Fiat do Brasil launched today the Punto in 2011 guise. It’s all about the engines man! Out goes GM’s very-long-in-the-tooth and old-school, not to mention wasteful and power-challenged 1.8L mill, and in come new 1.6 and 1.8L (both with 16v) lumps. So all good and new. Right? Not so fast…
Just to get it out of the way, the design remains unchanged. Inside as always there are new fabrics on the seats, the lighting is different etc. So it’s basically the old car.
But you see, the engines are new and much revised. They even get a cute (???) new name, E.TorQ (so clever). Though they are still basically the ones produced by Tritec. You know the joint-venture in Campo Largo, Paraná, Brazil? The company that was a joint-venture between BMW and Chrysler? Which supplied the first Mini’s motor? Which was laid to waste when Daimler took over Chrysler? Which made BMW marry Peugeot in unholy matrimony so that someone (anyone) would supply them with the second Mini’s engine? No? Now you do. Say hi.
Well, Fiat bought that plant last year and now it’s bearing fruits. If the design’s unchanged (and that’s controversial and can be considered “bad”) the engines are “almost” new. With a lot of new technologies that are basically unheard of for Brazilian car makers. So, not so bad for Brazil, and definitely an improvement for Fiat fans.
The new 1.6L puts out 117 ponies when drinking sugarcane and 115 hp when sipping the Brazilian dino stuff, which contains at least 25 percent of ethanol. It bests the old GM supplied 1.8 by some 8 ponies and, better yet, 81 percent of its torque is available at a low 1500 rpms. Top speed is either 180 km/h (112mph) or 182 km/h (114 mph), gasoline/ethanol. Acceleration? From 0 to 62 mph it’s 10.7 or 10.5. It also promises to be more economical, but Fiat won’t say by how much (all preceding numbers and those in the next paragraph were gleamed from Brazilian enthusiast car site bestcars.com.br).
If you need more power, then there’s the all new (in the same sense as the 1.6 being all new) 1.8 16v motor. This new one blows the old one out of the water. It provides its owner 132 or 130 (ethanol/gas) horses to play with. Top speed goes up to 189 km/h (118mph) and 191 km/h (119mph), and the 62 mile mark goes by after just 10.1 or 9.8 seconds (Brazilian gasoline/ethanol).
Both engines use a single valve command, similar to many a Honda’s, but unlike the Japanese variety, it is non-variable. Also different from Honda, the engine block is made from iron and not aluminum. In spite of this, FPT’s (Fiat Powertrain Technologies, the company left over from Fiat’s divorce from GM and which supplies the engines) industrial director Marcelo Reis swears the engines are 4 percent lighter than Honda’s. How you ask? Mr. Reis explained to Brazilian enthusiast site Auto Esporte that the crank case is made from aluminum and that they are using fractured rods, among other innovative (for Brazil) technologies.
The old 1.4 Fire engine is still available, though it’s “new” and goes by a new name, too. It’s now a 1.4 Fire EVO engine (same as in new Uno) and gets a slight bump in horsepower to 85 or 88 (Brazilian gas/ethanol). However, the emphasis here was in fuel economy. Its main highlight is that this engine now gets a continuous variable valve opening command system. This means it gets better economy and more linear torque availability for greater driving enjoyment.
Finally, for the hoons, the very sweet 1.4 L Turbo T-Jet version is still available. It remains unchanged from before, but what separates it from its lesser brethren are aerodynamic appendages, suspension improvements and the state-of-the-art (imported from Italy) downsized small engine with big output. According to bestcars.com.br this Punto is good for 152 ponies and 21.1 m.kgf (available from 2250 rpms to 4500 rpms). It goes to 60 in 8.4 seconds and runs out of gas at 203 km/h (127 mph). Oh, and it only runs on gas.
As to pricing (USD$1.00=R$1.80)… (sigh), thanks to Auto Esporte:
| Punto Attractive 1.4 | R$ 39.290 / USD$ 21.828 |
| Punto Essence 1.6 16V | R$ 44.190 / USD$ 24.550 |
| Punto Essence 1.8 16V | R$ 46.250 / USD$ 25.694 |
| Punto Essence 1.8 16V Dualogic* | R$ 48.750 / USD$ 27.083 |
| Punto Sporting 1.8 16V | R$ 51.200 / USD$ 28.444 |
| Punto Sporting 1.8 16V Dualogic* | R$ 53.730 / USD$ 29.850 |
| Punto T-Jet 1.4T | R$ 64.670 / USD$ 35.928 |
*Dualogic is an automated gearbox. It changes gears for you, if you so wish ‘cause you can still do it yourself, but the mechanic bits are still there.
PS: If you like Brazilian Fiat commercials, here’s another good one. In the U.S., it would probably get banned,
Is/was this 1.8 the neon and PT export engine?
Hello iNeon.
In a word, no. The new 1.8 16v engine is simply the 1.6 16v engine (that was put in the Mini and supposedly was to go into Chrysler international market cars before Mercedes broke the deal). They simply (hah, easy for a non-engineer to say!)took the smaller engine, made the appropriate parts bigger and called it a day.
Hola Marcelo,
Well, you whipped our butts this past Sunday.
Again, incredible expensive prices for a car on that segment compared to here and we import all of our cars.
Saludos,
Carlos
Hola Carlos!
I really supposed it would be different this time. But I’m keeping my fingers crossed and cheering on all the hermanos into the semi-finals. Would be sweet wouldn’t it? A Copa América as the final of the World Cup (Brasil x Uruguay: Argentina x Paraguay)!
Now as ro the car. If you are at all interested in this type of car, you should take it for a spin. In 1.6,1.8 or T-Jet, it’s supposed to be really good to drive. Suspension marvellous, very obedient and from what my friends at Fiat told me, now the car has the engines that befit its character. Avoid the 1.4 Fire EVO though, too small to really get the best out of the car, unless you only drive it in stop and go traffic and want to surround yourself in a very nice environment. Specially if you opt for the luxury package.
I’ve driven this car with the old engines, and even then it was good, but I avoided them as I knew the engines were not up to it, and the new engines were coming. Well, now they’re here. Maybe I’ll splurge and get myself one in future, after it depreciates a little. But it comes highly recommended by the people who know it best (and recognized to me, in private, that the engine choices before made it a questionable purchase).
That 1.4 EVO engine seems to have Multi-air technology into it.
You didn’t get the Punto EVO (heavily facelifted Punto)
AFAIK the Tritec engine design was based on the Neon engine. The pics I found very quickly on Google while trying to find a site for the factory, showed engines that are very similar to the Neon’s one.
Hi Stingray,
No, the 1.4 8v doesn’t have the whole MultiAir package. Part of its ideas yes, but not the mechanical bits. This is just an common 1.4 Fire engine with some improved parts. People at the factory tell me they’ll be watching sales and if and when decide to do something about it, are ready to implement said technology in Brazil (specifically when they think people would pay for it, because it’s a more expensive engine). So for ethusiasts avoid it for now. For people who only worry about economy and some “luxury” inside the car, it serves them well.
Now, as to the Tritec, yes you can be right as it was a Chrysler-BMW joint venture. However, it’s heavily modified. So much so that I called it good and dandy for Brazil. It’s probably the most advanced locally built engine (well maybe except for Honda’s, but part of Honda’s engines I think are imported here). And the character is different. People at Fiat stressed to me the main thing about this engine is torque and torque delivery. That makes it a very fun car to drive. They stress the fun part.
As to design yes we get the old one. Like I said, the market here is complicated. The car sells well, people are in love with the design. Some knowledgeable folk held out because of the engines. Well, that part is not to worry anymore. So, all in all, considering our market, I call it a good effort.
From the photos I thought punto evo is a terrible uglification of the very nice looking grande punto.
The other day I saw the first punto evo on the street and I think it even more ugly than on the photos. What were they thinking i can;t tell but they did the same mid life uglification with the mk 2 punto as well.
Thanks Marcelo. And considering what I was told by Landi Renzo people once (long story short, in Brazil an SOHC engine is preferred over a DOHC 16V because it’s cheaper and have more torque) I buy your explanation of the Fiat guys.
Do you know if they’re installing that engine in the Palio/Siena/Strada also?
Hola Stingray!
Bueno, yes they’ll install the new engines in the rest of the line. But, at least for the first moment they’ll keep the 1.8 16v reserved for the more expensive side of the line. So Punto, Idea, Linea and the Bravo (rumored to be coming in August, at the latest for the São Paulo Car Show in October) will get from the 1.4 Jet to the 1.8. Linea maybe just the 1.8 and 1.4 Jet. Bravo at first just these engines, too.
Stilo is on hold (keeps GM engine for now).
The “utlitarian side” of the line Doblò, Palio Weekend Adventure, Strada will get the full line (maybe not the 1.4 except for very entry low level destined for work Strada) except for Jet.
Palio family (Palio hatch, Palio SW, Siena) at first will get 1.0 Fire EVO, 1.4 Fire EVO and 1.6 16v E-TorQ). 1.8 16v will maybe enter line in future.
Uno will get 1.0 Fire EVO, 1.4 Fire EVO. Possibly they’ll make a sports version with the 1.6 16v, or add a turbo to the 1.4 Fire. As you probably know, the little Uno and Palio have always had special Sports versions with larger engine, and the Uno in the past (at least in Brazil), got a 1.4 turbo engine in the end of the 90s (this engine is the “fATHER” of the present T-Jet). Real pocket rocket fun!
Is Brazilian Punto the same as European Punto?
Man, these prices are incredibly expensive. Is this normal for cars in Brazil? And I thought car prices here in Indonesia are expensive. Anyway, what’s the point of creating cars just for Brazilian market, and make them there, if prices are still so expensive? Will importing cars directly from country of origin be as expensive?
In terms of design it was. Up until a few months ago. bUT as marjanmm said, the new one is uglier IMHO. In terms of engine, wasn’t and isn’t (except for the T-Jet version).
Now yes it’s quite normal pricing for Brazil. THough you can always get a discount at the dealer. But that depends on your negotiating skills. Designing and selling a cer for Brazil, can make sense. Afterall we are the 4th largest market in the world. So depending on how much you have to develop you can make (A LOT) of money in this market. Case in point, the Fiat Palio family.
As to imports you have to clear the 35% tarrif for everybody and I’m not sure if of 45% or 55% for the USA (as we are carrying on a little trade war with you Americansas we speak). If you can do that you’re welcome to sell in our internal market.
Why so much glossing-over the fact that this is mostly a Chrysler engine? I was trying to get some facts out into the mind-space about Chrysler’s engineering prowess– but was stonewalled.
The neon was exported with a 1.8 in it’s first-generation model, the Tritec(nee Pentagon) was just a miniaturization of that engine family.
Tell a MINI snob they’re so impressed by a neon’s engine, and see how long they’re your friend… SO hilarious.
Like I said in the text, BMW later went on to marry Peugeot in unholy matrimony so that they good put their grubby little hands on a good,small displacement engine. I myself don’t mind. So basically yeah, it’s a great little Crysler engine, improved by some latter day Fiat engineering prowess. Since I like and enjy and respect both companies rich history and engineering capabilities.
However, people like us are not the norm. To the masses it’s probably better just to say it’s a Mini engine. That’ll get their brand snobbiness running, while it’ll show their glaring lack of understanding of anything automotive. AFAIK Mini doesn’t have ANY engineering capacity (depending totally on BMW).
My friend I’m noit running from this history, I embrace it.
I don’t remember a lot of folks raving about the Mk1 MINI engine… especially in Cooper form it was a rough, nasty thing. The kind of engine that begs to be whipped, but never sounds like it’s enjoying it. Never drove the supercharged version.
Nobody goes crazy over the new (BMW/Peugeot) MINI engine, but nearly everyone says it’s miles better by comparison.
Generally MINI drivers are too busy comparing their car’s handling to a “go-kart” to ever bother talking about the engine.
Hello Edward thanks for chiming in!
Mini here is a car that costs at least 90 000 reais. More than 50 000 dollars! So it’s a car for rich folks. It sells at minimum numbers. Most people drool when they see one on the street (they’re a rare sight). To cruise on the week end and show off. It’s not a practical go kart or really much of anything else, but a toy. A very rich guys toy. Oh, and the brand Mini has loads and loads of cachet (it helps we never got the orginal Mini, I believe). So if they can associate their engine to the Mini name it’ll only do Fiat good in terms of image.
But believe me, this engine has been extensively revised. The FPT guy I talk to is somebody who knows his job and has the power to decide. He told me of all the travails it took to take what was an engine that you Edward described very well, into something fun to drive. Easy on the ear. Economic. Torqueful. The foundation is the same. The execution is completely different.
Why would that commercial be banned? I didn’t see any nudity or violence. What dirty words were spoken?