Punto EVO: Facelifted Punto for India likely

Fiat will soon launch a face-lifted version of their Grande Punto small car and re-badge it as the Punto Evo in India.

According to AutoCarIndia.com the new Punto will come with some cosmetic changes on the exterior and more up-market interiors keeping in tune with the current market trend. However, Fiat will use the same 1.2 litre petrol and 1.3 litre diesel engines offered on the present models of the Punto.

The company although has no plans to launch a 1.6 litre petrol engine in the India-bound Punto Evo which Fiat is already selling on the Punto Evo in some overseas markets.

The Punto Evo will boast of a horizontal chrome strip on the front end and a Fiat logo at the middle as seen on the Fiat 500. The lower air dam has lost the silver mesh grille, but gets blackened mesh grille instead which looks equally suave. The Punto Evo also sports a thick horizontal cross bar with the number plate on the middle of it. Also read: Battle of the fast sedans: Fiat Linea T-Jet vs Honda City 1.5 S comparison

The side profile of the Punto Evo is similar to that of the Punto presently being sold in India but there Fiat may offer new alloy wheel choices on the Evo. The rear end of the Punto Evo too has been changed and now gets detailing in tail light cluster and the rear bumper which has been reworked giving a better character to the Evo.

On the interior, the Punto Evo will have a fresher cabin with better quality plastics than seen on the present model. The instrument cluster has been redesigned for enhanced visual appeal. The Punto Evo will likely be priced higher than the present Punto model.

At present, Fiat offers the Punto petrol in five variants; the 1.2 Active, 1.2 Dynamic, 1.2 Emotion, 1.4 Emotion and 1.4 Emotion pack, ranging from Rs. 4.30 lakh to Rs. 6.00 lakh and the Punto diesel Active 1.3, Dynamic 1.3, Emotion 1.3, Emotion Pk 1.3 and 90 HP Emotion Pk. Prices of the five diesel variants range from Rs. 5.16 lakh to Rs. 6.83 lakh.

The present Fiat Punto faces stiff competition in the form of the Maruti Suzuki Swift, Hyundai i20, Nissan Micra, Ford Figo and the Volkswagen Polo. The sales figure of the present Punto is roughly 1,500 units every month and with the launch of the Punto Evo, the sales numbers might improve.

The new Punto could give Fiat the edge it needs over its current competition in a segment which is bustling with competition and customers alike.