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| The restyled Fiat Punto, which will go on sale this summer, reveals its new large headlamps and Stilo-look more profiled front bumper in these images of a barely disguised prototype seen testing. Two round rimmed headlamps sit behind a glass cover, which slots into a "family" style front grille. In the flesh the headlamps look particularly awkward and ungainly, their overlarge size failing to blend into the small car's appearance. | ||
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 This
is the first image of the Fiat Punto B-MPV which makes its debut at the
Geneva Motor Show next month. A neat and tidy design, Fiat's first mini-MPV
sports its Stilo-inspired front end and its enlarged dimensions and longer
front windscreen. |
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| The Fiat Punto B-MPV is
caught testing again near Turin. The company's first venture into the small
MPV sector is based on the Punto saloon with a slightly lengthened wheelbase,
higher ride height and roofline, allowing the Punto saloon's class-leading
interior room to be improved upon. Clearly seen are the new-look indicators
which stretch out below the headlamps. The front end draws from the Stilo-inspired
look that the new Punto restyling will offer.
Due to make its debut at next month's Geneva Motor Show, the Punto B-MPV will be available with 1.2 and 1.6-litre petrol engines as well as the all-new 1.3 Multijet 16v common-rail diesel that is expected to offer a class leading 60mpg. Fiat's "Duodrive" system that increases power steering assistance while undertaking parking manoevers will be featured along with keyless starting. |
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| Fiat has posted January
sales figures that are better than analysts were expecting. The information,
released by the Italian Ministry of Transport, shows that although sales
were down 22.4% year-on-year, market share rose to 31.2%, up from a 27.8%
all time low in December, and around 1.5% higher than most analysts were
expecting. Alfa Romeo was the biggest winner, the strongly re-emerging
marque up 2% year-on-year, to claim a 4.5% share of the Italian market.
While financial analysts were quick not to read too much into the data, speculation continued to swirl around plans to recapitalise Fiat Auto. Rumour suggests that GM will pump in around €1.75-2bn in exchange for a further 15-20% stake in Fiat Auto and the cancelling of the "put" option that requires them to buy the carmaker from next year. Since GM CEO Rick Wagoner said last month "we will help Fiat in any way we can" signals coming out of the US carmaker have been much more muted. However GM are believed to be interesting in buying the Alfa Romeo brand and Fiat's highly profitable Brazilian operations, both sales that Chairman Paolo Fresco and CEO Alessandro Barberis are believed to be firmly set against. Meanwhile advanced talks are taking place with Snecma of France over the sale of Fiat Avio, the profitable aero division, although two other tabled offers, including one from the Carlyle investment fund, are still believed to be in the frame. The €1.5-1.8bn that Fiat Avio is expected to raise would go towards the estimated €5bn required to recapitalise Fiat Auto. |
 The
ageing current Fiat Punto, which undergoes its third and final facelift
in June, will receive a revised front end that draws its styling cues from
the Stilo, to harmonise the "family" look.
This lightly disguised model, being used at a journalist and dealer awareness forum recently, gives a glimpse of a restyled front end which uses the current Punto's headlamps but with a larger more prominent Stilo-style front grille and re-worked bumper. Thick side rubbing strips follow the family look. This is not a final version however, as the current Punto's lights have been ditched in favour of much larger units, while the rear has been restyled. The revised Punto will feature a hot HGT version dressed up in an "Abarth" styling kit. The Abarth will have a restyled front end to set it apart from the standard models as well as giving it a more aggressive look. LPG versions ( first seen in the current Punto at the Bologna Motor Show last month ) will be a production option also. |
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| A lightly disguised Fiat "Small" pre-production prototype is seen at a journalist and dealer awareness forum. The replacement for the ageing Seicento and 22-year veteran Panda, known internally as Project 169 and nicknamed "mini" is as yet un-named. For the first time however views of the interior are offered. | ||
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| Ferrari took the wraps off
their new Formula 1 challenger, the F2003-GA in the brand new logistics
GES building at the Fiorano test track yesterday. Essentially an evolution
of last years World Championship winning F2002, the new car will be known
as the F2003-GA, the 'GA' being added as a mark of respect for Fiat's patriach
Gianni Agnelli, who died last month. In a slightly sombre ceremony both
Ferrari President Luca di Montezemolo and F1 World Champion Michael Schumacher
dwelt on the contribution made by Agnelli in the revival of Ferrari's fortunes.
The F2003-GA builds on the F2002 in terms of optimising aerodynamic efficiency, lowering centre of gravity height, maximising the performance available from the Bridgestone tyres and the 052 engine. However many areas of the car had to be fundamentally reviewed in order to make a step forward in performance because these areas were close to the limit of development on the F2002. In addition, the areas that have not changed fundamentally have been further refined and optimised to maximise functionality and performance, so almost every part on this car is newly designed. |
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