The Fiat Punto Evo and Alfa Romeo MiTo engine ranges will include the 0.9 TwinAir engine from autumn of this year. The twin cylinder engine debuted on the Fiat 500 and is now also available in a 105 hp version. According to reports from Autoedizione.nl the engine would be an extra unit in the line-up and wouldn’t replace the Fire 1.4-litre unit with 78 hp, or the 1.4 Multiair with 105 hp.
Rather, the TwinAir would be aimed at a public particularly interested in keeping fuel consumption down, although we do see it as an interesting choice for the MiTo. The sportier Alfa image would be maintained with the 105 hp TwinAir version, while the Punto would get the 85 hp powerstep.
Source | Autoblog.it
The new Fiat Punto is to get a US debut before appearing on the European car market according to reports from the LA auto show. Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne has admitted that the Fiat Punto is destined first for the US, with the local European market following. In an interesting show of faith in the hatchback model, Marchionne said that it will be the most significant car for the Fiat brand, with the new Punto manufacturing starting in 2013.
Marchionne has described the Fiat-Chrysler deal as an inextricable connection, and has suggested that it could be the Dodge brand to take on distribution of the Punto in the North American market. The statements came at the inauguration of the first Fiat dealership in Los Angeles, where Marchionne also stated that Chrysler would be back on the stock exchange by end 2011 to help pay off the massive debt of the brand.
Source | IlSole24Ore via Autoblog.it
Fiat is developing an Alfa Giulietta GTA model, and is also developing its first hybrid car in the form of the Fiat Punto Evo hybrid. The Alfa Giulietta GTA sports version would be equipped with a 1750 TBi MultiAir engine, and would replace the Alfa MiTo GTA which appeared as a concept car at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show, but that didn’t make it to production. The Alfa Giulietta GTA could also be called the Quadrifoglio Verde or Cloverleaf version, which means we saw a preview of it at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show. It could have about 235 hp. The Alfa Giulietta range will soon also have TCT models with dual clutch transmission.
The Fiat Punto Evo recently got a facelift, although more significant changes are planned for the future, including possible modifications to the suspension system. A Fiat Punto Evo hybrid could appear (as could an Alfa MiTo hybrid), thanks to the collaboration with Chrysler which will provide some of the hybrid know-how. A new Fiat 500 US version with chassis upgrades will also appear, meaning that the Fiat is undertaking an overall touch-up of its range, which will hopefully stand it in good stead in the future, especially for the Alfa Romeo brand under fire from Sergio Marchionne.
Source | Autocar

The Italians are impatient to see what the next Abarth Punto Evo will look like, perhaps something like the rendering above or the Abarth Grande Punto after the jump. It is only a question of when the new Abarth Punto will be presented, as Sergio Marchionne has already confirmed the Abarth models for 2010: the Punto Evo, the 500C and perhaps even a 500 TC.
The Abarth Punto Evo is sure to have the new Multiair engine with 170 hp, meaning in the future the EsseEsse model will have 200 hp. The 500 TC stands for “Turismo Competizione” and was originally the name given to race cars based on street-legal models.
The big question is why Abarth should focus on just two models and get extreme handling out of the A and B segments represented by the Fiat 500 and Fiat Punto Evo. Frustrated with these tuned versions and lack of style, some Italians are asking where Alfa Romeo is in all this. Alfa represents a true, stylish sports brand with plenty of pedigree, and the Italians want to know why Abarth should be the only brand representing Fiat in the world of racing.
Perhaps Sergio Marchionne knows something we don’t about Alfa Romeo and its future, or perhaps we should wait a little longer and see what comes out of the Alfa-Abarth-Maserati mix. Whatever the case, there’s more than one Fiat/Alfa Romeo fan peeved that the 500 and Punto get the tuned treatment when money could be invested seriously in Alfa Romeo sports style, too. As one comment on Autoblog.it reads: “You can’t ever be a passionate fan of cars until you’ve got yourself an Alfa Romeo.”
Source | Autoblog.it and Caradisiac via Autoblog.com
Move over Nick Reilly, there’s a new auto blog in town, this time from the guys at Neubauer. That’s right - you can get all your drooling done for Fiat group and Abarth models at the NDF Paris wordpress site, currently featuring a Fiat Punto Evo video and some lovely pics of a new Alfa Brera on the showroom floor.
In the pics here is an example of what we last saw from the guys - the Abarth 500 SS Speed Grey version. It has the impressive Abarth Essesse tuning kit with 165 hp and a special grey tint. They’ve probably already run out of these as only ten were planned for production, but check out the Neubauer blog for other news.
The new Fiat Punto Evo is turning into a success on the local Italian market, with more than 35,000 sales since it first came on the scene on October 10th. While some Italians have reservations about the style of the Punto Evo, it is a winner in terms of its technology and performance, at competitive prices.
The Punto Evo shows off some great Fiat Powertrain technology at low prices. Prices for the Punto Evo start at 11,800 euros, ranging to 17,200 euros for the Multijet II 1.3-litre with 95 hp. The original 1.3-litre Multijet with 75 hp sits in the middle at 13,650 euros.
While the Fiat Punto Evo might not glow on other markets, its importance to the Italian market looks assured, particularly with these competitive prices. The new 1.4-litre aspirated Multiair engine, and the turbo T-Jet model, will both debut in the course of 2010.
Source | Autoblog.it
After the launch of the new Fiat Punto Evo, the Abarth Grande Punto also gets an update. Housed in a new look Abarth Punto will be the 1.4-litre Turbo MultiAir engine with 170 hp, soon to debut on the Alfa MiTo Quadrifoglio Verde (or Alfa MiTo clover leaf).
This would suggest that the future version of the Abarth Punto Evo EsseEsse could reach 200 hp, but it also indicates that we may soon see an Abarth with dual-clutch technology. The new Alfa MiTo will feature the new c635 six-speed transmision, built in Italy and having also dry dual-clutch technology. It will appear on the MiTo, future Alfa Milano and probably many other vehicles of the Fiat group. So fingers crossed that we will see an Abarth Grande Punto Evo with this technology - it would be car to test drive!
Source | Autoblog.it
Here’s the first video of the Fiat Punto Evo to get a closer look at what is fast becoming the flag bearer for Fiat. After the hype of the Fiat 500 (cute but small), settling in to something more sensible, and more powerful, is just what we need. Fiat is serious about the new Punto Evo, giving it some style and, more importantly, the Multiair 1.4-litre engine.
The Fiat Punto Evo made its appearance at the Frankfurt Motor Show and has now been officially presented with new pics and details. We’re still waiting on the full press release, but below are the details from Frankfurt.
The Punto Evo should be an exciting model for Fiat, building on the success of the Grande Punto, with new technological innovations and an impressive engine range. The next generation 1.3 Multijet is available, as is the new 1.4 Multiair, both Euro 5 compliant. Twin-fuel LPG and methane versions are also available.
Start&Stop technology is included, and the Punto Evo will be fully kitted out with seven airbags, Blue&Me entertainment system and “hill holder” hill start function among others. It will be available on the Italian market from mid-October and could prove to be an economic alternative to the Alfa MiTo for those less style conscious. More details and pics after the jump.
The Fiat Grande Punto becomes Punto Evo and we should also see an Abarth Punto Evo version in the future. This rendering shows it with a Fiat 500 look to the front of the car and new air intakes. The rear probably needs a little revision, with the plastic inserts a bit out of place, but overall this take on the Abarth Punto Evo from Infomotori is not bad at all, and could be quite similar to the final version.
The interior should also get a reworking from the Centro Stile Fiat, or Fiat Style Centre, to adopt an aggressive sports look so typical of Abarth style. The engine to be used will be the new Multiair unit with a turbocharged 170 hp, while the SS version will take that figure to 200. The Abarth Punto Evo will be presented sometime in 2010.
Source | Infomotori
Fiat has released these new pics of the Punto Evo before its debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show. The new version of the Grande Punto hatch has a few updates, including a revamped interior and the new Multiair engine also featured on the Alfa MiTo.
With new Euro 5 laws being released today (more on that later) the Multiair joins a range of engines that comply with the new norms, including methane and LPG fuel, and a 1.3-litre Multijet with 95 hp. All the Euro 5 versions will have Start&Stop technology. We’ll have some live pics from the Frankfurt Motor Show, and below you can read all the details in the press release.
The restyled Fiat Grande Punto will be marketed as the Punto Evo, as we had predicted Thursday. The renewed vehicle from Turin will be the subject of a profound aesthetic makeover, concentrated mainly on the front end and the interior; the rear fenders will also be changed, with different side scoops. The strange thing, though, is that it is present in the same price listings as the Punto Classic and the current Grande Punto.
And yes, this is because this last one, the Grande Punto, will continue to be produced in the same way, with prices reduced by some thousands of Euros and a engine series reduced to the bare bones: all the remaining “survivors” will be fitted with the Euro 4 engine. Unlike the Punto Evo, which will be proposed with a Euro 5 engine equipped with Multiair (the presence of the 1.4-liter engine with 105 hp is almost certain) and, over the course of 2010, with the 900cc SGE.
From | Quattroruote