatchback and Fiat just needs to bring it to India. Top sellers in the hatchback segment are jack of all trades and master of some. The Swift is well known for the driving experience and Maruti Suzuki’s after sales support, the Hyundai i20 is known for quality and high amount of features.
The Punto could very well be known for the technology prowess of Fiat, if the company decides to bring in the next generation of Multijet diesel and MultiAir engines to India. These engines would put the Punto one-up over its competitors offering better mileage and performance. Fiat could also park a Ferrari 458 Italia/California in a glass section in all its dealerships. One such vehicle costs Rs. 2 crore (Fiat plans 20 dealers by end of 2012 and Rs. 40 crore would be money well spent) and will draw a lot of attention, thereby increasing the footfalls at Fiat showrooms.
In a nutshell, how can the Punto outsell the Swift?
- 2012 Punto to be launched in India with new styling, interiors and features
- TwinAir and MultiAir engines to be offered (petrol Puntos don’t sell because of the lethargic FIRE engine).
- MultiJet 2 diesel engine to be offered in the Punto, which will make the Punto’s diesel engine a notch above rivals.
- Lure prospective buyers to test drive the Punto. They will certainly fall in love with it. How to lure them? Park a Ferrari in all dealerships, which is not a heavy expenditure as the brand is owned by Fiat themselves and they don’t have to pay retail pricing, nor register it.
- Talk about economy, not about performance. Hatchback buyers put fuel economy over performance. The 85 BHP VGT equipped MultiJet 2 engine delivers 34 km/l. ARAI is certain to give atleast 30 km/l plus figure. Even if the price is higher due to the Start&Stop system, offer this variant so people are able to relate to brand Fiat as efficient.
- Don’t forget old Punto customers. Fiat is notorious for forgetting old customers, they did it with Palio and Sienna owners.
- Slowly withdraw engine supply to competitors (can be done once the contract gets over) but can be done only once Fiat tastes enough success to rely on revenue on car sales rather then engine sales.
- Bring limited edition Abarth variants to create buzz.
Fiat are you listening?
