Pint-sized power: Fiat readies Grande Punto 1.4 T-jet
Click image for a pair of high-res pics.
If you happen to live in a country where you are blessed with a Fiat dealership, this might brighten your day. The Sporting arm of the Torino automaker just released a hot new Grande Punto. Joining the already varied lineup is the new Grande Punto 1.4 T-Jet Sporting. The badge is wider than the car, but the extra goodies are worth it. What you get by checking the 1.4 T-Jet Sporting box on your order sheet is a turbocharged 1.4-liter 4-cylinder that puts out 120 hp. Now, that might not seem like a whole lot of ponies in the paddock, but consider that when fitted to the GP, it will return a 0-100 km/h time of 8.9 sec and a V-Max of 121 mph. Still not impressed? What if we told you this all comes with incredible economy and ultra-low emissions to boot? Like 42.8 mpg (Imperial) and 155g/km on the CO2 meter. The car is available in either three- or five-door form, with prices starting at £11,995 for the former, and £12,595 for the latter.
[Source: FIAT]
Gallery: Fiat Grande Punto 1.4 T-Jet Sporting
PRESS RELEASE:
GRANDE PUNTO STEPS UP ANOTHER GEAR WITH NEW T-JET
Fiat's comprehensive Grande Punto range has just expanded further with the arrival of the storming new 1.4 T-Jet 120 Sporting.
This major new addition to the popular range combines performance and driving enjoyment with Fiat's advanced engine technology. The new T-Jet petrol engine uses the latest turbocharging expertise to give outstanding power and torque but with notably low emissions and fuel consumption.
Available now in both three- and five-door versions, the new Grande Punto 1.4 T-Jet 120 is based on the range's Sporting trim level, and comes packed with stylish standard equipment, including:
- 17-inch alloy wheels
- Air conditioning
- Sports seats
- Leather steering wheel
- Chrome tailpipe
- Spoiler and sideskirts
- ESP
- Six airbags
The new T-Jet 120 versions join the 25-strong Grande Punto range at a buoyant time – Fiat has sold more than 58,000 units in the UK since the car's introduction last year, and the combination of Grande Punto's affordable style combined with the T-Jet engine's performance, economy and low emissions, makes the car a serious proposition in a crowded segment of the market place.
The 1368cc petrol powerplant is one of a new family of turbocharged T-Jet engines that made their debut this year in Fiat's new Bravo range. Producing 120bhp and
152 lb ft of torque, this responsive new engine gives the Grande Punto a 0-62mph time of just 8.9 seconds and a top speed of 121mph. However, fuel consumption is modest, returning 42.8mpg on the combined cycle, while the engine emits just 155g/km CO2.
Recommended retail prices for the 1.4 T-Jet 120 are £11,995 for the three-door model and £12,595 for the five-door.
1.4 16v T-Jet 120 bhp
Capacity: 1368cc
Type: 4-cylinders, 16 valves
Power: 120 bhp @ 5000 rpm
Torque: 152 lb ft @ 1750 rpm
Top speed: 121mph
Acceleration (0-62mph): 8.9 secs
Fuel consumption
Urban: 32.5mpg
Extra urban: 52.3mpg
Combined: 42.8mpg
CO2: 155 g/km
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Juan 3:55PM (8/02/2007)
That's 51.4 mpg (US), for those of you who don't drive on the wrong side of the road.
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Richard 4:58PM (8/02/2007)
Sorry, but that's not the case - its actually 36mpg (combined), which is pretty unimpressive:
http://www.google.com/search?q=42.8%20miles%20per%20imperial%20gallon%20in%20miles%20per%20us%20gallon
I'll take the diesel. Or I would if it was available in the 'States... And actually I wouldn't, I'd go for the Mini d. If it was available in the 'States...
sigh...
Don 4:50PM (8/03/2007)
Uh, that'd actually be 36 mpg.
Where'd you get 51.4 mpg?
Steve 4:10PM (8/02/2007)
Is "blessed" with Fiat the appropriate term?
Can't remember many people showering Fiat with accolades.
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Andrew 4:14PM (8/02/2007)
I'm still not impressed.
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Jim in Tampa 4:36PM (8/02/2007)
Blessed???? My Fiat was the car from hell.
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Thunder 4:52PM (8/02/2007)
Hi Juan,
I think you might have went the wrong way with the math. I believe it would be 34.2 US mpg. One British gallon is equal to 1.2 US gallons.
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Stoneman 5:18PM (8/02/2007)
So microsoft pours money into this econobox.......blue and me......whoooo voice controlled music? People aren't going to clamor over this thing anytime soon... now maybe if Apple did some branding, *maybe*.
Just not enough horsepower for me.
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Harrison 6:16PM (8/02/2007)
1 word- Torque.
Joe 5:31PM (8/02/2007)
Agreed, this car does not really have the power for the U.S. roads...but after driving 1500km in one while I was in Ireland, I was very impressed with this car (base engine). A sporting version would be exceptional for European roads.
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2o6 11:44PM (8/02/2007)
How does it not have enough power? The Honda Fit has 103HP and this, the Versa and the Aveo are all sub-compact cars. It's fine.
Ramiro BA 11:57PM (8/02/2007)
Hi! I'm from Argentina and I don't understand how 120hp is not enough for USA roads! I have a 70 hp VW Gol (not Golf)
and it runs at 170 km/h (106 mph)!! The max legal speed here is 130 km/h (81 mph) on a few places!! How fast can you go there??!!
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diesel 4:55AM (8/03/2007)
Hello from Ireland,
The only people that buy fiats here are budjet and hertz pure absolute junk
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Tiochristopher 7:33AM (8/03/2007)
It's a great car. Fun to drive, very stylish and after driving one for a week, i can tell you I would own one in a heartbeat. It has more personality than the Japanese small cars. While a lot of American's and many on this blog will never understand small light flingable cars, Those that do would probably love this.
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Eduardo 10:00AM (8/03/2007)
Interestingly, Fiat has announced yesterday the launch of this car in Brazilian market, here it will com with an 90 hp 1.4 (gasoline) and an GM sourced 115 hp 1.8 (gasoline, too, result of the "Powertrain" association between the 2 groups here) and then when the Powertrain contract ends, Fiat will replace the 1.8 with a modern 1.9 16V, producing more than 136 hp, later in '08 the Abarth (or Sporting) version will appear in our market
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phil_CH 12:12PM (8/21/2007)
the Grande Punto is a great car; I drove one for several days in the UK; I own the previous version of the Punto and its extremely reliable. 120bhp are plenty in this size and soon there will be a 150bhp (Abarth) version according to my dealer in Switzerland with whom I spoke today. What's so different about America that 120bhp is not enough when in Germany, where there are no speed limits, much less suffices? I guess its Amercian drivers who mostly can't cope with a manual transmission and even with an automatic they can only drive one set at D all the time...then yes, torque low down might be an issue, but this new T-Jet is pretty good on that score too. By the way, Fiat is available in Mexico as well and the Grande Punto is already on sale there...maybe the odd one might make 'guest' appearance over the border every now and then...And today I saw my first 500s; one in white, another in black and another is metallic grey...cool little cars! viva-Fiat
Con 5:04AM (8/26/2007)
The Irish have the worst taste in cars in Europe and have no sense of what styling means! Therefore, you see the proliforation of the most boring cars in terms of style on Irish roads with higest percentage of boring Toyotas and Nissans for any country in Europe. Grande Punto is the best selling car in Europe but doesn't sell in Ireland.....maybe other Europeans, who actually have a sense of style and a better technical education, can recognise what really is a great car!
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