Fiat Grande Punto Hatchback Facelift ready for early August 2014 launch

After extensive testing on Indian roads, Fiat India finally seems ready to launch the 2014 Grande Punto hatchback just ahead of the festive season in India. An August 2014 launch is said to be on the cards for the Punto Facelift, which will be specific to the Indian car market.

Sharply raked headlamps, a new grille and a revised bumper are the changes up front while the rear will get tail lamp and bumper revisions, along with a re-profiled hatch lid. New alloy wheels will perk up the profile of the car. On the inside, revised interiors borrowed from the 2014 Linea Facelift with grace the Punto Facelift, and this includes the new soft touch dashboard with a beige colour scheme.

A couple of new features are expected to be offered on the facelifted hatchback. Poor interiors have been a bane of the Punto sold in India, and the latest upmarket job on the interiors front is expected to greatly add to the desirability levels of the hatchback. Under the hood though, is is status quo on the 2014 Punto Facelift.

Both petrol and turbo diesel engine options will be retained. The 1.2 liter-4 cylinder, naturally aspirated FIRE (Fully Integrated Robotized Engine) petrol (67 Bhp-96 Nm) engine will sit at the bottom of the petrol engine range while the 1.4 liter FIRE petrol (89 Bhp-115 Nm) motor will power the higher variants of the Punto.

On the diesel engine front, the 1.3 liter turbocharged Multijet motor, in 75 Bhp-197 Nm and 91 Bhp-209 Nm states of tune will be offered on the 2014 Punto. All engines will get 5 speed manual transmissions. We do hope that Fiat India has corrected the gear ratios of the 2014 Punto, to make for more sprightly low and mid range performance.

Price wise, expect the 2014 Punto Facelift to see a mild upward revision. With the launch slated for August, customer deliveries should begin soon after. Fiat India’s expanding dealership network is expected to begin bookings for the 2014 Punto in the next few weeks. The facelifted car could give Fiat India decent incremental volumes.

Via AutocarIndia