Auto Design

Keen to enhance its success story in the popular B Segment of the European market, Fiat has orchestrated another of its spectacular launches for its Punto Evo.

The Fiat Punto Evo was presented to the international media on board the Cavour aircraft carrier, the new flagship of the Italian Navy which is the biggest technological investment by the Italian defence and the country’s largest post-war naval construction. The Cavour vessel is considered a symbol of technological excellence of Italy and hence regarded by Fiat as the perfect launch-pad for a car, engineered to be at the forefront of engine innovation, respect for the environment, safety and style.

Forget the awful pictures of the Punto Evo you have seen last month, ahead of the unveiling of the car at the Frankfurt Motor Show and take a new look to the real car. For some mysterious reasons those pictures were sent out despite they are very far from reflecting the designof the car.

The Punto Evo is a direct descendant of the Fiat Uno, launched in 1983 from Cape Canaveral, Florida and one of the greatest and most profitable successes in Fiat history.

The Punto and Grande Punto generation have also met with great success. Since the Punto replaced the Uno back in 1993 as many as 7 million units have been sold world-wide. Now the launch from the Cavour should send the new Punto Evo higher and higher on the sales charts.

Talking to an International audience of media representatives, Lorenzo Sistino, Chief Executive of Fiat Automobiles, stressed that Evo follows Darwin’s philosophy according to whom “It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is the most adaptable to change.”

Indeed the name Evo makes it clear that this is an evolution of the Punto winning concept now adjusted for the changing scenario, with the market calling for downsizing, lower consumption and less emissions.

Rather than a new car the Punto Evo is a new product, an updated edition of the Grande Punto. A product that combines an elegant restyling of the exterior, a significant remake of the interior, a major improvement on build quality and driving comfort and new, ground-braking powerplants expected to grant Fiat its leadership among the “greenest” carmakers in Europe.

With the Punto Evo, Fiat is committed to stabilize and expand that success and is swiftly responding to strong competitors – such as the Ford Fiesta and Opel Corsa – recently launched here. The Italian carmaker has taken a radically new approach in the development of its Evo. An approach similar to that of German leading carmakers: do not change your winning “horse” but keep making it better and better. To confirm this, the Italian carmaker is banking its communication on the “download and upgrade concept” from the IT language. Fiat has download a good deal of improvements, technical refinement and standard equipment, as new “software” and has improved all settings in every department: powertrains, steering, noise and vibrations.

With  wide range of Euro5 engines and two bifuel options (petrol/LPG or petrol/CNG), the Punto Evo have some more attractions for new buyers. From a package of 7 air-bags (including knee-bag), standard EBD (Electronic Brakeforce Distribution)  and ESP with Hill Holder to an optional Tom-Tom navigation system integrated into the Blue&Me equipment.

Drive the car and you really wonder if the average family would need anything more to drive any distance in great comfort and safety. Sure, in many instances car buyers might be willing to spend more money for more space, performance and status; which is totally legitimate but get closer to the border of “legitimate luxury”.

The Punto Evo goes on sale this month in Italy, France and Germany. Right hand drive versions go on sale early in November and comes January 2010 the Evo will be on sale on all other markets, including Spain and Greece.