Fiat Punto facelift spied near Pune

A facelifted version of the Fiat Punto hatchback has been spied testing near Pune. The car, due out in December, is expected to have similar features to those of the Fiat Avventura crossover in terms of exterior design and as the spy pictures reveal will have almost the same interiors as the recently launched facelifted Linea.

On the outside we expect that Fiat will style the car very similar to the Avventura and so that means a low sloping bonnet, swept back headlights and a single piece mesh grille that is overlapped by a two-piece plastic bumper which, unlike the Avventura, will be in a single shade. There is an updated model already on sale in the European markets with a few more external changes as compared to the current car and we expect that this car will be an evolution of the European spec car.  

The side profile remains exactly the same as before and that is thanks to the fact that the Punto is  a very good looking car in terms of the side profile. This car is expected to continue with the flared wheel arches and the low-slung forward leaning stance. At the back, the facelifted Punto is expected to get a similar lamp setup as the Avventura but will retain the same boot lid and positions for various elements like the badges and the number plate.

Inside, the spy pictures reveal that the facelifted Fiat Punto gets exactly the same design as the facelifted Linea. This is expected to include a revised dashboard as well as a new instrument cluster which now gives the car a more modern appeal. The storage spaces inside the car have been improved with the addition of new cubby holes.

Some of the standard features include automatic head lamps, rain sensing wipers, all four power windows, rear defogger, remote keyless entry and tail gate opening, rear AC vents and a music system. The top-spec petrol and diesel variants of the Linea now get 16-inch alloy wheels, leather trim for seats, gear knob and steering, cruise control and climate control. We expect that these will continue even with the Punto.

The engines on the facelifted Punto are expected to be the 1.2-litre petrol unit that produces 67bhp and 96Nm of torque while the diesel is the 1.3-litre unit that produces 75bhp and 197Nm of torque. We also expect that there will be a 90bhp/209Nm engined Punto sport but this will be launched a few months after the standard car. Both engines will be mated to a five-speed manual gearbox.

The Fiat Punto competes with the Maruti Suzuki Swift, Hyundai i20, Honda Brio, Tata Indica Vista and the Volkswagen Polo in the B+segment. Fiat themselves have confirmed that the car will be launched by the end of the year and is expected to be priced in the range of Rs 5 lakh to Rs 7.5 lakh.  

Source:Team Fiat