Fiat Punto

The Fiat Punto is a supermini produced by the Italian manufacturer Fiat since 1994. It is currently in its third generation.

Internally codenamed Project 176, the Punto was announced in September 1993 and launched in early 1994 as a replacement for the ageing Fiat Uno. The Punto was voted European Car of the Year for 1995. The Punto's distinctive clean-cut styling by Giorgetto Giugiaro was an instant hit (though one of the car's most recognisable features, the vertical tail lights, were not part of Giugiaro's original design and were in fact added later in-house at Fiat). Competitive pricing which undercut rivals such as the Opel Corsa and Volkswagen Polo also helped the Punto become an instant success in the marketplace.

Entry-level in the Punto range were the 1.1 and 1.2 L petrol engines and the 1.7 diesel. A more powerful 1.6 Sporting was also available (replaced in 1997 by more economic 16 valve 1.2 unit), but the best performing version was the 1.4 GT Turbo - capable of running 124mph and reaching 60mph in just 7.9 seconds using an evolution of the turbocharged 128 SOHC engine originally found in the Fiat Uno Turbo Mk II. A cabriolet (convertible) version was also available; built by Bertone (rather than at the main Fiat factory) it featured a powered fully-retracting roof and was one of the cheapest open-top cars in the world at the time.

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