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The Grande Puntos are here. We put both petrol and diesel
variants through our rigorous test program.
Fiat has a plan. Ok, so they've had plans before as well - like
the time when they first came to India and gave us one of the first
forms of what we recognise as privately owned affordable cars -
the Premiere Padmini - which continue to crowd streets all over
the country to this day. They had plans when they tried a resurrection
with the Uno too. Yes, they had plans when that fizzled out and
they tried yet again with the Palio and Sienna in the 90s. Now they
have a plan again - but this time, it might just work! 'Cause this
time, they have Grande plans - plans that started off with the 500,
moved to the Linea and are now taking shape in the form of the cute
little big hatch - the Grande Punto.
You may sit back and laugh about Fiat trying so hard and so many
times for success in India but look at it this way - they're still
here, and they're getting stronger. The alliance with Tata has certainly
helped and Fiat has delivered by offering a whole new class of products
- that are not only desirable, but also put together fairly well.
While the 500 was a CBU, the Linea is proof of their progress. Fiat
India has certainly built on an aspect that has been their strength
for all these years - the sole reason that they've kept coming back
at the Indian masses stronger each time. India relates with Fiat
- and that shall continue to be so.
This may be a country where having a boot at the back automatically
gives two steps up in terms of respect, but we're still predominantly
a 'hatchback' country and having a hatch in your product portfolio
is paramount in any business strategy.
Why else would Skoda have
the Fabia and Honda have the Jazz in their line up? Fiat has had
the Palio and the Stile for a while now and that's exactly the point
- it's been around for a while. With a fresh onslaught was needed
a fresh hatch and the Grande Punto is it.

View: 1.3 Multijet Specs, 1.4 Fire Specs, 1.3 Multijet Ratings, 1.4 Fire Ratings
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