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FIAT Grande Punto / Punto Evo 5 Doors Models/Series Timeline, Specifications & Photos

Generations: 2
First production year: 2005
Engines: Gasoline, Diesel, Hybrid
Body style: Hatchback
FIAT Punto Evo 5 Doors photo gallery

After four years on the market, the Punto had to evolve, and the Italian carmaker introduced the facelifted version for it, dubbed Punto Evo, in 2009.

In 2009, the Euro5 emission standards came into force on the European market. Most carmakers thought to make aesthetic changes since they already had to adjust the powertrains. Fiat delayed that moment as much as possible to get more money out of the 2005 Punto, which was built on the same platform as the German Opel Corsa (Corsa D).

Fiat introduced a new front fascia with a chromed slat between the headlights on the facelifted version. The grille was smaller, and the headlights featured clear-lens glass. Its five-door bodywork tried to hide the rear doors using a blackened B-pillar. Yet, the carmaker didn't want to add unjustifiable costs and hid the rear door handles into the C-pillar. At the back, its taillights were redesigned and received a different styling with clear lenses and a red surrounding on their outer side.

The interior was completely different than on the non-facelifted version. It featured a center stack with trapezoidal air vents on top, and the main design trend featured curved lines on the dashboard. Its split-folding rear bench offered enough room for three kids or four adults. Not the best seats in the house, but still good enough for daily commute to school and back.

Due to slow sales and high production costs, Fiat axed the twin-air (inline-two, turbocharged engine) from Grande Punto's lineup and the base version became the 65 PS (64 hp) 1.4-liter gasoline engine. Apart from this one, the carmaker also offered another eight powerplants plus two so-called hybrid engines that used either LPG or Methane.

full description and technical specifications
FIAT Grande Punto 5 Doors photo gallery

The Fiat Punto was a great success for the Italian brand, but it needed a successor. The new model, introduced in 2005, was named Grande Punto.

Fiat was known for being a good carmaker for the small segment. Over the years, it showed its skills with vehicles such as the 600, 500, Tipo, Ritmo, and others. It was the bigger classes that gave them headaches, such as the Argenta or Croma. But they never failed in the supermini or in the small segment.

Gone were the straight cuts and the angular lines from the Punto. The Grande Punto came with a rounded bodywork, with Maserati inspired headlights, and an ascending beltline. The flared wheel-arches evoked sportiness and a muscular presence, even though in most of the engine versions, that wasn't true. It took the idea from the Punto to install the taillights vertically on the C-pillars. Last but not least, Giugiaro and its Italdesign Studio signed the design. The Grande Punto was offered in 3- and 5-door version.

The interior was much better than on the older generation. The dashboard was mounted higher than before. It could offer better protection in the event of a crash. The drivers very appreciated a new instrument cluster with easier to read dials. There was a good room in the front but limited on the back seats due to the short wheelbase. It was a common problem for the small segment.

For the engine bay, the Italian engineers prepared a wide choice of options. The Grande Punto was available with two or four cylinders units. That's right: two cylinders for the 0.9-liter TwinAir unit. The power output available for the Grande Punto ranged between 65 hp and 120 hp.

full description and technical specifications