Fiat Punto 2006 News

The new model sits above the Fiat Punto providing the Italian car maker with a second model in the important and lucrative small car category.Fiat will also launch the turbocharged version of the Punto Sport at the show.David Stone, general manager for Fiat Cars in Australia, said the Brisbane International Motor Show marked the “coming of age” for Fiat's return to the Australia market.“The Ritmo is our move into a market sector that is becoming increasingly important in the Australian market premium and prestige small cars,” he said.Ritmo comes with ABS, stability control, remote central locking, four airbags, electric front windows, CD player, power steering and Follow Me Home headlamps in the Emotion trim level.The Sport version adds dual zone climate air, cruise control, Bluetooth, sports seats, alloy wheels and a body kit.Pricing will be announced at the show.It is powered by a choice of petrol and diesel engines. The 110kW 1.4 litre T-Jet turbocharged petrol engine is the first example of a new family of turbocharged petrol units developed by Fiat Powertrain Technologies.The T-Jet engine offers an over boost button on the centre console in Sport versions and deliver 230Nm at 3000rpm, giving it a 0-100kmh acceleration time of 8.2 seconds.At the same time, Fiat claims fuel economy figures of 7.1L/100 km in the combined cycle and restrict CO2 emissions to 167g/km. Ritmo also comes with a 110kW 1.9 litre JTD turbo diesel with 305Nm of torque at 2000rpm.Fiat claims a 0-100kmh time of 9.0 seconds and fuel consumption of less than 5.6 litres in the combined cycle. These engines are mated to six-speed manual gearboxes with a Dualogic self-shifting gearbox later in the year for the 1.4L T-Jet.The new Fiat Ritmo was created in just 18 months from design freeze to production, using Computer Aided Design Computer Aided Engineering systems.This meant its development was almost entirely achieved through virtual analysis and engineering.Fiat claims this led to consistent build quality, driving dynamics and low noise, vibration and harshness levels.Ritmo has recorded a maximum 5-star rating for adult occupant protection in the Euro NCAP crash test programme, three stars for child protection and two for pedestrian protection. 

The Italian small car boasts a 0-100km/h sprint time of just 8.9 seconds, making it the fastest little Fiat here, until the Abarth arrives midyear. But if you can't wait that long, the T-Jet offers performance and economy, says Fiat. The more aggressive Abarth will also feature a 1.4-litre turbo petrol engine that offers 116kW of power and 206Nm of torque (230Nm on over boost) which, with a six-speed manual gearbox, will sprint from zero to 100km/h in 8.2 seconds. Fiat Australia general manager David Stone says the 1.4-litre T-Jet is the engine of the future. “The highly efficient 1.4 gains a turbocharger to produce power and torque levels the equivalent of a two-litre engine,” he says. Fiat is claiming the Punto Turbo Sport is one of the quickest and one of the most economical sub-$30,000 hot hatches. The low-pressure turbo 1.4-litre engine ups the power from 57kW to 90kW and torque from 115Nm to 206Nm. Fiat says 200Nm is on tap from 1700rpm. But the engine needs just 6.6 litres of petrol to cover 100km while emissions are 155g/km. The turbocharged five-speed manual car has not gained much weight, according to the manufacturer, helping performance, economy and keeping the little Fiat's good road manners intact. The Punto T-Jet will slot into the Fiat range beneath the range-topping Sport 1.9 JTD turbodiesel, with similar equipment levels. Among the features are ABS brakes, stability control, a hill holder, 17in alloy wheels, colour-coded body kit, sports seats, a leather-trimmed sports steering wheel and gear shifter. The T-Jet also gets sports-tuned suspension, power steering, power windows, power mirrors, cruise control, airconditioning and remote central locking. Mr Stone believes the addition of the T-Jet gives the Punto range a car to suit a wide variety of buyers. “Each power unit offers its own blend of performance, economy and purchase price to offer buyers of small cars the ability to tailor a Punto to their own particular budget and motoring needs,” he says. “Whichever Punto they buy, they will own a car with benchmark safety, superb good looks and a small car that has something only a Fiat can offer - Italian soul.” The Fiat Punto Sport T-Jet will carry a $25,990 price tag and deliveries start today  

The Punto Abarth brings the badge back on sale in its home market later this month and is set for a mid-2008 arrival. The Abarth model will be offering 116kW at 5500rpm and peak torque of 206Nm (just 500rpm earlier) from a 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol 16-valve four-cylinder engine. Fiat also says there's a powerboost mode that increases torque to 230Nm at 3000rpm and tightens up the steering for a sportier drive. Hooked up to a six-speed manual, the Italian marque is claiming a 208km/h top speed and 0-100km/h time of 8.2 seconds. The interior has been tweaked for sports-oriented drivers and has been trimmed with black and red leather. The brakes behind the 17-inch alloy wheels have been upgraded to cope with the extra performance and Fiat says the track is up by 6mm, with a redesigned nose including larger air intakes. The Abarth also gets a body kit for better aerodynamics and four-wheel disc brakes (the front discs are ventilated and have Brembo calipers). The MacPherson strut front/torsion bar rear suspension has been lowered by 10mm and sports-tuned, with the anti-roll bar widened to 19mm. The front springs are 20 per cent firmer. The stability control system is standard and cannot be deactivated. Australian pricing and specification will be announced when it goes on sale mid-way through next year.  

At $27,990 the Punto needed to offer more in many areas to justify its premium pricing. The cute Giorgetto Giugiaro styling comes with a strong hint of Maserati about its nose, while the cabin is unmistakably Italian, so the car appeals to the buyer looking for something out of left field from the bevy of small car clones. The Punto's biggest attractions, however, are its frugal fuel economy, comfortable four-seat cabin and five-star crash rating. The 1.9-litre diesel feels robust once you get it up and running and riding the torque wave (something not that difficult to do with the six-speed manual), but there is an underlying coarseness about the engine that detracts somewhat from the overall enjoyment. On the road, the Punto is a strong performer. It certainly has plenty of grip and good dynamics, but the trade-off can be a harsh ride, while the steering sometimes lacks feedback. For its premium pricing the Punto is well-specified with standard kit, including electronic stability control, anti-lock brakes, height- and reach-adjustable steering wheel, cloth trim, cruise control, a decent CD audio system, remote locking, airconditioning and power windows. It is Fiat's first effort back in the Australian passenger market for 17 years and it is one that the Italian marque can certainly build on.

Now it's down to the judges to decide which of the 10 finalists will win the award to be announced in a special edition of CARSguide next Friday.Our top 10 has been achieved after an extensive search and culling process covering all cars launched in Australia in the past year.The judging criteria included assessing styling, safety, innovation, value, functionality, build quality and performance.Our motoring experts, motoring editors and senior motoring writers from The Daily Telegraph, Herald-Sun in Melbourne, The Courier-Mail in Brisbane, The Advertiser in Adelaide, The Mercury in Hobart and The Sunday Times in Perth extensively tested the 10 finalists earlier this month. The three-day back-to-back testing, included a full day's driving at Wakefield Park in Goulburn.The finalists were driven in a wide mix of environments and road conditions, including wet, dry, city, freeway, highway and country roads.Fiat Punto EmotionJudge Keith Didham's comment:Fiat returned to the Australian market in August after a 17-year gap. The Punto is one of Europe's biggest sellers, but can that success be replicated here?Fiat reopened the batting Down Under with four variants, with a choice of five-door or three-door manual hatches powered by 1.3 or 1.9-litre turbo diesel or a 1.4-litre petrol motor. Fiat last month added two more smart sequential automatic variants to round out the range to six. Prices range from $19,990 for the Dynamic to $27,990 for the better-equipped Emotion as tested here.The cute Giorgetto Giugiaro styling comes with a strong hint of Maserati about its nose, while the cabin is unmistakably Italian, so the car appeals to the buyer looking for something out of left field from the bevy of small-car clones. The Punto's biggest attractions, however, are its frugal fuel economy, comfortable four-seat cabin and five-star crash rating.The perky diesel feels robust once you get it up and running and riding the torque wave.It's a strong performer, with plenty of grip and good dynamics, but the trade off can be a harsh ride, while the steering sometimes lacks feedback.The Punto is premium priced, but standard kit includes electronic stability control, anti-lock brakes, height and reach adjustable steering wheel, cloth trim, cruise control, a decent CD audio system, remote locking, airconditioning and power windows.Holden Astra CDTiJudge Bryan Littlely's comment:There is a very straightforward reason for the Holden Astra CDTi's inclusion in the CARSguide Car Of The Year Award - and that is its diesel engine.The stylish, imported Astra is the first diesel passenger car to wear the badge of an Australian manufacturer in more than 20 years, a wise move by Holden given the surge in popularity of diesel powered vehicles amid rising fuel prices.But the Astra is an attractive option for much more than its powerplant. It has the styling that would appeal to a wide range of car buyers and, at $29,990 for the six-speed manual, it is very competitive with European brands on price.The Holden Astra offers good ride and handling in a comfortable and practical package that is fun to drive - if not all glitz and glamour - and it certainly proved its worth during the judging.Holden still has some issues to overcome with this car if it is to convert car buyers from petrol to diesel but, overall, it offers a solid package and a good entry point for buyers wanting to make the shift to diesel-powered vehicles.Hyundai Elantra EliteJudge Kevin Hepworth's comment:Once the whipping boy of poor build quality, Hyundai has turned around its reputation to the point where it is now winning quality surveys in major international markets.A fine example of that new attention to detail was the action the company took after criticism of the Elantra's woolly steering at its Australian release. Within days a team of engineers was flown from Korea to recalibrate the cars.While it is still not perfect it is a huge improvement and a credit to Hyundai's determination to improve wherever it can. And while there may still be the odd question mark over styling - the curved crease-line down the car's flanks comes readily to mind - the Hyundai Elantra Elite offers a comprehensive package for its $24,990 sticker price.Not the least of the attractions in the Elite is the included safety pack of electronic stability control and six airbags.The 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine, coupled to a five-speed manual, puts out a reasonable 105kW and the Elantra offers a good quality ride for a car in its segment.The finalists1: Audi Q7 TDI 4WD, $85,7002: Fiat Punto Emotion diesel $27,9903: Ford Focus XR5 5-cyl turbo hatch, $35,9904: Holden Astra CDTi diesel $29,9905: Holden VE Calais V8 V-series sedan, $58,4906: Hyundai Elantra Elite $24,9907: Mazda3 MPS 4-cylinder turbo hatch, $39,9908: Porsche Cayman S 2-door coupe, $148,5009: Toyota Aurion Presara V6 sedan, $49,99010: VW Passat wagon 4-cylinder turbo, $44,990The winner will be announced next Friday.

The iconic Italian brand disappeared from our shores 18 years ago, its cars tainted as unreliable and lacking excitement. But the president of Fiat cars Luca De Meo, who is in Australia this week spearheading the brand's return, has made some bold predictions for its future in Australia.Mr De Meo says Fiat is treating Australia, thanks to its market diversity, as a test to see if it can succeed in re-establishing itself on the global stage.He wants Fiat to achieve a 5000 sales target in this country by 2008 and to also become the leader in the diesel passenger car market, overtaking European rivals in Volkswagen, Peugeot and Citroen.To back that up it has a bevy of new models heading our way to join the existing Punto, including a mid-sized Bravo next year, a born again bambino 500 in 2008 and a mid-sized all-wheel drive five and seven-seater crossover wagon, which will be offered in both diesel and petrol variants, in 2009.Fiat is still working on what to call the Bravo in Australia and has narowed it down to a short list of three names.The Bravo name is already owned by Mazda.De Meo told CARSguide.com: "We want to be there to be able to compete with the other traditional European manufacturers face-to-face in terms of product image and price positioning, service levels and customer satisfaction."We feel we have the opportunity to start from scratch (in Australia) which is a challenge on one side but on the other side it's an opportunity for us."We are here to stay a long time. This is an important market as we re-enter the global competition with Fiat."We are looking at being a small car specialist and we want to do things the others cannot do. The idea of creating a young dynamic fashionable brand is part of the story."You buy an Italian product outside of Italy because it is good looking, fun and reasonably priced. Those three ideas we need to match with our cars."I cannot imagine a Fiat in this market which is too similar to midstream models otherwise people would by a Toyota or buy a Holden."We need to have some kind of character, a (range of) cars closer to what people expect from an Italian brand."Keith Didham is a senior roadtester on the CARSguide team and also editor of Mercury CARSguide. A version of this review, as well as other news, reviews and analysis will appear in the Mercury this weekend.

Industry figures released this week show the real boom in the market has been in four-cylinder cars valued at less than $25,000.Known as the light car segment, sales in the division are up 22.7 per cent for the year to date on last year, while the large car segment is down the same figure. Last month light cars were up by 31.4 per cent on August last year.Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries chief executive Peter Sturrock says this trend has increased over the past couple of years, with a recent acceleration put down to high petrol prices."Well, quite simply because they are more fuel efficient, small and less expensive to purchase in the first place and they're less expensive to run," Sturrock says.A total of 10,806 light cars were sold last month and 77,650 sold this year, which is 14,346 more than last year. Leading the line-up is the Toyota Yaris, with a starting price of $14,990, which recorded 2673 sales in August, taking the total to 18,064 for the year to date.Added to this figure are the remaining 304 Echos that Toyota has sold this year, before the nameplate was changed to be consistent with the Yaris badging used in Europe.Hyundai's small Getz, named Australia's Best Small Car for 2005 by Australia's auto clubs, has also achieved an increase in sales, with 1738 models sold last month, and 13,863 for the year, an 18.4 per cent improvement over the same period last year.Getz prices start at $13,990 and stretch to $18,380. The cheapest car on the market, the Holden Barina, starting at $13,490, has the third highest sales for the segment, with 1091 sales in August and 9567 for the year to date.The Barina is followed by the Suzuki Swift, Honda Jazz and Kia Rio, all recording between 5500 and 6800 sales each for the year-to-date and just under 100 sales in August.Sturrock says while fuel prices are contributing to a shift to these cars, good value at a low price is also converting buyers."The small cars now are very well equipped," he says. "Some years ago they were the basic models, but now they're well equipped with safety and anti-theft, occupant protection, airbags and ABS, and they often have Electronic Stability Control."Features in this segment on cars such as the Yaris and Getz include front airbags, an MP3 compatible CD system, airconditioning, power windows, central locking and ABS. Some even come with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution and anti-skid technology.Holden's Barina offers airconditioning as standard, a feature that has to be bought as an option in the $34,990 base model VE Commodore Omega. The Hyundai Getz also offers a five-year/130,000km warranty.Toyota spokesman, Mike Breen, says this segment also offers a good alternative to second-hand cars."With the options that you can get on a brand new car, plus the new car warranty, it's quite appealing, especially to younger people," he says. And it seems a wide variety of buyers are purchasing these light cars, from students through to families and retirees.Hyundai spokesman Richard Power says its small cars, the Getz and Accent, are finding a market among a variety of drivers."We get quite a few young people buying it as their first new car and there's loyalty from senior motorists, who don't need a big car any more and are very attracted by the long warranty," he says. Overall, the car market has dropped by 3.4per cent on last year, with 642,383 vehicles sold, a decrease of 22,513 vehicles. August was also down from 2005 by 4516 vehicles.In the small car segment, sales are up 3 per cent year-to-date, with the Toyota Corolla the segment leader with 4147 sales in August and 31,705 Corollas sold this year. But small car sales also experienced a slight drop last month, down 1.3 per cent or 244 vehicles.Sturrock says that although the large car segment is down by 26,461 vehicles, it is still an important part of the market."It has reduced over time from what it was to where it is today," he says. "But it's still about 25 per cent of the passenger car market. You see very strong interest in the new Holden Commodore and the new Toyota Camry, there's been an excellent reaction."WHAT'S SELLINGToyota Yaris 18,368Hyundai Getz 13,863Holden Barina 9567Suzuki Swift 6703Honda Jazz 5936Kia Rio 5579Ford Fiesta 4407Mazda2 3934Hyundai Accent 3593Mitsubishi Colt 1516VW Polo 1337Peugoet 206 1071Citroen C3 486Proton Savvy 357smart fortwo 326Renault Clio 173Citroen C2 139smart forfour 132Fiat Punto 113Daihatsu Sirion 40Proton Satria 9Suzuki Ignis 1*Source: VFacts (light car sales 2006 to end August)Note: Yaris sales includes 304 Echo salesTHE CHEAPIESHolden Barina from $13,490Hyundai Getz from $13,990Proton Savvy from $13,990Toyota Yaris from $14,990Hyundai Accent from $15,990Mitsubishi Colt from $15,990Suzuki Swift from $15,990Ford Fiesta from $15,990Honda Jazz from $15,990Kia Rio from $15,990Mazda2 from $16,335Peugeot 206 from $16,990VW Polo from $16,990

The Fiat Punto is of particular interest at the Adelaide Motor Show because it signals the return to Australia of passenger cars under the Fiat banner. The Punto is the number one selling small car in Europe so far this year and is sure to shake things up in Australia when it arrives in the middle of this year. Returning to passenger cars in Australia with a small car is a well-researched move for Fiat, at least according to movements within the local industry.Holden boss Denny Mooney stated clearly that 2005 was the year of the small car, at least for the Elizabeth-based manufacturer. With new models fl owing into the country from around the world, obviously the bosses at many other marques think a similar way.The trend to smaller cars began in earnest last year – in line with rising fuel prices. A total of about 90,000 light and 215,000 small cars were sold last year, with lights up 6000 units on the previous year and smalls up 34,000 units. In September, Toyota’s 1.8-litre four-cylinder Corollas out-sold the Holden Commodore – widely considered to be Australia’s favourite car – by about 100 units.There is no suggestion that Mr Mooney and other Holden heads were simply reacting to that little towelling by Toyota when it began rolling out its lightweight Korean-built products including Barina and Viva late last year, but it is indicative of how local makers have had to arrange their product line-ups to be competitive. Holden, with its highly successful Astra models and the Barina and Viva ranges, now has its largest fl eet of small car options – many of which will be at Wayville.Toyota certainly has not dropped the ball. Its Echo replacement, the Yaris, is selling like little hot cakes in its hatch version – with the recently released sedan model also expected to draw plenty of attention in coming months.Ford Australia boss Tom Gorman said heading towards the end of last year that Ford had completely under-called the growth in the small car segment. Ford struggled to get the number of Focus vehicles it could sell out of its South African plant. But the Blue Oval badge company will this year try to excite the small car segment with its much anticipated XR5 Focus.All the while, Asian car makers including Hyundai, with its award-winning Getz, and Kia with an all-new Rio range, added to the competition.Nissan has chipped in with the new Tiida and the Suzuki Swift last year won CARSguide Car of the Year as the small car range grew dramatically. As the popularity of the segment grows, so too does the commitment to safety.Toyota, with its Yaris range, appears to be leading the way. But other manufacturers, particularly Hyundai – with its safety pack on the Getz – judged Australia’s Best Small Car by the nation’s motoring organisations – also have not ignored the issue of safety.

More than 25,000 admirers, tyre kickers and buyers packed the Convention Centre at South Bank on the second day of the show last Saturday, smashing all previous records.The 8000 increase on the previous single-day best crowd was helped by the official season launch of the V8 Supercar championship which featured all the stars and cars of the Holden versus Ford series in nearby Little Stanley St.While most come to dream there are those who use the opportunity to compare notes between rival brands at close range and under the one roof.With fuel prices remaining high, the cost of running a vehicle remains a key buying consideration among many buyers.For those wanting to stretch their dollar further at the pump there are fresh injections of turbo diesel variants in the passenger car line-up including Volkswagen's Polo oil burner for $22,990.Lexus provided the Queensland public with its first look at the GS450H saloon, a luxury petrol/electric hybrid which is scheduled to do business in local showrooms from May.BMW, which is showing off a new range of V8 engines in the 5, 6 and 7-series at the show, says it will have a hydrogen-powered 7-series on Australian roads in two years but there is a need for government intervention to possibly sort through filling station infrastructure.While the future is firmly set on alternative power sources, there remains an unwavering passion for hot blooded exotic sports machines.In performance alley at the show there is the stunning Pagani Zonda Roadster, priced at $1.3 million or the equivalent of four median-priced Brisbane homes.While Holden is flooring the fans with the hot rod Efigy, it also previewed its next four-wheel-drive wagon, the Capitva.VW took the covers off the new Passat sedan and wagon while Fiat had a range of Puntos which will signal the Italian maker's return to the passenger car ranks in Australia this year. The show continues until Sunday.

Fiat will offer the Grande Punto for sale mid-year, joining the Fiat Ducato commercial vehicles and its Alfa Romeo cousins in the market. The Grande Punto is a brand new model, setting a trend for all Australian-market Fiats to be all-new models from the Italian maker. As with Alfa Romeo, Fiat will launch its models in Australia as they are launched in Europe, and the initial dealer network will largely comprise established Alfa Romeo dealers. There will be a full range of Grande Punto versions, including a diesel, and all will be uniquely specified for the Australian market and priced to match their Japanese and European rivals in the premium small car sector. Grande Punto is aimed at buyers moving into smaller cars, but not willing to give up the style, equipment and performance they are used to in larger cars. Judging by the enthusiastic reception received by Alfa Romeo when it returned to Australia just over seven years ago, Fiat can expect to be one of the top show attractions for Italian car enthusiasts. Along with Italian supercars from Ferrari and Maserati - corporate relatives within the Fiat family - the Grande Punto delivers a distinctive Italian flavour that sets it apart from its rivals. Melbourne International Motor Show runs from Thursday 9 February to Sunday 19 February at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre, and is organised and promoted by the Victorian Automobile Chamber of Commerce through its dealer division the Australian Automobile Dealers Association (Vic).