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A totally revised interior, new engines including the MultiAir and MultiAir Turbo, 7-airbags, and Italian style. These are just some of the new features befitting the all-new 2012 Fiat Punto, but critically the best new features of the 2012 Punto are the 150 000km warranty and incredibly low prices for a car of its class with the four models priced between R129 900 to R209 900.

Still as fresh as it was in 2005 although almost every panel has changed

The Punto underwent a dramatic change in 2009 when Fiat unveiled the Punto Evo to the world at the Geneva Auto Salon, a version that we never got in South Africa. So until last year South Africans have had to make do with what is essentially the same car that was launched in SA in 2005, bar one or two slight tweaks during that time. And it was a car that was starting to show its age, no so much from the outside, but certainly inside.

Interior of the 2012 Punto is dramatically improved, features optional MyPort and Blue&Me multimedia integration

The 2012 Punto, gets the updated interior from the Evo and benefits from a much an all-new upmarket atmosphere, with a smart-looking glossy facia surrounding the radio, dramatically updated instrument cluster and most significantly, the ability to add an integrated, but optional, TomTom navigation unit through the Fiat MyPort system. Also optional is Fiat’s Blue&Me vehicle telematics and integration system developed by Microsoft. However, these features are optional only on the Easy and Lounge trim lines.

The 2012 Punto is available with three trim lines, Pop, Easy and Lounge across four models. Pop is basic, but still provides a high level of convenience, comfort and safety with dual airbags, ABS, Dualdrive electric power steering with a city function that lightens the steering input at low speeds and a trip computer. The Pop retains the dashboard, albeit updated, from the previous Punto.  Meanwhile, the Easy trim line gains sportier accents like body coloured exterior trim smoked headlight clusters, 15-inch alloy wheels, a 6-speaker radio with CD and MP3 compatibility and a multi-function display between the instruments all situated in the new neatly rounded dashboard with a mix of materials and styling elements that give a car in this class some excitement. It also gains a additional two curtain airbags and a knee airbag – a first for a vehicle in its class. Lastly, the Lounge trim exclusive flagship model adds a lot of extras. It gets special sportier seats covered in alcantara which Fiat calls Castiglio cloth upholstery; integrated torso side airbags for a total of seven; leather covered gear knob and steering wheel; Blue&Me by Microsoft; dual-zone climate control; and an ESP system with integrated hill-holder function and ASR. All models come standard with Start&Stop technology that switches off the engine when at a dead stop, and starts it up once setting off. This goes a long way to providing the incredible fuel economy figures that Fiat claims. A shift indicator is also standard across the range.

Sexy bottoms are all the rage in Italy

But probably the most significant aspect of the 2012 Punto its three engines, two of which are new. For the first time Fiat and Alfa Romeo’s revolutionary 1.4 MultiAir engines are available. These engines, comparably, consume less fuel, provide more power and emit fewer carbons. And on the launch drive this was evident, more so in the MultiAir Turbo that supplies 99kW at 50oorpm and a hearty 206Nm of torque at 1750rpm; overtaking is effortless and the latent torque means it can cruise along in a higher gear. This mitigates revs and gear changing, and in the process consuming less fuel. The MultiAir Turbo is only available in Lounge trim at a price of R209 900. The second MultiAir is a normally aspirated engine producing a healthy 77kW at 6500rpm and 130Nm of torque at 4000rpm. It too is lovely, smooth and refined for a four cylinder and does not protest at being revved – typically Fiat. The 1.4 MultiAir is available in Easy trim for R169 900. Also available is the older 1.4 Fully Integrated Robotic Engine (FIRE) that Fiat has become known for. This produces 57Kw at 6000rpm and 115Nm of torque at 3250rpm. Although low-tech, it is a reliable and robust engine that is cost effective to maintain. It is available in  Easy trim at a cost of R149 900 and also the base-line Pop at R129 900.

Though MyPort is an option on all but the entry-level Pop it’s a sophisticated option that’s worth the R5000 pricetag (versus similar systems four times the price). MyPort supplies the TomTom with power and integration into the car’s in-car entertainment system for a fraction of the cost of a fully integrated navigation system and provides a touch screen interface for the Blue&Me multimedia and mobile phone system.

The 2012 Punto makes a point, and easily best-in-class. In a market where its competition generally has lower levels of standard equipment, shorter warranties and where service plans are absent on some, the Punto is a car you buy with your head. That it has character and style – traits typically associated with cars you buy with your heart – and is the strawberry coulis on the the cheesecake, metaphorically speaking. In a bouyant market, and one that is defined by many value-focussed offerings, the Punto makes a point by proving you don’t have to be cut-price or thrifty to give the market a stylish, reliable and robust car with modern technology for a competitive price. It’s timeless Italian styling with some of the most advanced petrol engines on the market at extremely competitive prices.  Once more, if I were to choose a car in this segment it gets my vote*.

Pricing, Warranty and Service Plans

Fiat Punto 1.4 Pop:                                                                         R129 900**

Fiat Punto 1.4 Easy:                                                                        R149 900**

Fiat Punto 1.4 MultiAir Easy                                                        R169 900**

Fiat Punto 1.4 MultiAir Turbo Lounge                                      R209 900**

**Prices are inclusive of VAT and CO₂ emissions tax.

 The 2012 Fiat Punto has 30 000 km service intervals and enjoys full after-sales support in South Africa thanks to a comprehensive parts inventory and the back-up of trained technicians at Fiat dealerships countrywide.

In order to provide truly carefree motoring peace-of-mind Fiat Group Automobiles South Africa offers Fiat owners a five-year or 150 000km warranty including paintwork and rust anti-perforation. Fiat also offers a four-year or 60 000km service plan on MultiAir models – 1.4 MultiAir Easy and 1.4 MultiAir Turbo Lounge.

*Disclaimer: the author drives a 2006 Punto 1.9 MultiJet, and while it still looks fresh its interior has dated, suffering from being ‘plasticky,’ – something which the new car is not.

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“Don’t call me, Babe” are the immortal words from Pammie’s 1996 hit-film Barb Wire. Okay it wasn’t a hit. But like Barb, Fiat is trying to shake misconceptions and stereotypes. The notion that the 500 is ‘girly’ has haunted the car since its launch, but our Trevor and Patrick will fervently disagree. However, to the average man-on-the-street, the perception is otherwise and rightfully so. The car is often described as “cute” and  ”pretty,” – even Barbie has a Fiat 500 (and J-Lo) but these new scorpions from the Fiat group have a serious sting in their tail.

Click on the image to view a full gallery of the Abarth 500, Abarth 500 esseesse and Abart 500 695 Tributo Ferrari. You will be redirected away from this page, so right click and select 'open in a new tab/page.'

After quite a wait (the Abarth 500 launched overseas in 2008), it has finally been made available to South Africans through the Abarth Performance Centre at Arnold Chatz in Craighall Park, Johannesburg, and will cost you R230 000 for the 1.4l turbo-charged engine producing 99kW @ 5500rpm and 206Nm from a relatively high 3000rpm. The Abarth 500C will cost R255 000 for the privilege of an uninterrupted view of the African skies above. Fiat engines have always been a little ‘fizzy’ and beg to be driven, and the Abarth 500 appears to be the same. The Abarth 500C is also available with the Dualogic ‘manu-matic’ MTA transmission, if changing gears with a stick aint your thang, and gains an extra 4kW in the process upping the power to 103kW at a lower 5000rpm. It gives the hydraulically actuated manual transmission – no dual clutches here – less of a hard time and makes it more drivable without requiring the ‘box to change down as often.

In both cases you might want to opt for the additional ‘esseesse’ kit which harks back to the old days of Carlo Abarth’s go-faster kits in a box. It gives this wee-beastie a power jump to 118kW @ 5750rpm and an increase of 24Nm to 230Nm @ 3000rpm. Also included is a brake upgrade with bigger calipers and cross drilled disks, performance suspension complemented by sports dampers from Koni, and rounds it all off with some nice 17-inch alloy wheels that are available in either white or black. The kit costs an additional R37 000 and will be fitted by the Abarth Performance Centre. Best of all you get to keep the crate that it all comes in - there’s no ‘fitted at the factory’ box to tick here and adds to the allure of owning a true Abarth esseesse.

Not for girls. The Abarth 500C even looks good in colours other than primer grey.

The original esseesse models were enthusiast cars and that remains the same here. You dont need to buy the extra kit. Truth be told the 99kW version will likely be ample for most people and the Abarth styling alone gives it the cred that the 500 lacked amongst South Africa’s testosterone-fueled masses. But for those discerning few who enjoy driving, it can be made that little bit more special by eking out slightly more fun for the daily commute, from an already capable chassis. This car enters the school yard that has been occupied by the Polo GTi, RenaultSport Clio, Citroen DS3 and Peugeot 207 GTI and they’re pretty big bullies.

A nice place to be. Look at the ''I'm serious about my pedigree" shift-light cluster on the centre console.

The boring stuff is that the Abarth 500 is pretty much standard high-spec safety (Euro NCAP 5-star) tand features seven airbags including one for your knees, ABS, EBD, ESP, Blue&Me mobile phone prep and iPod integration, a sport button, metal shiny bits everywhere, a shift-light pod, and Abarth sport seats. All very nice.

It's in RenaultSport Clio, Polo GTI, Citroen DS3 territory and it wants to play.

We’ll save you from all the other nostalgia and trivia that goes with the Abarth badge – you can listen to the upcoming podcast for that – but well leave you with this: the “Don’t call me, Babe” leitmotif of Barb Wire comes from the original advertising for the Barb Wire Dark Horse comic book. Barb was quite a bolshy broad who wasn’t afraid to lay a bit of smackdown on the boys. She used those words to differentiate herself from a buxom, slightly airy comic book heroine named Babe, by John Byrne, and like Barb, the Abarth 500 is not an airy, cutesy 500, it’s a parabuthus granulatus.

The current Honda Civic has been successful in bringing fans back to the brand after a pretty dull seventh-generation of the model. The futuristic styling of the eighth-generation Civic did a lot to endear it to a younger buyer and, by and large, this strategy worked. So it’s great when we see that the 2012 model bears such a striking face, familiar with the design cues we see on the Insight Jazz and CRV Concept. It’s a litte more future proof by toning down the “futuristic-styling” part of the current, eighth, generation without making it too geriatric.

Looks familiar, a bit Honda Insight-ish. Less future, more long term good-looker.

Honda says that the designers of the new Civic wanted to keep the sporty and advanced elements of the car’s character but tailor them to communicate the new model’s more dynamic feel.

Not sure about this marketing colour, but it does show off the new curves better.

Nearly all of the body components on the new Civic have been redesigned with particular focus on ride and handling, reduced CO2 emissions, design and interior quality, while retaining the cabin, boot space and practicality – something which we can attest to. It is one of the most spacious and versatile packages in its segmenet despite a profile that suggests otherwise.

Like the current Civic 5-door, it has been designed and developed specifically for the European market and will hopefully arrive in showrooms early next year. With any luck there might even be one at the Johannesburg International Motor Show in October this year.

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We’re five episodes into the new year and still we’ve not found Trevor Tuck. He’s stuck on a racetrack or a garage trying to make an old Alfa go quicker. In any event, the show goes on and in this episode we discuss:

• McLaren MP4 12C and South Africa’s Greg Levine who’s heading up sales and marketing for this surefire sales winner.
• Fiesta Sport+ Do you think we need a quick Fiesta? [via: World Car Fans]
• New engines for Mercedes Benz E-class vehicle.
• The new Mercedes Benz C-Class coupe.
• Porsche announces its Panamera Hybrid – well more of a mild hybrid, and if you don’t know the difference between a mild hybrid and full hybrid then you need to listen to the show. Click here for a clever little Porsche Panamera Hybrid Microsite.
• New BMW M5 will possibly be automatic only – why autos are better than manual transmissions despite the purist view on manuals.
• ZA Car Show Review: Alfa Romeo Giulietta MultiAir 125kW.

Episode 105 hi-fi download (22MB)
Episode 105 lo-fi download (12MB)

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ZACS is joined by a guest from Hyundai this week, Ettienne Du Preez. Having just won the North American Car of The Year with the Sonata, we gain some valuable insight into the company’s local operations and plans for Southern Africa.

In episode 104 we also discuss:

• Mazda’s 900 000th iconic roadster, the Mx5
• The Ferrari and Ford spat over the use of “F150″
• Rolls Royce Spirit of Ecstasy’s Centenary
• Nissan Esflow concept
• Volvo V60
• Jeep’s new Cherokee
• Interview: Hyundai – Ettienne Du Preez

Episode 104 hi-fi download (30MB)
Episode 104 lo-fi download (15MB)

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