Fiat has launched the new Fiat Punto in UK after launching the Punto Sport in India recently. The Italian car maker seems to have come in a big way recently in India and worldwide after a near gestation period of six months to one year. In India specially, the car maker has come with a thud – Fiat Punto Sport launch. With the launch this car became the most powerful diesel hatch and it seems that Fiat has been cashing on the popularity of the diesel cars in India. Recently, the Punto Sport sales have picked up well and it will be competing with the Maruti Swift Sport that is expected to be launched soon.

Meanwhile, the new Fiat Punto launched in UK is the latest generation small car by Fiat. The 2012 Punto comes with so many changes to the front and the interiors. New headlamps, remodeled bumpers and a lot of design changes here and there have all made the new Punto quite different in looks as compared to the existing model of Punto. Besides the front, the new Punto in UK also gets a new tail gate design and new tail lamps. As far as the interiors are concerned, the new Punto gets all new plastics used inside. It is believed that the new Punto will be able to stand robustly in comparison to Ford Fiesta Econetic and VW Polo Bluemotion.

The 2012 Fiat Grande Punto Hatchback facelift also includes the introduction of the turbocharged, 875cc TwinAir twin cylinder engine. This petrol engine offers much power and improved fuel efficiency despite of its smaller capacity. The new Punto comes with six speed manual transmission. The car also has a button to limit the peak torque to 105 Nm that makes it highly fuel efficient. This button is in ease of access and is mounted on the dashboard. Available in petrol and diesel options, the Fiat Punto also offers class leading features such as start stop and gear shift indicator besides other segment first features.

Fiat has been present in India for a long time now but still the company has not been able to spill its magic on the Indian consumers. Similarly Renault too failed to lure Indian customers in its first innings and hence the car maker made re-entry in the domestic market in the year 2011. Last year Renault launched Fluence sedan which falls in the premium category along with it the company also launched Renault Koleos SUV in 2011. In January this year the company launched its first hatchback, Pulse which again belongs to the premium segment. However on July 4th, the company will launch its first mass segment car Renault Duster. Hopefully this will help in ramping up Renault’s sales in India.