13th February, 2006
Following its Australian debut at Melbourne's Motor Show, it has been
confirmed that the Fiat Grande Punto will be on display at the Brisbane
International Motor Show in March (3rd-12th March 2006), prior to the
return of Fiat cars to the Australia market later this year. With past
failures out of mind, Fiat and their Australian agent, Ateco, are gearing
up to give the brand another attempt in Australia.
"This will be Queensland's first chance to see the star of what I am sure
will be one of the most exciting launches in 2006," says David Stone,
General Manager for Fiat cars in Australia. "The past 12 months have seen a
major shift in the Australian car market towards small cars and not just
small cars, but sophisticated small cars that offer all the style and
performance of the larger cars that many people are abandoning. With the
Grande Punto coming from a company that has a unique heritage in producing
the best small cars in the world and from a country that is renowned for
performance, style and passion, there could be no better time to launch the
Grande Punto in Australia!"
The Fiat Grande Punto is one of the most important cars in Fiat's history,
not just because it is the car that will return Fiat to Australia, but
because it is the latest in a long line of small cars that has provided
Fiat's legendary heritage.
These small cars started with the original Fiat 500, launched in 1936 as
the world's smallest mass production car and nick-named Topolino. Built in
sedan, wagon and convertible versions, the original Fiat 500 made cars
available to people who had never been able to afford a car and it did it
with the style. Today, the 500 is most likely to bring a smile to the
face of observers.
In 1955 the Fiat 600 was launched, followed by a new 500 in 1957. As well as
providing another classic small car the 600 was also the basis for the Fiat
600 Multipla, launched in 1956, and arguably, with its six seat layout in a
small car, it laid the foundations for the millions of small people movers
that followed. These two classic small cars have
been followed by generations of small cars, including the Fiat 127, the
first and second generation Pandas, the Fiat Uno and the first generation
Fiat Punto, a car that has been bought by more than six million people.
The Grande Punto, therefore, has a hefty reputation to continue. It
is also a role that is heightened in importance by the strategic shift in
the European car market over the last five years that has seen car buyers
moving into the Punto's market sector from the one above to make it the
largest market sector. This sector now represents 26 per cent of the
European car market, with about 3,750,000 cars sold a year. In Italy this
sector is even more significant, where this category accounts for 37 per
cent of the market. This sector is split 56 per cent petrol engines and
44 per cent diesels. This market shift to smaller cars, which has also been
seen in Australia in recent months, is not matched by a willingness to give
up the features, equipment and style provided by the larger cars, providing
an additional challenge for new-generation small cars.
So how is the Fiat Grande Punto going to deliver everything that is
demanded of it?
The Grande Punto sets safety and quality standards that are particularly
high for its segment, it offers the best range of diesel engines and it has
a very competitive price/content ratio. As a result of all these features,
the Grande Punto meets the fundamental requirements of this class and then
it adds a new level of styling, a driving experience that befits the
country that produces sports cars and does it all in a
highly original way.
Developed by Italdesign and Giugiaro together with the Fiat Style Centre,
the styling of the Grande Punto stands out in the current automotive scene
for its beauty, which is modern, elegant and distinctly 'Italian', with a
'Mediterranean' stylistic language where the tapered rounded lines inspired
by the sports cars of the 1950s and 1960s.
Like the exterior, the interior of the Grande Punto represents the most
evolved expression of Italian styling, thanks to the quality of the
materials and the care that went into every detail. The result is a
luminous, welcoming, functional environment.
The car's external dimensions put it
at the top of its category: it is 4030 mm long, 1680 mm wide, 1490 mm high
and has a wheelbase of 2510 mm, measurements which translate into an
extraordinary amount of interior space.
The full world engine range includes two petrol
engines (the 48 kW 1.2 8v and the new 57 kW 1.4 8v), and four turbodiesels
(the 90 kW and 96 kW 1.9 Multijet, the 55 kW 1.3 Multijet 16v and the new
66 kW 1.3 Multijet 16v with a variable geometry turbo).
Styling, emotion, comfort, safety and a good price: these are the
guidelines along which the Grande Punto was developed; a car designed for
young adults, the first time car buyers and young families.
To meet the requirements of this broad customer base, the Grande Punto
offers two bodies styles: a three door version and a five
door version.
Both versions share a broad, comprehensive range with three specification
levels, each capable of satisfying different customers. The Dynamic version is the right response for
those who combine an emotional and a rational approach, while the Grande
Punto Emotion is ideal for the motorist who is looking for the equipment of
a higher category and excellent comfort in a compact car. And finally, the
Sport version will certainly appeal to customers who want excellent
performance and distinctive styling features. In total for global markets
19 versions have been produced, by combining two body types (three or five
doors), four trim and equipment levels, six engines, 13 body colours and 12
types of interior trim.
The Australian market versions, along with prices and specifications, will
be announced in June when the Fiat Grande Punto will, again, signal the return
of Fiat to Australia.
Other Fiat news: here.
More news:
Thai-built Mitsubishi Truck Exports To Increase
13th February, 2006
Mitsubishi Motors Corporation announced today that the export of the
new Triton trucks produced at Mitsubishi Motors (Thailand) Co., Ltd., are to move onto a full-scale footing in
the second half of 2006 .....
more
England's Freestream T1 Design Issues
12th February, 2006
As the world’s first road car to exceed 1,000bhp-per-tonne the
Freestream T1 is perhaps bound to grab the headlines .....
more
Ford Territory Turbo
12th February, 2006
The all new turbo Territory models are a Ford Australia engineering
innovation – it's no small task mating one of Ford's most popular engines to Australia's most successful Sports
Utility Vehicle .....
more
Renault Commitment 2009
12th February, 2006
Renault's President and Chief Executive Officer Carlos Ghosn announced
"Renault Commitment 2009," a growth plan whose ambition is to make and sustain Renault as the most profitable
European volume car company .....
more
Legendary Caterhams go under the hammer
12th February, 2006
Never ones to follow tradition, British sports car manufacturer,
Caterham, are to auction a selection of their most celebrated used Sevens .....
more
NISMO 350Z at the Melbourne International Motor Show
12th February, 2006
Nissan unveils the NISMO 350Z sports coupe fitted with racing and
styling parts designed by Nissan’s famed motorsport arm .....
more
Ford Focus XR5 Turbo Pricing Announced
10th February, 2006
The latest addition to Ford Australia's high performance
arsenal, the new Focus XR5 Turbo, will go on sale in May with a recommended retail price of $35,990 .....
more
Holden History And Future Unveiled At Melbourne
9th February, 2006
Holden pays homage to an Australian icon at the 2006 Melbourne
International Motor Show with a specially customised Monaro, while the T2X concept, with its compact SUV
style and bold coupe lines, point to possible future design cues .....
more
S8 Tops Audi’s Melbourne Motor Show Line-Up
9th February, 2006
Audi’s race-bred S8 supercar heads up an impressive
display of performance cars at this year’s Melbourne International Motor Show .....
more
Europe's New Chevrolet Epica From Daewoo
8th February, 2006
Europe's new Chevrolet Epica, sourced from Daewoo, is the brand’s
first mid-size model to be launched in Europe and will come with a choice of two transversely mounted engines
.....
more
Ford Reveals a Stylish New Escape
7th February, 2006
"The Melbourne International Motor Show marks the first time
this new vehicle is being shown before going on sale throughout Asia Pacific later this year," said
Ford Australia President Tom Gorman .....
more
‘Auto Motor Und Sport’ Readers Vote Audi Models Top
7th February, 2006
Audi was victorious three times in the recent "auto motor und
sport" (ams) readers' poll .....
more
Freestream T1: Britain's new sports car
7th February, 2006
Developed for road and track, the ultra lightweight British
2-seater will offer a near Formula One performance experience .....
more
Focus Claims Ford's 50th World Rally Win
6th February, 2006
Marcus Grönholm and Timo Rautiainen scored Ford's 50th world rally victory
when they won the Swedish Rally in a Ford Focus RS World Rally Car at the weekend .....
more
The Very Last Monaro
6th February, 2006
The last VZ Monaro coupe built by Holden has been painted with a
custom colour and modified by Holden's Design and Engineering departments to reflect its iconic place in
Australian automotive history .....
more
Smallest Cars Biggest Winners in January Sales
6th February, 2006
Sales of the smallest passenger cars boomed in January as the Australian
motor vehicle market continued on its record-setting way .....
more
Mitsubishi and Proton sign memorandum
5th February, 2006
Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) and Proton Holdings Berhad (Proton)
have signed a memorandum of understanding for wider areas of corporation .....
more
Audi Continues 2005 Success
5th February, 2006
Audi Australia has recorded an all-time sales high for the month
of January 2006, up 40% on its January 2005 sales result .....
more
Renault Altica Concept Car
5th February, 2006
Renault has taken the wraps off its new concept car, Altica, a sporty
estate that combines flowing lines with a spacious interior. Its dynamic stance is underpinned by a long bonnet
and curved forms .....
more
Volkswagen Jetta Arrives In Australia
5th February, 2006
This dynamic new sports sedan is an important addition to
the Volkswagen model range in Australia and will be a significant sales volume contributor .....
more
Mitsubishi At The Geneva Motor Show
2nd February, 2006
Mitsubishi Motors Europe unveils two radical new concept cars –
Concept-EZ MIEV and Concept-X – as well as the striking new Colt CZC convertible at the Geneva Motor Show .....
more
Nissan At The Geneva Motor Show
2nd February, 2006
The Geneva Motor Show represents the world premiere of the Nissan
Terranaut, a 4x4 vehicle which is intended for explorers and those customers with a spirit of adventure who
want to travel to the extreme corners of the globe .....
more
Audi R10 Clocks Fastest Time
1st February, 2006
The new Audi R10 has proven successful after three days of
extensive Winter Testing at Sebring, Florida, making AUDI AG’s ambitious target of taking victory at
the Le Mans 24 Hour Race with a diesel-powered sports car all the more promising .....
more
Flagships star in GM Holden's export record
1st February, 2006
GM Holden has set a new vehicle export record for the
company, breaking through the 60,000-vehicle barrier for the first time in 2005 .....
more
Peugeot Unveils Diesel Hybrid Technology
1st February, 2006
Peugeot has unveiled a 307 concept vehicle, featuring a
diesel-electric hybrid power train, the Peugeot 307 ‘Hybride’ HDi .....
more
LOOKING BACK - 1946 Volkswagen Beetle
1st February, 2006
Production numbers were tiny by comparison when the
incredible story of Volkswagen’s success began 60 years ago .....
more
WRC Leader Ford Heads To Snowy Sweden
31st January, 2006
Rallye Monte Carlo winner Ford takes its FIA World Rally Championship
lead to the Swedish Rally with an opportunity to build on its victorious start to the season .....
more
Nissan X-Trail For 2006
31st January, 2006
Nissan will release a special edition X-Trail to celebrate 40
years of Nissan in Australia .....
more
Two Historic Support Races At Le Mans 2006
30th January, 2006
The support race at the Le Mans 24 Hours has become an jewel in the
crown of this endurance event – and one of the world’s greatest historic races .....
more
The 75 Most Significant ’32 Ford Hot Rods
30th January, 2006
After nominating 474 individual cars and completing 3 rounds
of balloting, a blue ribbon panel of hot rod authorities has selected America's 75 most significant ’32
Ford hot rods .....
more
Prize-giving ceremony Renault Clio III
30th January, 2006
On Friday, 27th January, 2006, Renault President and CEO Carlos Ghosn
was officially handed the Car of the Year 2006 award for Clio III by the President of the Car of the Year Jury,
Ray Hutton .....
more
Nissan Maxima For 2006
29th January, 2006
The 2006 model year Nissan Maxima will be available with a new
continuously variable transmission and an updated exterior and interior design .....
more
GM Sells More Than 9 Million Vehicles
27th January, 2006
General Motors sold 9.17 million cars and trucks around the
world in 2005, up 2 percent from the 8.99 million vehicles sold in 2004 .....
more
Audi R10 Proves To Be A Sensation At Sebring
28th January, 2006
The impressive Audi R10 with a V12 bi-turbo TDI engine, has
proven to be a huge sensation at Sebring’s “Winter Test” of the American Le Mans Series .....
more
Caterham Wins Prestigious MIA Award
28th January, 2006
British sports car manufacturer, Caterham Cars, has received the
prestigious Export Achievement Award at the Motorsport Industry Association (MIA) Business Excellence Awards 2005
.....
more
Nissan Tiida Arrives Next Week
27th January, 2006
Nissan’s Pulsar replacement, the all-new Tiida compact sedan and hatch,
arrives in Australia on 1st February, 2006 .....
more
Ford Wins 2006 Monte Carlo Rally
23rd January, 2006
Marcus Grönholm and Timo Rautiainen claimed a masterful victory on their
debut in the new Ford Focus RS World Rally Car on the Rallye Monte Carlo over the weekend .....
more
Peugeot 206 Shaping Up For 2006
23rd January, 2006
The year 2006 is shaping up as a great year for the Peugeot
206. With increased specification and lower prices across the range .....
more
Four Millionth Ford Focus Produced In Europe
22nd January, 2006
The Ford Focus, one of Europe's most popular cars, reached another
milestone last week when the four millionth example produced in Europe, a Colorado red, 136 PS TDCi Ford
Focus 4-door, was driven off the line at Ford's assembly plant in Valencia, Spain on Thursday .....
more
Volkswagen Passat is Germany's Favourite Car
21st January, 2006
It was a clear-cut decision: more than 320,000 votes were
counted in the ADAC (General German Automobile Association) reader's choice awards for the "Gelber Engel
2006" prize. There were 54 models to choose from in the "Cars" category. In the end, the winner was the
Volkswagen Passat .....
more
Extra Statesman Luxury Now Standard
20th January, 2006
Statesman buyers receive even more luxury features as standard with the WL series
2006 Statesman International, on sale from this month .....
more
Renault's Limited Edition Mégane Coupe-Cabriolet
20th January, 2006
Renault has released a limited edition version of
the Mégane Coupé-Cabriolet LX packed with over $1,500 of additional features ..... more
Suzuki Grand Vitara Catches A Wave
20th January, 2006
Suzuki unveiled its Suzuki Wave concept, a specially modified version of
the new Suzuki Grand Vitara at the 2006 Detroit Motor Show .....
more
Land Rover G4 Challenge UK Finalists
20th January, 2006
Counting down to one of the world's toughest driving and
multi-sport adventure challenges, Scotsman and 2003 Land Rover G4 Challenge veteran, Tim Pickering, last week
visited the Land Rover Experience in Dunkeld, Perthshire to administer some gruelling training on the three
2006 UK finalists .....
more
Audi Unveils Dazzling Array of Firsts in Detroit
19th January, 2006
Audi treated visitors to the 2006 North American International
Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit with its presentation of three world firsts .....
more
Europe's Mitsubishi Colt CZC coupé-cabriolet
19th January, 2006
Two years after the launch of the Colt hatchback and a year after
the introduction of the Colt coupé, Mitsubishi will unveil the third variant of the European Colt family at
the 76th Geneva Motor Show: the sporty Colt CZC coupé-cabriolet .....
more
Daewoo's New AWD To Debut At Geneva Motor Show
18th January, 2006
GM has issued the first details of its all-new compact SUV, the
Chevrolet Captiva, which makes its global debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March .....
more
Ford Ready For WRC
18th January, 2006
The opening of the FIA World Rally Championship season on the
Rallye Monte Carlo (19th - 22nd January) heralds a new era for Ford .....
more
More Go For Holden's Performance Heroes
17th January, 2006
The most powerful standard engine ever offered by Holden will be
installed in all 2006 model year Holden V8 vehicles. A new 6.0-litre alloy engine will deliver 260kW .....
more
Repsol Mitsubishi Ralliart’s Sixth Successive Dakar Rally Win
16th January, 2006
Repsol Mitsubishi Ralliart Team driver Luc Alphand and co-driver Gilles
Picard clinched victory in the 28th Dakar Rally yesterday (Sunday). The feat marked a record-breaking 11th win for
the Japanese automotive manufacturer .....
more
Ford Transit Gets Better
14th January, 2006
The most successful commercial vehicle range in Europe – the Ford
Transit – enters a new era in its long and successful life, with a series of extensive improvements to keep
it modern and relevant .....
more
Peugeot 207 – The Next Generation
13th January, 2006
Peugeot announces the Peugeot 207, the newest member of the legendary 2
series dynasty. When the Peugeot 206 replaced the legendary Peugeot 205, nobody could have known what a success it
was going to be. With over 5.4 million Peugeot 206s produced, it has become the best selling Peugeot ever .....
more
|