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Fiat Punto Replacement Will Be Called 500 Plus

For those of you who are interested in buying an Italian supermini in the next two years, we can already confirm that a replacement to the Punto is coming in 2016. The information arrived directly from the Italian car company, who in a feature presentation of their 5-year plan had a B-segment car marked out for 2016, together with a new compact hatch and a sports wagon.
Fiat 500L 1 photo
Photo: Fiat
The fact that it wasn't called the "new Punto" by Fiat raised questions about the current model's future. Rumors about it being replaced by a 500-badged car have circulated for quite some time now and the latest says it's going to be called the 500 Plus.

According to Automotive News, the Punto will be replaced by the new model, which should have a more premium feel. Fiat's own presentation suggests about half its lineup will be more aspirational and engaging, like the little 500.

The 500 Plus will of course be wider and longer than the 3-door city car in order to fit into the supermini segment. Perhaps the Italians are planning to shrink their car, just like Peugeot did with the 208.

The 500 Plus would be built in Tychy, Poland, with sales predicted to reach 180,000 units annually. It will be based on Fiat Chrysler's small architecture used by the 3840mm-long Lancia Ypsilon, which is itself based on the Fiat 500 and the Panda.

We don't think the Punto is going away completely. It's sold in many different markets outside of Europe and the fact that it's been around for over two decades means many people know about it. However, not a lot have bought one recently, with sales currently at about a third of what they are for rival Ford Fiesta.
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About the author: Mihnea Radu
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Mihnea's favorite cars have already been built, the so-called modern classics from the '80s and '90s. He also loves local car culture from all over the world, so don't be surprised to see him getting excited about weird Japanese imports, low-rider VWs out of Germany, replicas from Russia or LS swaps down in Florida.
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