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Undoubtedly one of the best features of the Fiat Grande Punto was its styling, which even earned comparison to the design of the Maserati 3200 GT, around the nose at least. Hardly surprising considering that Italdesign was involved in both cars.



So who knows what Fiat was thinking when it signed off the Grande Punto’s successor, the Punto Evo? Being kind, it’s definitely a striking facelift. Being unkind, perhaps they should have left the bandages on. Maybe it’ll look better in the flesh, but the combination of that great chrome strip with the heavy bumper / grille arrangement at the front really isn’t very photogenic.

Not all bad news though - one of the highlights of the Punto Evo has to be the new MultiAir petrol engines that manage to increase power and torque, whilst reducing fuel consumption and emissions. This is achieved by a clever new electro-hydraulic method of controlling the inlet and outlet valves.



It means that the most powerful petrol engine, the 1.4 16v turbo, produces 135 bhp yet will do just over 50 mpg (5.6 l/100km) on the combined cycle (according to Fiat) with carbon dioxide levels of 129 g/km.



By comparison its predecessor, the Grande Punto with the 1.4 T-Jet engine, could generate only 120 bhp, failed to better 43 mpg (6.6 l/100 km) and had emissions of 155 g/km.