How Fiat missed boat with Punto

By ALASTAIR SLOANE

It was a public relations dream - a yacht race the world is talking about and a new car.

The yacht was Prada, the Louis Vuitton Cup winner, and the car was the Fiat Punto - both Italian headliners and both expected to star in New Zealand in the same week.

Prada certainly did, winning the challenge segment of the America's Cup in a blaze of international glory. But the Fiat Punto missed the boat.

By doing so it kissed goodbye to perhaps the greatest chance Fiat will ever get to cash in on a 24-hour love affair New Zealanders had with everything Italy.

The Punto was due to be launched in New Zealand early in February, during the Prada/America One challenge duel. Fiat's PR people here were counting down their lucky days.

But production problems with right-hand-drive models in Italy delayed the first shipment. The chance to team with Prada was gone.

The Punto will now be launched early in April, by which time the Prada team, win or lose the America's Cup, will have returned to Italy.

Nevertheless, the car itself should ignite interest from buyers in the small-car segment.

Fiat importers the Azzurra Motor Group has yet to announce pricing, which is expected to be competitive in a market that includes the popular Toyota Echo.

Three Puntos will go on sale - the 1.2-litre standard car with either eight- or 16-valve engines, and the high-performance 1.8-litre HGT. The eight-valve motor will be low-volume only.

The Fiat Punto's new-look styling with the sweeping rear quarter and high rear lights shows up more in the three-door than the five-door.

The 1.2-litre engine in the standard model might be of small capacity but it's both willing and economical. The interior of the car is deceptively spacious and the air-conditioning system is especially efficient, which would have made Prada supporters happy in sticky Auckland.

Fiat is mindful of French carmaker Renault's aggressive price of the Clio, which starts at $21,995 through to $25,990 and includes air-conditioning, anti-lock brakes and airbags.

The new Peugeot 206 is another well-equipped competitor, so too of course is the Echo.

But Fiat says the Punto is the class leader for quietness and interior space. Only now it won't get the chance to park it alongside Prada.