1.4Emotion pack

took a TD of the 1.4L Emotion pk a few days back. The dealer was really amiable, patient and spontaneous- all of which are hard to come by in The City of Joy
Even if you haven't cared to look into the tech specs of the car- you would figure out the moment you start rolling the car that it is outright heavy for a hatch. WIth the AC on, the car chugs along in the first and the second gear in the rev range 1-3.5k rpm. Once the car moves past 3500 rpm , it really moves. the engine springs to life and you start believing that the same mfgrs churned out an engine like the swift's. I haven't seen the power curve of the punto in india, but i have studied that of the uk one and one glance you can make out why the car is slow off its blocks. The power curve is hyperbolic and not linear. The peak power output is a flash in the pan. as a result for most of the rev range, an idealistic power expectd is around 82-85bhp. If you want to overtake, you MUST downshift and increase the rev range to somewhere near te 5k rpm, otherwise you would keep traling a 1990s mahindra jeep that are found in most police stations in india.
Once you decide to switch off the Ac, the car behaves a shade better. However the initial lethargy still oozes out . Gosh- you cant expect an engine churning out around 90-95NM(its nt 90-95 it is 115 is wht most of u will scream!!!!bt even thge torque curve is hyperbolic so realistically u wnt be getting more than this) to be pulling a car of 1150kgs weight. that is just stupidity. i dont know what the Fiat peple ahve in their minds but if the PALIO can have a 1.6 lt engine then the punto should definitely have it.maybe then they would not have been able to justify the killer pricing.
Nyways-back to the topic and the grand punto has a bit of body roll if you are taking corners above 60... so the best thing si to use the heaavenly brakes and downshift to bring it to a higher rev range and then take the corners :D :D :D
the exteriors of the car are just amazing. it is easily the best looking hatch in india right now. the interiors is a googly though. The features like Blue nd Me are brilinat , the BLaupunkt audio is nothing short of an in-car Bose , but then only standard black interiors doesnt fit well with the grand(e) exteriors. I at least feel beige should have been an option.interior space is also decent adn the AC is quite powerful
Overall a good car for the not-so scorchers. The features and looks are heavely for the price. if yoou want a scorcher, you migt go for the swift-but one caution-the interiors of the SWift are far below that of the punto's. even the sterio mounted control features of the punto outclass the swift.
i hope it helps ppl mk a choice. :)