It's quite a feat by Fiat; In association with fish 4

Evening Chronicle (Newcastle, England), July 30, 2008

Byline: By STEVE HUGHES

THE remarkable revival of Fiat began with the popularity of the Grande Punto, continued with the new Bravo and switched into overdrive with the euphoria surrounding the arrival a year ago of the Fiat 500 that is European Car of the Year 2008.

The company announced record profits at a time when others were stacking up record debts and there are plans for a raft of new models.

The cute little Fiat 500 is being hailed as the ultimate city car, with prices from just pounds 7,900.

That is for the 1.2-litre petrol model generating 69bhp, which falls midway between the prices of the equivalent 1.2-litre 64bhp and 79bhp Nissan Micras at pounds 7,495 and pounds 8,795 respectively.

At the top end of the range a highly specified version of the Fiat 500 with a larger 1.4-litre petrol engine or 1.3-litre diesel unit costs pounds 10,700, including air conditioning and alloy wheels. There are three trim levels of Pop, Sport and Lounge.

Standard equipment in the entry-level Pop includes front, side and driver's knee airbags, CD and MP3 players, power steering, electric mirrors, colour-coded bumpers and chrome-plated door handles.

Sport and Lounge versions start at pounds 9,300, while specifying a larger engine in any trim level adds pounds 1,400.

The Grande Punto range has been expanded with the 1.4 T-Jet 120 Sporting model and given an attractive five-year warranty.

The T-Jet petrol engine uses the latest turbo charging technology to maximise power and torque with relatively low emissions and fuel consumption.

Available in three and five-door versions, it is based on the range's Sporting trim level and comes with 17-inch alloy wheels, air conditioning, sports seats, leather steering wheel, chrome tailpipe, spoiler and side skirts, electronic stability control and half a dozen air bags.

It also features Fiat's voice-activated music and communications system, Blue & Me, developed in conjunction with Microsoft.

The 1,368cc petrol power plant is one of a new family of turbocharged T-Jet engines that made their debut in Fiat's new Bravo range. Producing 120bhp and 152lb/ft of torque, this engine gives the Grande Punto a 0-60mph acceleration time of 8.8 seconds and a top speed of 120mph with economy of 40mpg and a CO2 figure of 155g/km.

List prices are pounds 12,395 for the three-door model and pounds 12,995 for the five-door version.

There is also a range-topping Abarth version, although Fiat says that it will sell in somewhat limited numbers.

The Bravo hatch range comes with a wide choice of engines including 1.9-litre turbo diesel Multi Jets of 120 and 150bhp, a 1.4-litre petrol unit developing 90bhp and a new family of 1.4-litre turbocharged TJET petrol engines of 120 and 150bhp combining low fuel consumption with 130mph performance.' Other Fiat models include the Panda, Doblo, Multipla and Sedici.

CAPTION(S):

REVIVAL - from left, Fiat's 500, hailed as the ultimate city car, Bravo hatch and the Grande Punto, whose range has been expanded