The expression “Fiat Punto” was not heard outside Europe until 2005. The small hatchback had been nonchalant for twelve years, with two generations whose sales were very strong, but mostly related to cost-related aspects. Its first “life twist” would only appear with the third generation, initially called Grande Punto: Giugiaro’s design looked so good that not only did it become an immediate market success, as it also deserved to go abroad for the first time. Africa, (Latin) America and Asia received it for the first time, most of their countries with the same warmth. And since it never received a deep facelift, so as to avoid the risk of achieving a bad result, there was not even the problem of lack of synchrony with the European car.
And this is why it sailed through the years only extending those stable sales to more markets, although each year there are more refreshed rivals with which to deal. But since it is about to turn ten, everyone was expecting it to be replaced in a few years – Fiat even officialized that a few months ago, when its corporate plans defined a new generation for South America and a whole different car for Europe. However, as you have noticed, Punto’s “life plot” had one more twist saved for the current generation. The Indian division developed another small facelift, which will at most reach a few other Asian markets. In order to accentuate the differences from the original car, it will be called Punto Evo. Just like the Europeans did with their first facelift in 2009.
If you are having a little déjà vu, it means you have already seen the Avventura concept, which will spawn a light off-road variation later. The Indian Punto received a whole new front fascia, showing rounded grilles, trapezoidal headlights with little stretches on the sides, and a retouched hood with two creases converging into Fiat’s logo. The rear, in turn, combines the European tail lights made with LEDs to a bumper whose design resembles that of the front. The sides, as usual, got only new wheels. These changes were just as discreet as those of Punto’s other facelifts, and yet it is possible to find this one much weirder… Have you discovered why? Chrome inserts. There is not a single angle from which you look this car and cannot see at least one of them.
However, given that this facelift is claimed to have been done following the local taste, it may have everything to seduce the Indian customer. The interior, in turn, borrowed the facelifted Linea’s, which brought a prettier style and better overall quality. The “invisible” updates include tweaked suspension and three engine options: burning gasoline, there will be a 1.2L unit with 68 hp of power and 9.6 kgfm of torque, and a 1.4L with 90 hp and 11.7 kgfm. Switching to diesel you can only take a turbocharged 1.3L, which can generate 76 hp and 20 kgfm or 93 hp and 21.1 kgfm, but all of these are restricted to a five-speed manual transmission. In India, the facelifted Punto’s prices will go from 4.56 lakh to 7.20 lakh.