Fiat Punto is a supermini car with lots of fascinating features. It comes in different body styles, including hatchback, convertible, and van. This small car is perfect for city driving but it can also be used for long journeys.
Even though the Fiat Punto has been an exceptional car for many years, there are several facts that people don’t know about this car. So, what are some of the surprising facts about the Fiat Punto?
One of the surprising facts about the Fiat Punto is that the car spans over three generations. Another fact is that the Fiat Punto’s name was once called Fiat Grande Punto and Fiat Punto Evo. What’s more, the original design of Fiat Punto was presented to Renault, who rejected it but it was accepted by Fiat.
What are the surprising facts about the Fiat Punto?
The Fiat Punto spans over three generations
The Fiat Punto has been in production from 1993 to 2018, spanning over three generations. The first generation Fiat Punto was in production from 1993 to 1999. It featured five body styles, including a 3-door hatchback, a 5-door hatchback, a 2-door convertible, and a 3-door van.
The second generation Fiat Punto was made from 1999 to 2011. It also featured a 3-door and 5-door hatchback and a 3-door van. On the contrary, it didn’t feature a convertible. Last but not least, the third-generation Fiat Punto was made from 2005 to 2018. Like the second generation, it also featured a 3-door and 5-door hatchback and a 3-door panel van.
Fiat Punto has changed names over the years
If you’re new to Fiat cars, you may think that the Fiat Punto and Fiat Grande Punto are two different models. On the flip side, they’re not. After its introduction in 1993, Fiat Punto used its original name from 1993 to 2009. But it was changed to Grande Punto in 2009 and then to Punto Evo in 2012. Nonetheless, it was renamed Punto in 2013.
The 1.4 16v T-Jet engine is the best-performing Fiat Punto engine
Fiat Punto comes with various engine options that deliver outstanding performance and speed. Nevertheless, the best-performing Fiat Punto engine is the 1.4 16v T-Jet engine. This engine is fitted with a 1368 cc displacement that delivers up to 178 hp at 5750 rpm and 199 lb-ft of torque at 2500 rpm. It also has a top speed of 134 mph and it can accelerate from 0 to 62 mph in 7.5 seconds.
Fiat Punto replaced Fiat Uno and it was succeeded by Fiat Argo
Due to the high price and low sales of the Fiat Uno, Fiat decided to discontinue this model and bring in the Fiat Punto. Nevertheless, in 2018, Fiat decided to pay attention to the larger Fiat Panda and 500. Furthermore, the company decided to come up with the Fiat Argo to replace the Fiat Punto.
Fiat Punto was designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro
Surprisingly, Fiat Punto was supposed to be a Renault model. The Punto was designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro. This car emerged as a 1990 design proposal for Renault’s project X57, which would later become the Renault Clio. However, when Giorgetto’s design was not selected, he took the design to Fiat and they accepted it.
Apart from designing the first-generation Fiat Punto, Giorgetto also designed the second-generation and third-generation Fiat Punto models.
The car was discontinued twice in Australia
Despite this car doing well in most parts of the world, it didn’t perform well in Australia. Fiat launched the Fiat Grande Punto in Australia in 2006. However, in 2009, this car was discontinued because of slow sales. Nonetheless, it was re-introduced in the same market in 2013 at a slightly lower price, but the sales didn’t pick up as well. This forced Fiat to discontinue the selling of this model again.
The Fiat Punto has won various rally championships
Aside from the Fiat Punto being the first diesel vehicle to compete in the Targa Tasmania competition, it has also competed and won in different championships. Furthermore, it has also won several championships. Some of them include the 2003 & 2006 Italian Rally Championship, 2006 European Championship, and 2006 International Rally Challenge season.
FAQ
Is Fiat Punto a good car?
The Fiat Punto may be an outstanding city car, but it also comes with several challenges. For instance, most of its rivals are way more comfortable and perform better. Additionally, the Fiat Punto is not very reliable compared to most of its rivals.
All in all, the Fiat Punto is still a nice car and good for startup drivers. But if you’re looking for a luxurious, reliable, and high-performance car, you should look away.
How fast is the Fiat Punto?
Fiat Punto comes with different engine options. Nonetheless, the fastest Fiat Punto engine is the 1.4 16v T-Jet inline-4 engine. This unit delivers up to 178 hp and 199 lb-ft of torque. It also has a top speed of 134 mph and it can accelerate from 0 to 62 mph in just 7.5 seconds.
What are the common problems with the Fiat Punto?
If you intend to invest in the Fiat Punto model, it is crucial to know some of the problems that you will face along the way. Some of the common problems with the Fiat Punto are grinding noise when steering, power steering problems, ineffective braking, knocking noise from suspension, and black exhaust smoke.
Is Fiat Punto a good daily driver?
Being one of the smallest Fiat models on the market, the Fiat Punto is a good daily driver. Its compact design makes it easy to park the car in public car parks. Furthermore, the compact design enables the driver to easily maneuver in traffic. What’s more, this car is efficient, easy to handle, and easy to handle. It is also fun to drive.
Which cars are similar to Fiat Punto?
Fiat Punto is one of the finest small city cars on the market. Nonetheless, it still faces stiff competition from the likes of Lancia Ypsilon, Skoda Fabia, Lancia Musa, Fiat Strada, Ford Fiesta, Peugeot 208, Renault Clio, and Hyundai Santro. So, if you’re looking for more comfort, performance, reliability, or efficiency, you can compare the above cars and select the one with the features you desire the most.
Conclusion
The Fiat Punto may be a small city car, but it comes with many fascinating features. Besides, this supermini B-segment car is fun to drive, economical, and practical. What’s more, even though it’s not the most engaging car in its segment, it’s still stylish and has several engine options that allow users to pick a car that best meets their needs.
After highlighting some of the surprising facts about the Fiat Punto, owners, interested buyers, and users can drive this car with confidence knowing some of its histories.
