Analysis: Prioritising Performance With Fiat Abarth Punto

Road Test – Fiat Abarth Punto
Title: Prioritising Performance with Fiat Abarth Punto
Meta Description: Remarkable driving dynamics with 145 bhp churning turbo petrol engine and a well weighted steering make Abarth tempting for petrolheads.
Description: The bespoke Abarth Punto is for the performance enthusiasts. Combination of ride and handling is remarkable and the solid build quality typical of European cars is evident. The vinyl design scheme is aggressive but in keeping with the nature of this sporty car.

In the hot hatchback segment, Fiat Punto Evo despite its stylish design, high speed dynamics and wonderful ride quality, has lagged behind the Marutis and Hyundais. Reason? In this part of the world, average buyers especially in the
Instead, this car has black grille and red fog lamp housing. The red decals all around the car may not be to everyone’s liking and Fiat could have made them optional. Wipers don’t have the rain sensing feature and outside rear view mirrors (ORVMs) are not electrically foldable but they do have integrated side turn indicators.
The length, width and wheelbase are same as for the Punto Evo but the Abarth Punto has a ground clearance of only 155 mm. It stands on H-O-T 16 inch Scorpion alloy wheels and the wheel well gap is small. Even the flap-type door handles of the car represent its shape. The side skirts are sporty and the Abarth sticker there does not bad either. There is a massive logo on the rooftop too.
Rear wheels get disc brakes. While the Apollo Alnac tyres are nice, the level of power that this car has, the 195 section rubber does not seem adequate for on-the-limit driving. Some may like to upgrade to 205 mm.
At the back, the long LED lights look good particularly when they are lit. There are several elements comprising the set up. The Scorpion logo as on the bonnet, sits on the boot too. Abarth does not use the Evo suffix for nomenclature of this car and therefore it just reads PUNTO. On the bumper there is just one reversing light (on the left side) and the one at the other end is a fog
Down below, the dead paddle is angled way too high and if you rest your left foot there, it may make your knee uncomfortable. The foot well feels rather restricted.
The seats are shared with Punto Evo with extra mesh for finer lumbar and under-thigh support. While these provide good lateral support, the driving position is not very ergonomic.
With the infotainment system, you get Bluetooth Voice Connect setup that lets you stream audio from your phone. The voice command system is easy to get used to and can read out the messages from your phone. Both the aircon vents in the centre of the dashboard can be shut-off individually. The piano black finish around them looks nice. There is a cup holder and slots for Aux and USB connectivity on the centre console – ahead of the gear lever stick.

The entire switch gear as also the audio and ACC controls stay backlit even while driving in daytime. You can also regulate the intensity of the dashboard backlight from the MID. It is only the ambient light that turns on when the headlamp is activated in dark. You will find an extra concealed compartment inside the glove-box and there is a light in this section. Seatbelts are height adjustable and grab handles are spring