This week sees the arrival of Fiat’s new turbo terror, the Punto Sport T-Jet. The T-Jet specification signifies a turbocharged 1.4-litre petrol motor which lifts the power, from 57kW in standard trim, to 90kW. Torque has also been boosted from 115Nm to 206Nm – a fairly sizeable increase in both figures.
The fastest version of the Punto sprints from 0-100km/h in 8.9 seconds, but returns a fuel consumption average of just 6.6 litres per 100km. As the engine’s capacity hasn’t been increased, the Punto Sport T-Jet benefits from a low kerb weight. Suspension has been upgraded to suit the sporty image too.
From the outside, you’ll identify the Sport T-jet by its 17-inch alloy wheels, colour matched spoilers and side skirts, and a chrome finish on its exhaust pipe. Inside there are sports seats trimmed with sports upholstery, a new instrument panel, and leather trimmed sports steering wheel and gear knob. Equipment includes power steering, electric windows and mirrors, cruise control, air conditioning and remote central locking with remote boot release.
“The new Fiat 1.4 litre T-Jet really is the engine of the future,” says David Stone, General Manager for Fiat cars in Australia. “Normally a performance car needs a significantly larger engine to gain a high performance output. Punto Turbo Sport, the already highly efficient 1.4 gains a turbocharger to produce power and torque levels the equivalent of a 2.0 litre engine. As a result, the Punto Turbo Sport is not only one of the quickest sub-$30,000 hot hatches, it is also one of the most economical.”
The new Fiat Punto Sport T-Jet has a recommended retail price of $25,990 and deliveries will start at the end of this week.
