Intro
Punto
Puntos made
their entrance in 1993 amidst a rash of new Fiat and Alfa designs. And
the Puntos were an immediate hit over here. But for those who like their
motoring a bit more 'on the edge' we had to wait for a Turbo version.
That's so radical it deserves a separate page with its rallying brothers!
A bit more
in the motoring main stream, we at SFC thought their 3 and 5 door range
lacked some sparkle. Yes the cars were competent all-rounders and a
good replacement for the Uno. But it was at the first major model revision
in 1997 that we saw their true potential when the new Sporting appeared.
In fact the
'97 changes included all the petrol engines and several other significant
upgrades.
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Punto
History
The Punto's
unqualified success story began in 1993 with production at a newly automated
plant at Melfi near Naples. Fiat formally launched the car in November
that year. Like its Uno predecessor, the Punto was styled by Giugiaro
- and, like Fiat's more recent trends, the three and five door versions
were slightly different. Also, following from the Uno, the Punto was
aerodynamically very efficient - with a drag coefficient of 0.31.
It was well
received in the UK, with positive press comments featuring the Punto
layout and spacious interior in particular. The Punto's design was an
evolution of the Uno - with a revised rear axle and suspension geometry
borrowed from the Tipo solution. Safety features abounded - with similar
features to the class leaders - including side impact protection, dual
front airbags (optional on base models), fire protection systems like
a fuel cut-off valve, anti-submarining seats, seatbelt pretensioners,
energy absorbing steering wheel and ABS (optional on base models). One
area that was extended from the Mk2 Uno was galvanisation. Over 90%
of exterior steelwork and 60% of the steel shell was galvanised.
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The engine
range offered in 1994, when the Punto was introduced to the UK, was
essentially the same as for the other current Fiats, comprising the:
- 1108cc FIRE (54bhp),
- 1242cc FIRE 8-valve (58bhp with single-point fuel injection
or 73bhp with multi-point fuel injection),
- 1581cc sohc (88bhp),
- 1372cc turbo (136bhp),
- 1698cc diesels (71bhp turbocharged and 57bhp normally aspirated)
engines.
Cabrio
and Selecta
A little later
on (1995 for the UK), came the
automatic 'Selecta', fitted with a continuously variable transmission
(CVT), using the 1242cc engine and, launched at the same time, was the
Giugiaro designed and Bertone built Punto Cabrio. The Cabrio was available
with either the 1242cc or 1581cc engine, and featured an anti-roll bar
built into the windscreen pillars.
Punto Sporting
In May 1995, the Punto Sporting was released. This used the 1581cc unit,
with lower gearing. A trim and body spec similar to the Punto GT were
used, including alloy wheels, badgind, internal trim and suspension
changes.
The real progress of the Punto into true Sporting stardom came with
introduction of the 1242cc 16-valve 86bhp FIRE engine in 1997. This
is a remarkable little engine and it replaced the 1581cc engine option
in both the Sporting and the Cabriolet. The revised Punto Sporting was
head and shoulders above the previous versions in terms of performance
and driving pleasure. In both saloon and Cabrio this engine makes these
'Sportings' the pick of the bunch.
At this point
numerous other changes were made to most Punto models, including power
steering, air conditioning, new interior trims and external colours,
revised suspension settings, improved soundproofing, new wheels and
various detail modications.
And it was
this level of effort from Fiat that saw the UK sales leap into the Punto's
most successful years. In 1998 West European sales of the Punto topped
527,000.
Punto Mk.2
Production
of the Mark 1 Punto ceased in 1999 when the Mark 2 Punto was launched
in Fiat's centinary year. The new Punto was introduced
in the summer of 1999. Strictly speaking, this was a mid-production
update of the Punto, but it included a radical upgrade of the car's
components, with 80% of parts being revised. This involved an all new
exterior shape as well as a revised rear suspension (torsion beam).
The car also achieved class leading passive safety acknowledgements
(and an excellent four stars in the Euro NCAP test).
Again, the
Mark 2 was available with three or five doors. The range of engines
had all been updated, comprsing:
- 1242cc
8-valve with 60bhp,
- 1242cc
16-valve with 80bhp,
- 1910cc
diesel with 60bhp,
- 1910cc
JTD diesel with 85bhp
- 1747cc
16-valve with 130bhp.
The last unit
replaced the Punto GT turbo with a normally aspirated engine derived
from the Barchetta and Coupé. The new top performance Punto was
called the HGT - in common with the Bravo. This stands for 'High Grand
Tourismo' according to our Fiat sources. The Mark 2 Sporting, with its
1.2 16v engine and six-speed manual gearbox is a further driving delight.
Finally Fiat had woken up to the market with the Sporting - featuring
a stiffer suspension and aggressive body styling - a true flag bearer
for the traditional nature of small performance Fiats. If you get a
chance drive one and put a smile back on your face! For more serious
speed we also had the HGT, and quite soon after the first of the rally
Puntos based on it.
Styling differences between the three and five door Puntos are easier
to spot, the five door having a more aggressive appearance especially
viewed from the front. All cars came with new options including electronic
power steering (with two levels of assistance selectable by the driver)
and headlights which stay on for a predetermined time after the car
is locked.
The HGT also
featured as standard a satellite navigation system, ABS and traction
control.
Transmissions available included a five speed manual, a six speed manual
and a CVT or 'Speedgear' system from the Brava and Stilo. This can be
used in the fully automatic mode, or as a sequential shift, with six
or seven preset ratios depending on model.
The Mark 2 Punto made best-selling car in Europe for some years, and
in 2003 number 5,000,000 rolled off the production lines (Mk1 and Mk2
totals combined).
Punto Mk2B
In May 2003 a heavily revised Punto was released. Significant changes
to the appearance were joined by new engines and content. The whole
front end has been subjected to a makeover. This includes the bonnet,
lights, bumper, wings and grill. At the rear the bumper changed and
some other detail changes made including the adoption of the round Fiat
badge and additional reflectors on the three door car.
Styling difference
between the three and five door versions are replaced. The Punto now
reflects the Stilo and Marea marketing strategy, with styling depending
on the type of Punto model (and options packs). The sportier versions,
the Sound (or Active Sport) Sporting and HGT, all feature a different
look with the three and five door versions sharing valences.
In the engine department, the same Mk2 Punto choices remain, comprising:
- 1.2
8-valve (60bhp)
- 1.2
16-valve (80bhp)
- 1.8
16-valve (130bhp)
- 1.9
JTD (85bhp)
They
are joined by three new units:
- 1.4
16-valve FIRE engine with 95bhp (derived from the 1.2 unit)
- 1.9
MultiJet JTD with 100bhp (derived from the original)
- 1.3
16-valve MultiJet turbo with 70bhp - a new compact diesel, incorporating
all the latest technology such as common-rail, dohc, EGR-cooling, turbocharging
etc.
Fiat have worked hard to deliver additional electronic and transmission
features. A new transmission, Dualogic, is available. This is similar
to the old Selespeed unit, being a manual gearbox controlled by hydraulic
actuators, to provide a sequential shift with fully-automatic mode.
Also dual-zone climate control is introduced to
add comfort and ease of use, as well as rain and parking sensors. Additional
safety features include Fiat's ESP, MSR and up to six airbags. Novelties
include the "hill-holder" which keeps the brakes on for 2
seconds if the car is in first gear and a sensor decides that it is
on an incline - designed to aid hill starts.... revised colours, interior
trims and various changes including the instrumentation and wheels completed
the package.
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'97
Punto Changes Summary
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| Early
Punto |
|
97 Update |
|
1.1 litre |
1.1 litre 55bhp |
1.2 litre |
8-valve 60bhp |
1.6 litre |
1.6 litre 90bhp |
1.2 litre |
16-valve 86bhp |
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85ELX |
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Punto
GT wheels
Revised
rear axle & steering |
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New Metallic body colours |
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Punto
Sporting Spec
Engine:
Transverse 4 cylinder, type 657 CA 12 (FIRE engine process)
Head:
4 valves per cylinder, DOHC, belt drive to one cam, driving second cam
via gear
Bore/Stroke:
70.8mm x 78.9mm
Capacity:
1242cc
Fueling:
Injection, Multi point
Max
Power: 86bhp @6,000rpm
Max
Torque: 83lbs/ft @4,500rpm
Transmission:
5 speed + reverse, 4.071:1 final ratio
Suspension:
Front
- MacPherson strut with lower wishbone, anti roll bar
Rear
- Independent beam, trailing arms, coil springs & anti roll bar
Weight:
910kg
Fuel
Consumption: 40.3 combined, Top speed: 110+mph, 0-60: 10.5 secs
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| Supplier |
Suspension |
Springs |
Strut Brace |
Air Filter/
Box |
Exhaust |
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