Fiat have introduced the Grande Punto fitted for the first time with the new 1.6 Multijet 16v with 120 CV to the Italian market this week, as the Italian carmaker continues a policy of downsizing engines and improving efficiency across the range.

Fiat have introduced the Grande Punto fitted for the first time with the new 1.6 Multijet 16v with 120 CV to the Italian market this week, as the Italian carmaker continues a policy of downsizing engines and improving efficiency across the range. The 1.6 Multijet 16v with 120 bhp will replace the 1.9 Multijet 16v in the Grande Punto; it is currently available in 120 bhp or 130 bhp guises. The new engines comes with an anti-particulate filter (DPF), intercooler and variable geometry turbo, and reaches  Euro 5 technical standards.

The new Grande Punto 1.6 Multijet 16v, which will be offered with optional 15-, 16- or 17-inch alloy wheels, will be available for ordering in the Italian Fiat showrooms from this week at 19,400 euros for the 3-door version, in Sport specification only, or 20,100 euros for the 5-door in Sport or Emotion equipment levels.

Along with all its major rivals, Fiat is racing to build ever more efficient and smaller engines, and the Turinese firm has a head start. The 1.6 Multijet 16v common-rail turbodiesel unit represents a major step forward from the 1.9 Multijet engine it replaces, in every area. With a capacity of 1.598 cm3 (bore 79.5 mm/stroke 80.5 mm) the engine in the Grande Punto application achieves maximum power of 120 bhp at 3,750 rpm, and peak torque of 320 Nm 1,750 rpm. It features an efficient variable geometry turbocharger that allows for a better and more even distribution of power across the rev band. Compared to the 1.9 Multijet 16v, with 120 bhp, the new 1.6 unit boasts improved performance, emissions, smoothness and running costs. Maximum power is now achieved at 3,750 rpm, as opposed to the 4,000 rpm of the 1.9 unit, while peak torque is achieved at 1,750 rpm, compared to 2,000 rpm.

Meanwhile the 0-100 km/h acceleration time of the Grande Punto 1.6 Multijet is improved to 9.6 seconds compared to the old 1.9 unit, while top speed remains unchanged at 190 km/h (193 km/h for the Sport version). Fuel consumption is 5.9 litres/100 km for the urban cycle, 4.1 for the extra-urban cycle and 4.8 for the combined cycle. This represents a minimum improvement in consumption of 9 percent on the highways and 19 percent around town. CO2 emissions are 126 grams/km.