|  The new Grande Punto is critical in the carmaker's quest to regain its financial footing. The compact hatchback, available as a two-door and a four-door, is larger than the regular Punto but still tiny by U.S. standards. It will be sold alongside the current Punto, and Fiat hopes its size--half a class up from its competitors--will bring new buyers into the Fiat fold. The car is based on the Opel Corsa platform (a reminder of GM and Fiat's now-severed ties) and was designed by Italdesign-Guigiaro, which also did the first-generation Punto.
The Grande Punto has four different engine options at this stage, though Fiat is yet to finalise which motors will be available to Australian buyers. The current range includes two petrol engines - the 48kW 1.2-litre and new 57kW 1.4-litre lumps - and no less than four turbodiesels, which includes the sporty 96kW 1.9-litre Multijet diesel engine. Roominess has long been a hallmark of the Punto and as the size of small cars has grown, the Punto has kept pace with expectations. The new model is no exception with plenty of room for four adults, with the only concern being knee-room for taller rear passengers when the front seats are set for six-footers. Electric front windows are standard across the range, while air conditioning is standard on all except Active and Active Sport. The Punto rides comfortably and manages to keep engine, wind and road noise to a minimum. The Fiat interior represents the epitome of Italian style, although that may be stretching the point a little. Its rather minimalist in fact, the main dials being housed in a curiously flat-topped binnacle with an unexceptional centre console that, from a purely aesthetic perspective, is probably the cars weakest point. Still, its undoubtedly functional, and if you get confused by the big buttons, self explanatory ventilation controls and stereo controls, then modern life has really got on top of you. One particularly smart touch is the extension of body colour to the soft trims and dash inserts. If the dashboard was finished in grey or black it would look a little dull, but specify it in red and it really lifts the cabin. The array of engines available from launch leans heavily towards diesel, although senior suits at Fiat confide that there will be more performance-related petrol units along in due course. Grande Punto is thus designed to quicken the pulses, while offering a level of security, solidity and construction quality of a vehicle from a higher segment. Underpinned by attention to detail unusual in this market segment, Grande Punto is also an exceptionally comfortable vehicle - a factor indicated by its generous external dimensions that put it at the top of the class. Grande Punto measures 403cms in length, 168cms in width and 149cms in height; and with a wheelbase of 251cms, an extraordinary amount of internal space is guaranteed. Grande Punto has also been meticulously engineered to be both agile and responsive to drive. This lively new car is powered by a potent range of environmentally-friendly petrol and diesel engines, all of which conform to Euro 4 emissions standards, and all of which blend top performance with low fuel consumption. At launch there will be two petrol engine options: 1.2 8v (65bhp) and a new 1.4 8v with 77bhp; and four turbodiesels: 1.3 16v MultiJet (75bhp), or 1.3 MultiJet with a variable geometry turbine (90bhp); and 1.9 MultiJet with either 120 bhp or 130 bhp.
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