Fiat India today launched its new hatchback Grand Punto amidst a gala function in New Delhi. It joins the bandwagon of new cars launched in this year. It is city centric car designed to satisfy all needs of the people who do not usually venture out urban centres.

The Grande Punto enters small car segment, as the latest car from Fiat to grace Indian road, after Honda Jazz and Maruti Suzuki Ritz. Grande Punto is positioned in the premium hatchback segment. It has finally been launched with prices ranging from Rs 3.99 lakh to Rs 6.11 lakh.

It is available in three variants – Active, Dynamic, and Emotion. A fully loaded package Emotion PK variant is also available. The car comes with a choice of three engines- the 67bhp, 1.2 litre, petrol, 89 bhp, 1.4 litre FIRE petrol and the 75 bhp, 1.3 litre turbo multijet diesel engines.

All the three powertains are matched to a 5-speed manual transmission. It has been given a handling that is similar to Fiat Linea, which gives the driver a complete feel of being in control. While auto analysts expected the 1.3 litre and 1.4 litre FIRE engine to come to India, Fiat threw in a surprise by bring in the 1.2 litre petrol engine in the basic variant.

Since all the engines are within the concession bracket for small cars, Grande Punto buyers are likely to be benefitted by lower prices. The Grande Punto is here stay at least for a decade in the Indian car market. Grande Punto embodies a refined Italian design which gives a sense of stability. It was designed by famous Italian automobile designer Giorgetto Giugiaro. Its beauty and elegance make it stand out in a crowd of small cars in India.

Grande Punto drives on 15 inch wheels with Goodyear tires, but only the fully loaded version Emotion PK gets 15 inch 12 spoke alloy wheels. On the exterior, it has body coloured well rounded bumpers which give it’s a sense of solidity. The subtle headlights positioned over the slightly flared wheel arches give it a cute look. On the rear end, the typical Fiat taillamps with vertical light clusters are seen. A wide tailgate on the rear end signifies the cavernous luggage space in the boot.

The interiors appear plush and welcoming. A well designed dash, with a silver finish centre console, similar to Fiat Linea, greets one into the cabin. It houses the integrated Blaupunkt music system and climate controls knobs, among the neatly laid out button layouts. A thick rim steering wheel feels strong and firm during the drives. The pleasantly styled upholstery on the seats and door trim feel comfortable immediately. It offers spacious seating for five adults.

When it comes to safety, the Fiat Grand Punto in India includes ABS with EBD along with the standard front ventilated disc and rear drum brakes. A unique Blue&Me handsfree communication system, designed by Microsoft is also offered on the car. It receives the well tuned Mcpherson struts suspension to handle the tough Indian road conditions. So far, it is speculated that Grande Punto delivers fuel efficiency of 9km/l on the petrol engines and 12 km/l on diesel engines.

The car was a bestseller in Europe and has been credited to have steered its manufacturer away from recession effects. Grande Punto comes with a new philosophy of Fiat just like the Linea- sporting seductive looks and spacious, driver friendly interiors. The diesel and petrol versions offer a good mix of adequate power and fuel economy. It is a perfect car to take out for a pleasurable driving in the city.