[nukeblitz]

Funny, no one is thinking of buying this sports version, and we are on team bhp. That's not so good for the sales, eh? Did anyone take a test drive of this 'new' Punto sport yet? Are there any non cosmetic changes? Does the gearbox still have those unnecessarily short ratios? Did the slightly ridiculous 185mm ground clearance ruin it? It almost sounds as though Fiat ran out of ideas to improve sales and they were like, 'let's raise the body to the high heavens. We don't really sell that many cars anyway...'


PS, What was the curb weight of the old one. It says on the website the new one is 1144kg. I do believe that its lower than what it used to be, but I could be wrong. If I am right, it should improve performance, but I wonder where the weight came from...

http://www.fiat-india.com/Punto-spor...aspx?ModelId=8
The specs are here

[amitg79]

Originally Posted by fiat_tarun

In all this hurry, see what i received today - Most powerdul hatch !!

Maybe they're telling the truth here. It has power, but still has dull performance, i.e. Powerdul(l).

[sidindica]

Posting a few pics of the punto sport That I clicked some days back at Delhi.

[ironshark]

Superb pics there sidindica. Every time I look at the Punto, I fall in love with her all over again! What beauty!

[avira_tk]

Fiat has finally found a way to get rid of its overpriced accessories by shoving it on Sports buyers. These pedals atleast should have been standard at launch itelf on the 90 model, the sticker job spoils the look of the car and the exhaust seems like a GC disaster.

Fiat should really be working on service/newer products(really new, not sticker jobs). Concorde already has started a delaying service, it used to be 3 days in advance to book a date, now its a week.

[StarrySky]

Originally Posted by avira_tk

Fiat should really be working on service/newer products(really new, not sticker jobs). Concorde already has started a delaying service, it used to be 3 days in advance to book a date, now its a week.

I think it is safe to assume that Concorde, being a Tata Motors subsidiary, won't be opening any Fiat exclusive showrooms. So they will becomes less and less interested in servicing Fiats. It's better to find out which Tata/Fiat dealer in your area will be opening a Fiat exclusive showroom and start cultivating good relationships with the SAs there.

[Bazinga]

The real sportz punto should have a T-JET engine Period.

[Bluengel180]

Originally Posted by Bazinga

The real sportz punto should have a T-JET engine Period.

Well the Linea T-jet isn't exactly selling as they hoped(sales dud actually,out of the 300-odd sales of the linea per month the T-Jet accounts for a tiny percentage,most of them are diesel). and a punto buyer will be more cost-conscious

[Bazinga]

Originally Posted by Bluengel180

Well the Linea T-jet isn't exactly selling as they hoped(sales dud actually,out of the 300-odd sales of the linea per month the T-Jet accounts for a tiny percentage,most of them are diesel). and a punto buyer will be more cost-conscious

TJEt is a premium product. A petrol engine that sells for more than a 1.3MJD diesel from FIAT. There are very less FIAT-lovers who would give away logic to go for this one (However I did, I was smitten by the ride quality).

FIAT could have called it limited edition / facelift / especial / Punto-NXT etc etc.... but a sportz model needs to have a better engine with a better BHP to justify it's sportz tag. ABARTH is known for producing monsters with feeble FIAT cars. A ABARTH taged car can also be called a sportz model.

Few things they could have done for this model for some grands more:
1. AIR filter upgrade
2. Sporty exhaust - better exhaust note.
3. ABARTH stickering / LOGOs...
4. Give people chance to modify the color scheme for some cost...
5. Give a racing style steering / a hot tacho (digital) and some gadgetry.
6. A turbo indicator would have been cool as well...

A little bit more thinking on their part would earn them more customers
However this is just my view.

[Raneeth]

Not many seem to be excited about this car... But I am,for sure! Booked a BNW Punto Sports last week!

Nothing much sportier than the regular 90 HP.. No! no change in those short gear ratios. But the cabin, it just seemed to be a better place to be in than the regular 90 HP.

Might take delivery over the weekend! Would update the pics soon!

[arvi86]

Originally Posted by sidindica

Posting a few pics of the punto sport That I clicked some days back at Delhi.

Superbly shot sid! Every single time I see a Punto, I am amazed by how good it looks and surprised by how it hasn't managed to become a success in India. The Punto Sports just makes me salivate. Awesome!

Originally Posted by Raneeth

Not many seem to be excited about this car... But I am,for sure! Booked a BNW Punto Sports last week!

You are wrong Raneeth. A lot of people are definitely excited about the Punto in general and Punto Sports in particular, but not many are brave enough to put their money on one. You are and I am sure you will reap the benefits. Do not forget to shoot some beautiful shots of your Punto once it is delivered. If possible, also try to post an ownership thread.

[Vik0728]

Originally Posted by Raneeth

Booked a BNW Punto Sports last week!

Might take delivery over the weekend! Would update the pics soon!

Congrats on your booking Raneeth. Looking forward for some Pics and Detailed ownership review of probably the first "Punto Sports" on Team BHP.

Coming back to this thread, I agree with many here that Punto Sports should have been something better than just Cosmetic or Visual Add-ons. I really respect FIAT's efforts in listening to its customers but I think they are kind of missing out somewhere.

If I had my way at FIAT, I might probably try:

• Launching a 2 door Punto Sports with the same 90BHP engine. When you have decided to badge it "Sports", why not do justice to the badge. This would reduce the weight and probably make it "Truly the Fastest Diesel Hatch" in India. I would still sell the regular 90BHP side by side.
• If the response for the above move is good, launch a 1.2l T-Jet Petrol version of the Sports with the same 2 door feature. Man, this would be a Drool too for us Petro-heads. Fiat can continue to sell the regular 1.2l N.A Petrol side by side.

I know that these might involve loads of R&D, legalities, cost, etc but common, when the company has decided to experiment, why not do it this way. Just may be, a 2 door PUNTO might open up the market for all the 2 Door Sports versions in India, like the way Getz did for Premium Hatchbacks.

[Raneeth]

Thanks Vik0728.

But not too sure about the 2-door version. I guess India is still a market where a car is a family vehicle and even when we buy it, we would want to use it occasionally as that.

Agree with Bazinga over the feature list, but guess thats ruled out since its not a facelift and only an LE. So adding these features for an LE might cost.

Thanks arvi86. Hope you are right.

I acually had one wish. If they could swap the red stickers on the BNW for black ones. Would have looked better, IMHO.

[invidious]

If they had half a brain - the would just drop the Fiat moniker completely and launch all their models under their Chrysler brand. The Fiat brand name in India has over the years earned itself a disrepute that opening "caffes" is never going to sort.

[raj_5004]

Originally Posted by invidious

If they had half a brain - the would just drop the Fiat moniker completely and launch all their models under their Chrysler brand. The Fiat brand name in India has over the years earned itself a disrepute that opening "caffes" is never going to sort.

And why do you think the Chrysler brand will work wonders for them? Half the Indian car buying public would not have heard about the Chrysler brand ever. Why would they trust a brand which has just entered the Indian market?

Dont believe me? Fiat sells more than Renault !!

And if they are informed that Chrysler is from the FIAT stable, people would turn their heads away. Typical thinking would be that if FIAT itself cant sell it's own cars, how would Chrysler handle their cars?

Example : Tata-FIAT JV. Many feel that it happened because FIAT is not worthy enough to sell their cars which in turn means we have to avoid their cars.