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By
EWAN KENNEDY
14 January 2008
Fiat has added a turbo-petrol engine to the options list of
its Punto small car range. But it’s not a road-stormer in the manner
of most turbocharged engines. Rather the powerplant has been designed to
give significantly better than average performance, but to do so without
compromising fuel economy or clean running.
Thus we have a clever car that can run from zero to 100 km/h in
8.9 seconds, yet has an officially measured fuel consumption of
just 6.6 litres per hundred kilometres. There are diesel engines
out there that struggle to get fuel use down to that number.
The Fiat engine has a capacity of only 1.4 litres, but produces
peak power of a healthy 90 kW. More importantly, top torque is 206
Nm, with 200 Nm being produced from a ridiculously low 1700 rpm.
That torque would normally require a non-turbo engine with a
displacement of about 2.2 litres, with all that means in the way
of higher fuel consumption.
Given its performance it’s appropriate the new Fiat Punto
turbo-petrol should come with a sporting finish. This includes a
body kit, chromed exhaust outlet, firmer suspension that’s
working on 17-inch alloy wheels, dash design, instruments, even a
steering wheel and gear knob with leather facings.
Punto is one of our favourite small cars in the styling stakes.
It’s amazingly simple in its overall lines, but manages the sort
of timeless elegance for which the Italians have long been famed,
we could even describe is as ‘timeless’ fame.
The new Fiat Punto turbo-petrol has a recommended retail price
of $25,990 which is about average for its class, and is now on
sale.
© Copyright
Marque Publishing Company
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