The new Abarth Punto Evo has been launched by Fiat here in India and the company has priced it at a fairly competitive Rs.9.95 lakh. One of the very limited performance hatchbacks available today, the car will be taking on the Volkswagen Polo GT TSI and the Ford Figo automatic edition in the markets here in India.
The car is powered by a 1.4 litre T-Jet engine from Fiat which delivers 145bhp in terms of power as well as 212Nm in terms of torque. Mated to a five speed manual gearbox, the Abarth Punto Evo is one of the few sub 10 lakh hatchbacks that deliver more than 100bhp of power and is the highest rated among this group. The suspension too has seen a change and will have added braking power with the help of all four disc brakes.
The car is a follow up to the 595 Competizione and will be sold under the Abarth badge. It is based largely on the Punto Evo but has both cosmetic as well as mechanical updates.
In terms of looks, the car looks sporty and has decals with 16 inch alloy wheels. The Fiat logo too sees a change and has been replaced by the Abarth scorpion. The interior too has been made keeping in mind the sporty feel of the car. Available in hip hop black as well as pearl white colours, the Abarth will look to make itself a niche player in the premium hatchback segment.