The Fiat Punto is a supermini car produced by the Italian manufacturer Fiat from 1993 to 2018, spanning over three generations. The third generation of the car was marketed as the Grande Punto, between 2005 and 2009, and the Punto Evo, between 2009 and 2012, when the bare Punto name was reintroduced. As of May 2013[update], nearly nine million units had been sold globally.
The first generation Punto was made 3,429 million units, the second generation 2,96 million units, and the third generation 2,67 million units.
Internally codenamed Project 176, the Punto was announced in September 1993 as a replacement for the ageing Fiat Uno and launched in the end of 1993 or the beginning of 1994, depending on the market. The Fiat Punto was voted European Car of the Year for 1995, defeating rival Volkswagen Polo by only 78 points.
The official launch of the Punto in the United Kingdom was in October 1993, at the London Motorfair.
The Punto was designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro and was available as a three door or five door hatchback, a two door cabriolet and a three door panel van. As the majority of the new Fiat group models, suspension was all independent, composed of MacPherson struts at the front and trailing arms at the rear.
Entry level in the Punto range were the 1.1 and 1.2 L petrol engines and the 1.7 diesel engine. The 1.2 engine's actual capacity is 1242 cc, available in three versions. The first, was fitted in the Punto ELX 75 and produced 75 hp (56 kW) at 6000 rpm while the second, fitted to Punto ELX 85 produced 86 hp (64 kW) at 6000 rpm.
The third was a 60 hp (45 kW) engine which eventually replaced the 1.1 54 hp (40 kW) engine.
A Sporting model was also available with a 1.6 8v updated 128 SOHC engine, producing 88 hp (66 kW), later replaced in 1997 by the 1.2 16v FIRE engine used in the 85 ELX, and a power drop to 86 hp (64 kW).
The top of the range model was the 136 PS (100 kW; 134 hp) 1.4 GT, using an evolution of the turbocharged 128 SOHC engine originally found in the Fiat Uno Turbo Mk II, capable of running over 200 km/h (120 mph) and reaching 100 km/h (62 mph) in 7.9 seconds, and came fitted with a five speed manual gearbox.
During the years, the GT was made in three different "series" with power 136 PS (100 kW; 134 hp) (1993–1995),133 PS (98 kW; 131 hp) (1995–1997) and 130 PS (96 kW; 130 hp) (1997–1999).
A cabriolet (convertible) version was also available; built by Bertone (rather than at the main Fiat factory), it featured an electric powered fully retracting roof and was one of the cheapest open top cars in the world at the time. In Europe, it was also made with a manual roof.
Available in both ELX and SX trim, initially powered by the 90 hp (67 kW) 1.6 Mpi unit (replaced in 1995 by the 86 hp (64 kW) 1.2-L 16v FIRE unit). Approximately 55,000 cars were built between 1994 and 1999, although the last cars were registered in 2000.
Particular versions of the first generation Punto were the Punto 6Speed, a 1.1 FIRE Punto 55 with a six speed gearbox, the Punto Selecta with a CVT type automatic gearbox, and the Punto ED (Economical Drive), a 1.1 Punto whose five speed gearbox was designed for high fuel efficiency.
The second generation Punto, codenamed Project 188, was launched in September 1999 at the Frankfurt Motor Show. The styling was all new while retaining the original Punto's distinctive shape and design, while the chassis and interior were completely overhauled, with a new torsion beam rear suspension.
The new Punto also became the first Fiat in decades to carry the original round Fiat badge, to celebrate Fiat's centenary.
At the launch event of the hatchback, the Fiat Wish concept car was also presented, which was hardtop convertible version of the Fiat Punto, very similar in styling with the Peugeot 206 CC. The model was conceived by Pininfarina to celebrate the centenary of Fiat.
The 1.1 and 1.4 engines were discontinued due to emissions issues and the entry level models had only a 1.2 petrol unit, with either 8 or 16 valves, giving 60 hp (45 kW) and 80 hp (60 kW) respectively, or a 1.9L diesel, with common rail injection and turbocharger or naturally aspired with mechanical injection.
Two sporty versions were offered. The 1.2 16 valve Sporting model with a six-speed manual, and the 1.8 HGT which could reach almost 130 mph (210 km/h). The 1.2 16V model also has a Speedgear CVT equipped variant (with a sequential manual shift mode consisting of six gears, seven for the Sporting model).
The 1.8 HGT accelerates from 0 to 60 in 8.0 seconds. It was considered a big improvement in handling over the Punto GT. The HGT was also available (in limited numbers) as an "HGT Abarth" which added deeper bumpers, rear spoiler, side skirts, new alloy wheels and interior trim. The HGT Abarth had no technical improvements over the regular HGT.
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