good motoring
Loaded with features
H.Kishie Singh

The hatchback is dead. Long live the premium hatchback. In the past the hatchback was a functional small car without frills. Today the premium hatchback is small, compact and functional but, in addition, it has all the gadgets and gizmos of high-end sedans. The moral of this story, even before the story begins, is that competition is good, especially for the consumer.

Fiat is back in the fray with the Grand Punto after a few false starts. The company’s alliance with Tata Motors may give confidence to the customers. The Grand Punto is on the road in 21 countries. India is the 22^nd country to get the car. It is being offered with petrol and diesel engines. The petrol version comes with 1200 cc and 1400 cc engines. This is the well-known FIRE engine — Fully Integrated Robotised Engine. The diesel engine is the 1300 cc multijet — a very refined engine. It can be found under the bonnet of the Swift, the Dzire, the Fiat Linea and Palio, the Indica Vista and the Maruti Ritz. Originally on Fiat-designed engine, it is manufactured by Maruti Suzuki at their plant in Manesar. The 1200 cc petrol engine is sluggish and does nothing for the car’s performance. So why introduce it ? I think it is to be in the same league as the Maruti Ritz.

The fuel average of the 1200 cc is 14 kmpl, and 13.8 kmpl for the 1400 cc. So why would anyone buy the 1200 cc-engined Punto? The diesel-engined Punto gives 19 kmpl. These figures are given by the Automotive Research Association of India, which always qualify their reports with "under standard driving conditions". Whatever that means. Standard in Chandigarh would be rigorous in Delhi.

The Grand Punto has a road presence. It really is a good-looking car. No one will accuse the Ritz of that. Different, yes, but not good looking. One look that all cars share, irrespective of their segments, is the lower jaw hanging open. Previously, the radiator grill was above the bumper. Today the trend is to have the grill extended below the bumper, almost to the ground level.

Look inside the Punto, and you will find it loaded with features. Built on the same platform as the Linea, it lacks the space that today’s competition offers. The dashboard is borrowed from the Linea, or is it the other way around ?

The driver has a speed hunter buzzer. Set it at the pre-set mode and the buzzer warns you if you exceed that limit. The driver can get his reading in kilometres or miles, and the weather in Celsius or Fahrenheit. How does this help the driver? We have been on the metric system for years. No one comprehends miles or Fahrenheit anymore.

There is an auto service reminder. A buzzer reminds the driver that the car is due for service, and service is due every 15,000 km. For the average normal driver, that would be about once a year.

Which oil lasts 15,000 km in the heat (over 80^o C in the engine bay), cold — almost freezing in the winter — and during the time when ultra-fine dust blows in April-May-June. European conditions are mild. Indian conditions are severe.

There is a useful fitment that the Punto offers. If the driver is alone, it is possible to switch off the airbag on the passenger side. If you have a crash, strong enough to explode the airbags, only the driver’s side airbags open.

The music system is by Blanpunkt. The audio controls are on the steering.

The ORVMs are electronically controlled. The rear seat is 60-40 split. The boot will hold 280 litres. The driver’s seat has height-adjustment facility. The Punto has 195/60 R15 tyres.

The Fiat Grand Punto has been launched at a time of tough competition. Add to this the fact that the Indian buyers have matured, are more informed and are paisa- conscious.

Happy motoring.