Fiat Grande Punto awards, safety record

Fiat Auto's recently launched Grande Punto super-mini is the largest car in the highly competitive B segment. It combines class-leading accommodation with high build quality, flexible and practical interiors, comprehensive equipment levels, state-of-the-art technology and the superior driving dynamics of larger, higher segment vehicles.

The Grande Punto is of top quality construction, thanks to research and development that includes a gruelling testing regime covering some five million kilometres, enabling it to meet the highest safety standards.

Benefiting from Fiat Auto's unrivalled expertise in the field of small cars, the new Grande Punto has been awarded a maximum five-star safety rating in the gruelling Euro NCAP crash test programme. It achieved five stars for passenger safety, three stars for child protection and a further three stars for pedestrian protection.

The new Fiat recorded a total of 33 points out of a possible 37, the highest overall score yet recorded in its market category. Incidentally, the model that underwent the test was a 1.2-litre three-door 'Dynamic' with a kerb weight of 1,076 kg.

The safety equipment included driver and passenger dual-stage frontal airbags; side impact airbags; head protecting curtain airbags; front seat belt pre-tensioners and load-limiters; front seat belt reminder system; ISOFIX and top tether anchorages in the rear outboard seats; ABS braking and electronic brake force distribution (EBD).

The all-new Grande Punto has already picked up some notable international media awards, including The Golden Steering Wheel (Germany); Auto Europa (Italy); and Best City Car (France).

The Golden Steering Wheel, Germany's most prestigious prize, organised by the weekly Bild am Sonntag magazine, is awarded by a jury of motoring experts, showbusiness personalities and drivers.

The Grande Punto won the compact cars category, ahead of the Volkswagen Fox, Renault Clio, Toyota Yaris and Peugeot 1007. Commenting on this award, Werner H. Frey, managing director of Fiat Auto AG said: "Winning the Golden Steering Wheel fills us with pride and confidence, and marks the opening of an important chapter of the new success story of the Grande Punto and the Fiat brand."

Auto Europa is awarded by the 200 members of the Italian Union of Automotive Journalists (UIGA), who chose the Grande Punto from a field of 22 cars in a demonstration that the critics were in accordance with the great public acceptance of the car in the market - it is the top-selling car in Europe.

Each member of the jury could choose up to a maximum of six preferences, giving nine points to the top choice; six points to the second placed; four to the third; and so on. The Grande Punto received the stiffest competition from the Peugeot 1007, with the Fiat winning with 687 points to the Peugeot's 633.

The Franco-Japanese C1, 107 and Aygo came a distant third with 332 points, followed by two prestige saloons, the Alfa Romeo 159 and BMW 3 Series with 328 and 252 points, respectively.

Fiat has thus repeated the success of the new Panda in 2004 and brings to eight the number of Fiat Group cars that won this award in its 20-year history.

The Best City Car award came from one of the most important car consumer associations in France and was published in the monthly 60 Milions de consummateurs (60 million consumers) magazine.

Visitors to the Italian Website www.infomotori.com also chose the Grande Punto as their most popular car.

The British Website www.thisisgwent.co.uk found it "agile and enjoyable to drive in all situations, and its engines combine strong performance, low fuel consumption and respect for the environment". Other features are the "styling, comfort, best-in-class safety standards, solidity and a highly competitive price".

Writing in the UK Independent, David Watkins considers the Grand Punto "a winner, if only by a nose", commenting on the resemblance of the Grande Punto's front end to that of the current Maserati coupé. "The car has a subjective liveliness (and its) engine appeals to the keener driver, with its smoothness and willingness to rev. Its steering and handling are similarly rewarding."

Car magazine (April, 2006) said that Grande Punto is "the real deal", handling "like a proper contender", placing it ahead of all rivals in its class. "The interior is spot on. The driving position is comfortable, bolstered by supportive, very cool looking seats.

"The Grande Punto wins the test... without reservation... because it offers the best package. Fun, well built, good value, practical and yet exciting. In the fast-moving, constantly evolving world of small cars, the Grande Punto is the must-have 'it' car."