Not to be left behind by the arrival of its larger 'stablemate', the Brisbane Motor Show will also see the launch of the turbocharged version of the Punto Sport, providing the Punto with a new performance margin.

“This year is going to be really exciting for Fiat in Australia and it all starts in Brisbane,” says David Stone, General Manager for Fiat Cars in Australia. “The Brisbane Motor Show marks the coming of age for Fiat’s return to 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. These are cars that have the economy and ease of use of existing small cars, but combine it with performance, equipment and style for car buyers who wish to move down a size category, but not give up the features and driving pleasure that have had with larger cars. The Fiat Ritmo epitomises this category. It is unequivocally the most stylish car, inside and out, in its class. Performance, from both of its turbo engines, is exemplary with the turbo diesel adding further economy and low emissions. All versions of the Ritmo are fully equipped and featured, while pricing, which will be announced at the Brisbane Show, will be highly competitive.”

The new Fiat Ritmo (which is known as Bravo in many markets) was developed in just 18 months from design ‘freeze’ to production. To achieve this record-breaking development time, Fiat employed new, groundbreaking, state-of-the-art Computer Aided Design (CAD) and Computer Aided Engineering (CAE) systems of unprecedented power and complexity, allowing the development of this new hatchback to be undertaken almost entirely through virtual analysis and engineering.

So sophisticated is the computer software involved, that not only could Fiat’s engineers simulate every aspect of the Ritmo’s structural, dynamic, NVH and space utilisation characteristics to a level of unprecedented detail, but they were also able to provide a virtual production-line to ensure consistently outstanding component and build quality.

The benefits of these all-encompassing developments in virtual design and engineering are evident in every aspect of the new Fiat Ritmo, from quality and passenger accommodation, to driving dynamics, NVH levels and, of course, safety provision.

Like many new cars, the Fiat Ritmo has been awarded a maximum 5-star rating for adult occupant protection in the Euro NCAP crash test programme. Achieving 5 stars for adult occupant safety, but just 3 stars for child protection and a modest 2 stars for pedestrian protection, the new Fiat recorded 33 points, placing it among the leaders of its category in terms of passive, active and preventive safety.

The Australian Fiat Ritmo will be offered with a choice of two engines, the 1.4 litre 110 kW T-Jet petrol engine and the 1.9 litre 110 kW JTD Turbo Diesel and two trim and equipment levels, Emotion and range topping Sport, with six speed manual gearboxes being joined by a Dualogic self-shifting gearbox later in the year for the 1.4 litre 110 kW T-Jet petrol engine.

Augmenting an interior design founded on the pre-requisites of space, build quality and visual and tactile sophistication, the new Fiat’s equipment specification has been carefully considered to simplify and enhance life on board. ABS anti-lock braking, remote central locking, driver and passenger front and side airbags, electric front windows, a CD player, Dualdrive electric power steering and 'Follow Me Home' headlamps are fitted as standard. This is further boosted in the Sport versions with dual zone climate AirCon, cruise control, the innovative Blue&Me telematics and communications Bluetooth system and sports seats, alloy wheels and body kit. Interior trim is said to be good to look at; it also provides a tactile experience, with different textures for trim and upholstery.

The 1.4 litre T-Jet 110 kW turbocharged petrol engine, makes its debut in the Ritmo. This is the first example of a new family of turbocharged petrol units developed by Fiat Powertrain Technologies to combine the sporting performance and low NVH characteristics of a petrol engine with fuel economy comparable to a diesel unit and CO2 emission levels which comply with European regulation.

Through cubic capacity downsizing allied to the adoption of the smallest possible turbocharger, Fiat’s responsive new 110 kW 1.4 litre T-Jet engine combines performance equal to or better than a conventionally aspirated 1.8/2.0 litre petrol engine, but with a reduction of between 10% and 20% in fuel consumption and emissions.

The T-Jet engine offers an ‘overboost’ button located on the centre console in Sport versions, will deliver an impressive 230 Nm at 3,000 rpm, endowing the Ritmo with a 0-100 km/h acceleration time of 8.2 seconds and a top speed of 208 km/h. Notwithstanding such lively performance, this superbly responsive powerplant will still return 7.1 l/100 km in the combined cycle and restrict CO2 emissions to just 167 g/km.

The 110 kW 1.9 litre MultiJet unit in the New Ritmo boasts an impressive 305 Nm torque delivered at just 2,000 rpm, allowing acceleration from 0-100 km/h in just 9.0 seconds and a top speed of 209 km/h, whilst returning a fuel consumption of less than 5.6 litres in the combined cycle.

With a 5-star Euro NCAP safety rating to its name, the new Fiat Ritmo builds on an already impressive safety portfolio with the full range of braking, traction control and stability systems available on the market today: ABS anti-lock brakes, complete with electronic brakeforce distribution, ASR to limit wheel spin during acceleration, MSR to modulate engine brake torque whilst changing down and an ESP to control vehicle stability through bends, which includes hydraulic brake assistance and a Hill Holder function to facilitate smooth hill starts.