[jessie007]

About 50 Punto T-Jets will sell in the first month and slowly dwindle down to 5-10 units per month - thanks to the few enthusiasts like us. FIAT where are the mass market cars? Com'on FIAT you are a small car specialist - stick to your forte. The future for efficient hatchbacks is bright.

Unless they focus on launching the Panda (AWD not required) or another small car (500 platform), its future with the limited portfolio is grim. Or perhaps they are happy with what they are doing and just relying on royalty for use of its engines - future of which is not very clear, with Maruti-Suzuki looking to develop its own small diesel engines.

I am badly craving for a completely new B+ hatchback. I always had a future replacement car in mind. I'm into my 4th year with my Punto and no solid replacement vehicle is under my radar currently. All the current crop of hatchbacks are very old - Swift, Polo, Micra, Figo, Liva (barring the i20). Only glimmer of hope is the upcoming Figo Aspire hatch. Where are Citroen and Peugeot?! With their own woes, they will probably not enter the Indian market in the near future. Need fresh metal in the market!

[itsashishsharma]

Originally Posted by jessie007

About 50 Punto T-Jets will sell in the first month and slowly dwindle down to 5-10 units per month - thanks to the few enthusiasts like us. FIAT where are the mass market cars? Com'on FIAT you are a small car specialist - stick to your forte. The future for efficient hatchbacks is bright.

Unless they focus on launching the Panda (AWD not required) or another small car (500 platform), its future with the limited portfolio is grim. Or perhaps they are happy with what they are doing and just relying on royalty for use of its engines - future of which is not very clear, with Maruti-Suzuki looking to develop its own small diesel engines.

I am badly craving for a completely new B+ hatchback. I always had a future replacement car in mind. I'm into my 4th year with my Punto and no solid replacement vehicle is under my radar currently. All the current crop of hatchbacks are very old - Swift, Polo, Micra, Figo, Liva (barring the i20). Only glimmer of hope is the upcoming Figo Aspire hatch. Where are Citroen and Peugeot?! With their own woes, they will probably not enter the Indian market in the near future. Need fresh metal in the market!

Everybody is gonna hate you for this. We teambhpians keep crying for a more powerful hatchback among all 1.2 litre Swifts and i20s. Now when Fiat is actually doing it, you are complaining? Why do we need another mass market hatchback when we can get the Tjet in a Punto. Only sore point in this car would be that long throw clutch, but then GTO reported similar thing in the Ciaz. Gear ratios are no problem in tge Tjet. It is solidly built, not like Amaze and Dzire. What more do you want?
I won't care how much it sells as long as it is better than the competetion.

[freakmuzik]

I'm really positive about this launch and expect this to boost Fiats repute if launched similar to all this hype. Reasons being:

1) A proper performance hatch will definitely mark a great impression for the car and the company - example - since the launch of the Polo GT, the way people around me praise VW has only gone up.

2) The market for performance hatches are increasing - Even in a small city like trivandrum, the number of Polo GTs are overwhelming to say the least! And that's a great news. If the target customers are treated well, a lot of enthusiasts looking at the Polo will definitely come to the Punto too.

3) People already know that Punto is an awesome handler with great ride and rock-solid steering. So when this combines with a powerful engine, the product can easily be dreamed about too.

I sincerely hope Fiat doesn't delay it untill it's time for them to launch the Next Generation Punto!!

[nim_peter]

I would have preferred the t-jet in 3 door Grande Punto avatar. Looks sporty and distinguishes it from other hatches. Not sure if anyone going for the abarth will be using it as a family car(still can seat 4). Anyways, it is still a t-jet and won't stop me from considering it once it is launched.

[vipul_singh]

Jessie007's view may come across as contrarian, but he is probably right!

Essentially, FIAT's entire clientele is a very limited bunch of people. When they launch a vehicle, it simply eats into its stablemates' market share, instead of that of its rivals. That's why the overall sales figures have stagnated.

The reasons behind the laggard performance are all internal. Only when FIAT would acknowledge the problem and spend resources on correcting it would the situation improve.

[jetti]

I wish Fiat has a successful mass market product in India too like the Panda, which is quite popular in Europe (>10 million sold), as well as keep launching products like Punto Evo T-Jet. That would give them enough volumes to have good service network as well as cater to enthusiasts' tastes.

[lapis_lazuli]

OK. Here are the pics of the test mule, 1.4 Punto T Jet spotted yesterday. It is not coming anytime before March next year. It will be supposedly tuned at approx. 105 BHP and at 185 Nm torque at 2200 rpm. The turbo is different from the present T Jet. Had a brief word with the test engineers from FCA, who were very busy with the big analyzer in the rear seat of the car. Serious stuff and true stuff. All 4 wheels get disks, much larger than the existing Punto.

They have been doing extensive road tests, and travelled on hills, plains and deserts. Look at all the sensors.....! At least 30-40 of them connected to the central analyzer. There is one on the roof, another at the exhaust, and many others, here and there, not visible in the pics.

[moralfibre]

Originally Posted by lapis_lazuli

OK. Here are the pics of the test mule, 1.4 Punto T Jet spotted yesterday. It is not coming anytime before March next year. It will be supposedly tuned at approx. 105 BHP and at 185 Nm torque at 2200 rpm. The turbo is different from the present T Jet. Had a brief word with the test engineers from FCA, who were very busy with the big analyzer in the rear seat of the car. Serious stuff and true stuff. All 4 wheels get disks, much larger than the existing Punto.

The power figures quite seal the fate of the car before launch. A March launch for an almost ready parts bin? This car is not moving much off the shelf.

[fz_rider]

Does it mean there will be no Punto Abarth? March seems to be too long. Another niche car in the making.
I hope that there is Punto T-jet and Punto Abarth, both in the making.

[lapis_lazuli]

As you can understand, they were not so willing to divulge that information. There was a big team: almost 5-6 people, one of them gave the numbers. The figures are just a notch lower than the Linea T Jet. But yes, I was shocked too, when I heard it may extend till next year March! BUT, these are not official announcements, anyway. But the guys working on the car, looked very serious dedicated and were happily proud to acknowledge when I asked about it being a T Jet.

Didn't I hear somewhere, that the Abarth could be 135 bhp?

[moralfibre]

Originally Posted by lapis_lazuli

As you can understand, they were not so willing to divulge that information. There was a big team: almost 5-6 people, one of them gave the numbers. The figures are just a notch lower than the Linea T Jet. But yes, I was shocked too, when I heard it may extend till next year March! BUT, these are not official announcements, anyway. But the guys working on the car, looked very serious dedicated and were happily proud to acknowledge when I asked about it being a T Jet.

Didn't I hear somewhere, that the Abarth could be 135 bhp?

Some info from sources:

The car in pictures is being tested for NVH and not for engine performance. The figures could possibly be fudged to conceal info.

[lapis_lazuli]

K type thermocouples for NVH measurement...?

Google "yellow k type thermocouple" and you will see the exact sensors in the pics. I use them all the time at work.

Of course, there are facts, obviously not divulged, to anyone for that matter, at this stage.

So, could be. But probably, not only, would be my take regarding the NVH test part.

Figures could seriously be fudged. I agree on that.

Anyway, it's there....in iron(flesh) and petrol(blood)

[JayD]

One thing to keep in mind is that the current fiat lineup feels nothing like the power mentioned on paper. The 90hp punto is frustratingly slow low down and not really great on the top end either. Ditto the linea and the avvy. The Tjet linea again is 'adequate' not exhilarating. The weight reason provided is rubbish. The tune and the gearbox are the culprits.

So 105 bhp on the punto will still be significantly slower than the polo tsi.

Add to that the very uncomfortable driving position. And lack of features compared to competition. (especially compared to the i20) I think the fate of the car is already sealed.

They had the engine and the car ready since so long but decided to act when it's really too late.

[rav11stars]

Probably a noob question, but it's been on mind for long : So I'd rather ask. If the tuning of the Punto is not right, can't we just remap it or isn't it as simple as that?

Maybe changing the gearbox may be difficult; but then once I got used to the gearbox and the riding position, I now find swift's riding position awkward

[Vik0728]

Originally Posted by lapis_lazuli

The figures are just a notch lower than the Linea T Jet. But yes, I was shocked too, when I heard it may extend till next year March! BUT, these are not official announcements, anyway.

First off, thank you lapis_lazuli for this scoop, one of my cousin is all elated !!

IMO Fiat is probably looking at making the T-jet more of a VFM and not just a Sport-oriented hatch in India. The de-tuning of the engine could be to improve the Economy, considering the fact that Punto is quite a heavy car. I only hope they retain the "Turbo Push" of its elder sibling, just to keep us enthusiasts happy.

How I Wish, Fiat surprises everybody and launches the Punto T-jet for Diwali.

Originally Posted by rav11stars

Probably a noob question, but it's been on mind for long : So I'd rather ask. If the tuning of the Punto is not right, can't we just remap it or isn't it as simple as that?

Hey rav11stars I am no expert on this, but here's what I think:

- I have driven the Punto 90HP quite a lot and I think the problem is the gear ratios, as everybody knows. Tuning the engine will really take the performance a notch up, but one of the main foundations is still not right.

- Tuning the 1.3 MJD is awesome and really brings out noticeable difference. The problem with even the Punto 90hp though is that it still feels lethargic when compared to a similarly tuned Swift DDIS.

- Lastly, since this is a Punto T-jet thread, I believe you were referring to tuning this baby. I am quite sure that a tuned Punto T-jet will have the performance limits all for itself.


P.S - Getting used to ergonomics is very different from having the right one in place. No offense to any of the Punto owners, but IMHO Fiat have to sort this big loophole, at least in the Punto T-jet Iteration.