Fiat Punto
The Fiat Punto was launched in 1994 as a replacement for the ageing Fiat Uno.
At a time when rival companies like Ford and Vauxhall/Opel were producing dull looking superminis, the Fiat Punto was an instant hit with its dramatic rear end styling. Another reason for its popularity was the competitive pricing which made it a cheap alternative to a Volkswagen Polo or Ford Fiesta.
Entry-level in the Punto range were the 1.1 and 1.2 petrol engines and the 1.7 diesel. A more powerful 1.2 Sporting was also available, but the best performing version was the 1.4 GT Turbo. The Punto scored high on fuel economy but none of the range was much fun to drive. The closest thing to an enjoyable Punto was the cabriolet version - one of the cheapest open top cars in the world.
This was exactly what Fiat was thinking of when the new Punto was launched in 1999. Although entirely new, the second generation Punto was almost identical to the original. The 1.1 and 1.4turbo engines were discontinued, and the entry-level models had only a 1.2 petrol unit (with either 8 or 16 valves) or a 1.9 diesel (with or without a turbo). The best performing version of the new Punto was the 1.8 HGT which could reach almost 130mph.
Restyling went on in 2003.
More than a decade after the original Punto was launched, Fiat's supermini is still one of the most popular cars in Europe.
