Paris Preshow: Abarth Unveils 160HP 500C "esseesse" and 180HP Punto Evo "essesse"

Fiat's Abarth division is expanding its range with the launch of the esseesse tuning kits for the new Abarth 500C (convertible) and Abarth Punto Evo models at this month's Paris Auto Show. While Abarth is withholding most details on the "esseesse" packages that are designed improve the cars' performance, handling and styling, the Italian company did release info on the power upgrades.

With this kit, the scorpion-branded 500 convertible's 1.4-liter turbocharged engine delivers 160HP and a peak torque of 230Nm (170 lb-ft), up from the standard car's 140HP and 206Nm.

Acceleration from 0-100 km/h (62mph) drops from 8.1 seconds to 7.5 seconds, while top speed increases from 205km/h to 209km/h (130mph).

Output in the tuned Punto Evo "esseesse" is increased from 165HP and 250Nm to 180HP and 270Nm (184 lb-ft) at 3000 rpm. As a result, the 0-100km/h sprint is reduced from 7.9 seconds to 7.5 seconds, and top speed goes up to 216km/h (134mph).

The 'essesse' package also includes a set of 17-inch alloys with 5 diamond shaped spokes against an anthracite background for the Abarth 500C, and 18-inch alloys in a special titanium-coloured design for the Abarth Punto Evo.

Full details will be released at the presentation of the cars in Paris.

Abarth 500C "esseesse"

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Abarth Punto Evo "esseesse"

Fiat Announces UK Pricing for New Punto EVO

The facelifted Grande Punto, which has been renamed to Punto EVO, will begin arriving in Fiat's 170-strong UK dealer network in January 2010 with prices ranging from £10,995 for the base 1.4 8v Active to £15,295 the highly specified Eleganza 1.3 Multijet, the automaker announced today.

The Punto EVO will be available with a choice of four Euro 5 engines, all fitted with Start&Stop as standard, and five different trim levels – Active, Dynamic, GP, Eleganza and Sporting.

The engine range includes two petrols, a 1.4-liter with 105HP and a 1.4-liter Multiair unit with 135HP, plus two 1.3 MultiJet diesels with 75HP and 95HP.

The entry-level Active model includes ABS anti-lock brakes with EBD, driver, passenger and knee airbags, radio/CD/MP3 player, power steering, electric mirrors and Blue&Me infotainment.

The Dynamic trim level adds side and window airbags, leather steering wheel and air conditioning, while the Eleganza models get alloy wheels, cruise control and rear parking sensors as standard. The GP specification includes rear spoiler, dark tinted headlights and foglights, while the Sportingf features sports seats, cruise control, side skirts, air conditioning, sports suspension and 17-inch alloy wheels as standard.

Fiat Punto Evo: Restyled Grande Punto Revealed Ahead of Frankfurt Show

As a world premiere, Fiat will be presenting the refreshed Grande Punto at next month's Frankfurt Motor Show before the supermini goes on sale across Europe in late October. Now named 'Punto Evo', the Italian automaker's proposal in the hot B-segment has been given a mild exterior restyling, a reworked interior and an updated engine range that includes a 1.4-liter Multiair gasoline and a second generation 1.3-liter Multijet diesel.

On the outside, Fiat's Centro Stile tweaked the Punto Evo with restyled headlamps and a new front bumper that now incorporates three grilles and a dark grey center section while at the back, there's a redesigned bumper and updated tail lights. Overall, we'd say that the styling changes make the Punto Evo look more fussy than it needs...

Fiat said that latest redesign has "stretched" the car to a total length of 406cm while the other external dimensions remaining the same, with a width of 169 cm, a height of 149 cm and a wheelbase of 251 cm.

Inside, the reworked cabin gains a newly styled dashboard with a more premium feel that's inspired by the larger Bravo and features deep-set gauges on the instrument panel, new audio and climate systems as well as circular side vents.

Moving on to the engine range, there's a new 1.4-liter gasoline unit featuring the company's MultiAir system which uses electrohydraulic valve management to reduce fuel consumption by controlling air directly via the inlet valves without using the throttle.

Fiat did not release any performance figures but the automaker said that compared to a conventional petrol engine of the same size, the MultiAir unit develops up to 10% more power and 15% more torque while cutting fuel consumption and emissions by up to 10%.

There's also a second generation 1.3-liter Mulitjet diesel with a new common rail injector that offers an improvement of around 2% in consumption and CO2 emissions.

As a first, all Euro5 petrol and diesel engines in the range will be fitted with a Start&Stop system as standard.

Finally, all Punto Evos will get seven airbags as standard, including a driver knee airbag, while there's also a new "Blue&Me–TomTom" infotainment system that manages telephone, navigation and information functions on a color touch-screen.

2010 Fiat Grande Punto Facelift Revealed in New Spy Shots

A set of revealing pictures depicting the refreshed 2010 Fiat Grande Punto without any camouflage whatsoever have slipped into the internet. The updated Italian supermini that rivals models such as the Ford Fiesta and Peugeot 207 features a revised front and rear end design as well as a new dashboard that follows in the lines of the larger Bravo hatchback.

Due to be officially unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September and go on sale before the end of the year, the facelifted Grande Punto sports a revised front end with reworked headlamps and a new front bumper that now incorporates three grilles and a dark grey center section while the photos also reveal that Fiat's designers restyled the tail lights.

Inside, the 2010MY Grande Punto boast a new dashboard design that is heavily inspired from the C-Segment Bravo. Highlights include the deep-set gauges on the instrument panel, the new audio and climate systems as well as the circular side vents.

There's also talk about a revised diesel and gasoline engine line up, but better wait for Fiat to issue something official on the matter.

Via: Autoblog.it & Autopareri

Fiat's Grande Punto Production Reaches One-Million Mark

On Tuesday, 24 November, the one millionth Grande Punto rolled off the production lines of the Fiat's Italian factory in Melfi. The commemorative Grande Punto is a Passionate Red Sport version equipped with the Italian firm's 1.4 turbocharged petrol engine that puts out 120HP and it is intended for the British market. The first Grande Punto was launched in 2005 and was the heir of Fiat's two best-sellers, the first Punto from manufactured 1993 to 1999 of which 3.5 million were manufactured, while the second series that was launched in 1999 and is still currently on sale under the name Punto Classic, has exceeded 3 million. The Punto itself had replaced Fiat's iconic Uno supermini.

Teenager Sinks Fiat Punto In The Beach

An 18-year-old college student from Bolton, UK had the bright idea of taking his Christmas present, a used first generation Fiat Punto for a spin on Blackpool beach. A few minutes later Sam Hamilton’s Punto got stuck in the sand. Despite the youngster’s attempts to save the car, it was completely destroyed when the high tide came in.

The college student said: "I decided to go onto the beach because I thought it could be driven on like Southport. Then I realised the car had sunk." Sam tried calling recovery firms but a shortage of cash meant no private company would come. "I contacted one firm who said it would cost £60, but we only had £25 between us. They told me they might be able to help me but no-one came. We tried to move the car but couldn't. I phoned my mate from Bolton to help but by the time he arrived it was too late." Next time mate, stick to building sandcastles on the beach…

Via: Daily Mail

Fiat Launches Limited Edition Panda & Grande Punto

Fiat has released two limited edition versions of its best-selling models in the UK. The Panda Special Series 360 and the Grande Punto Special Series 360 feature higher levels of standard equipment at a reasonable price -but that’s about it. -Details after the jump

Based on the 1.2-litre Panda Dynamic, the Panda 360 is distinguished by a special series sticker on the B-pillar, metallic paint and 14-inch alloy wheels. Inside, the car is given a special interior trim which includes the new company logo on the front seats. Air conditioning, a Bluetooth phone system and spilt folding rear seating are also fitted as standard.

This extra equipment has a retail value of £1,600, but the Panda 360’s on-the-road price of just £7,195 is actually £400 less than the price of a Panda Dynamic.

Similarly, the Grande Punto 360 is based on the 1.2-litre Grande Punto Active and is available in 3- and 5-door specification. Recognizable from the outside by the special series sticker, metallic paint, 15-inch alloy wheels and body coloured mirrors, the vehicle also gets a unique interior trim with company logo, air conditioning, Fiat’s Blue&Me™ hands-free media system and a split folding rear seat.

Despite the fact that it gets £1,700 worth of added equipment, the Grande Punto 360 costs £8,495 (3-door) and £9,095 (5-door), which are £55 less than the respective Active versions.

Fiat Grande Punto Abarth Driving Video

Here’s the second (and far more interesting) episode of the Grande Punto Abarth Videos were you get to see and hear the 155Hp 1.4-litre turbocharged GTi on a twisty Mediterranean mountain route. Abarth will rollout the Grande Punto in Italy during September 2007 with plans to expand to additional European markets in early 2008. US? you wish...

Links: Exterior & Interior Video , Press Release & Images , 180 Hp “Esseesse” Version

Video: Fiat Grande Punto Abarth Part I

Our second video of the day (see the ’08 Mercedes C-Class Estate here) concerns Fiat’s new compact GTi, the Grande Punto Abarth. Equipped with a turbocharged 1.4-litre petrol unit delivering 155 Hp, the Abarth will hopefully revive the Uno Turbo and Punto GT heritage. We intentionally skipped the Punto HGT with the normally aspirated 130Hp 1.8L engine, as we’d rather forget we ever drove it. This video includes still exterior and interior shots. Later on the day we'll add the driving video.

2008 Grande Punto Abarth "esseesse": Official Details

The Grande Punto Abarth “esseesse” kit or SS for short, was officially revealed at the IAA 2007 last week. Available exclusively from authorized Abarth dealers in early 2008, the sport kit includes a number of visual and mechanical enchantments. With the “esseesse” kit, the Abarth’s 1.4-litre turbocharged engine delivers 180 hp @ 5,750 rpm and a maximum torque of 272 Nm (201-lbs/ft) compared to the standard model’s 155 Hp and 206 Nm (152-lbs/ft) of torque. Combined with a 6-speed manual gearbox, the enhanced engine raises the Abarth’s top speed from 208 km/h (129 mph) 215 km/h (134 mph) while acceleration from 0-100 km/h (62 mph) drops from 8.2 sec to 7.7 sec. -Click “Read More…” below

Other mechanical modifications include the special suspension set up (both the front and rear suspension has been lowered by a further 20 mm compared to the Grande Punto Abarth), and the enhanced braking system (the front discs are perforated and fitted with high-performance pads).

Since being faster isn’t enough for most people, the “esseesse” pack also includes a very aggressive bodykit that adds new bumpers, side sills, large twin-exhaust pipes, a roof spoiler, plenty of stickers and 18-inch alloy wheels. For the moment at least, Abarth hasn't announced any accesories for the interior so we added the photos of the standard Grande Punto Abarth's cabin.

According to Fiat, the “esseesse” kit is reserved especially for the Grande Punto Abarth, and can only be installed at official Abarth dealers. The car can be converted at the time of sale, up to 1 year after purchase, or after 20,000 km on the road. Once the work has been done, the tuner will deal with the administration required to have the vehicle approved.

Frankfurt Show: Fiat Grande Punto Abarth SS 180Hp

Just as the Grande Punto Abarth went on sale in Europe this month, Fiat announced that it will unveil the Grande Punto Abarth SS (Super Sport) prototype at the forthcoming Frankfurt Show. The SS is basically a stock Grande Punto Abarth with more horsepower and a highly aggressive bodykit kit that Fiat names “essesse”. The bodykit adds among other things, new bumpers, side sills, large twin-exhaust pipes, bigger wheels and a roof spoiler. The kit also includes suspension and brake upgrades along with an extra 35Hp, boosting the 1.4L Turbocharged engine’s overall output to 180Hp. Though we’ll have to wait until the opening of the Frankfurt Show on Sep. 13 to learn more details, expect the SS or “essesse” kit to be available in early 2008. -Press release and pics after the jump

Press Release

The legendary Abarth ‘Scorpion’ returns

After the official presentation in March this year, Abarth now makes its return at the Frankfurt Motor Show. One of the most prestigious brands in world motorsports. Abarth has always been synonymous with aggressive cars, competitiveness, passion and excitement, and it now returns with a new range that will appeal to all lovers of motor racing.

The stand will focus on two important concepts linked to the brand’s revival, which represent the most characteristic aspects of its identity: on one hand, the racing world, and on the other, conversions and boosted performance achieved by the application of highly technological solutions in a simple, intuitive package.

The first concept is presented very effectively with the display of a Grande Punto Abarth S2000, positioned on a large steel platform in the shape of a scorpion, to underline both the power and the unique nature of the technical features of this car.

The second concept is expressed on the stand in two different ways. First of all, there is a large photo-quality configurator, that allows visitors to appreciate and examine hands-on the elements that are important in the conversion world. But the real novelty at the show is the Grande Punto Abarth “essesse” (Super Sport) prototype, exhibited on a large glass platform, under which are a number of 3D monitors. These sophisticated screens project the components of the conversion kit which have made the basic version of the Grande Punto Abarth even more powerful and aggressive, in the best tradition of the Scorpion.

The Grande Punto Abarth went on the market this month, equipped with the 1.4 petrol Turbo engine that delivers 150 bhp at 5500 rpm (boosted to 155 bhp if 98 RON petrol is used) combined with a mechanical 6-speed gearbox that takes it to a top speed of 208 km/h, accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h in just 8.2 seconds. This is the Abarth’s first interpretation of the Grande Punto, but the initiative will soon be extended to other models.

Grande Punto Abarth “essesse” prototype (Super Sport)

The absolute star of the stand is the Grande Punto Abarth “essesse” (Super Sport) prototype. A jewel of assertiveness and elegance, the car is offered with a booster kit that almost doubles its power output with relation to the basic model (up to almost 180 bhp). The ‘“essesse”’ kit also envisages a number of specific elements that accentuate both the sporty look of the Abarth model (for example adhesives with the ‘essesse’ logo or a chequered flag) and its dynamic behaviour, with a particular low stance or a more powerful braking system. This is a feature that maintains a brand tradition: for example, the Fiat 500 of 1958 delivered 13 bhp at 4000 rpm and a top speed of 85 km/h, while the Fiat 500 Abarth of the same year, produced 26 bhp at 5000 rpm and a top speed of 118 km/h.

The Grande Punto Abarth and the Grande Punto Abarth with the ‘essesse’ kit aim to revive the thrill of those cars, offering an opportunity, addressed to the young in particular, of entering the racing world in total safety and at an accessible price.

Grande Punto Abarth S2000

The public in Frankfurt will also be able to admire the extraordinary Grande Punto Abarth S2000. This is a racing car designed for racing stables, and under the management of Abarth Racing Operations, it is competing in the 2007 Italian Rally Championship, with Giandomenico Basso and his navigator Mitia Dotta, and the IRC (Intercontinental Rally Challenge) with drivers Anton Alen, Andrea Navarra and Umberto Scandola.

Powered by a 2000 cc aspirated engine that delivers 270 bhp, with 4-wheel drive, the new Grande Punto Abarth S2000 is the heir to the version that won the 2006 European title and the Intercontinental Rally Challenge with Giandomenico Basso and Mitia Dotta, and took the 2006 Italian Rally Championship winning 7 races.

We must underline that the approximately 25 cars built so far have been ordered by several racing stables in Europe and elsewhere, to compete in domestic and international rallies. And now, thanks to this technological superiority, the new Grande Punto Abarth S2000 tackles these two championships as the title-holder, with the same determination.

The head of Racing Operations for Abarth & C. Spa is Claudio Berro, who can draw on a staff with a great deal of experience in the racing sector as well as a team of outstanding drivers.

Fiat Grande Punto Sporting 1.4 T-Jet Hits UK Shores

Fiat has expanded its Grande Punto UK line-up with the addition of the 1.4 T-Jet Sporting version. Equipped with Fiat Group’s new turbocharged 1.4-liter petrol unit that delivers 120Hp and a maximum torque of 152 lb ft, the Grande Punto Sporting manages to sprint from 0 to 62mph (100km/h) in 8.9 seconds while it achieves a top speed of 121mph (195km/h). According to Fiat, the Sporting 1.4 T-Jet features an avg. consumption of 42.8mpg (UK) on the combined cycle, while the engine emits 155g/km CO₂. We’ve driven the specific version of the Grande Punto and despite its gorgeous looks and promising 1.4 T-Jet engine though, unfortunately it doesn’t live up to expectations in terms of driving dynamics - if you’re looking for an economic mini GTi, then you’re definitely better off with the Ford Fiesta 1.6 Zetec S. -Continued after the jump

Recommended retail prices for the 1.4 T-Jet 120 in the UK are £11,995 for the three-door model and £12,595 for the five-door with standard equipment including: 17-inch alloy wheels, Air conditioning, Sports seats, Leather steering wheel, Chrome tailpipe, Spoiler and sideskirts, ESP, Six airbags and Fiat’s Blue & Me, a voice-activated music and communications system, developed in conjunction with Microsoft.

1.4 16v T-Jet 120 Hp

• Capacity: -1368cc
• Type: -4-cylinders, 16 valves
• Power: -120 Hp @ 5000 rpm
• Torque: -152 lb ft @ 1750 rpm
• Top speed: -121mph
• Acceleration (0-62mph): -8.9 secs
• Fuel consumption (UK mpg)- Urban: -32.5mpg , Extra urban: -52.3mpg, Combined: -42.8mpg
• CO2: -155 g/km