Abarth Grande Punto (2008 – 2010) Review
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Abarth Grande Punto (2008 – 2010) Verdict
Decent handling hot hatch with lots of front end grip and good steering feel, low CO2 and good economy, neat Abarth styling extras.
Harsh ride especially on urban streets, optional Esseesse performance kit is expensive for a car that's good enough as it is.
Find out more about the Abarth Grande Punto (2008 – 2010)
The Grande Punto Abarth brought to Britain an Italian tradition of crated parts arriving at a dealer or tuning shop to upgrade a standard FIAT car.
In the 1960s, Abarth special parts used to arrive at the garage in a wooden crate. And the spannermen would get to work turning a humble FIAT 600 into an Abarth 750TC, then 850TC and eventually 1000TC developing as much as 108bhp.
Abarth went on to build beautiful little rear-engined Zagato bodied coupes with Fiat or Simca based engines, some of which were finished off by Radbourne Racing in London. And he graduated to bigger and better ventures including sportscar racing, taking on the likes of Porsche and Ferrari with considerable success.
The FIAT brand reflected in this glory so it was only natural that FIAT should want to revive the notoriety of the Abarth name. As well as sticking scorpion badges all over the Grande Punto, it has done a proper job that Carlo would have approved of.
Reviews for Abarth Grande Punto (2008 – 2010)'s top 3 rivals
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Abarth Grande Punto (2008 – 2010) handling and engines
Under the bonnet you get a mildly tweaked FIAT 1.4 T-Jet engine, mustering 155PS instead of its normal 150, with a sport overboost button that summons an extra 17lb ft of torque, bringing the max to 169lb ft. (a MINI Cooper has 118lb ft and a MINI Cooper S 192lb ft on overboost).
This hauls it to 60 in a lively 7.9 seconds and on to 129mph at no huge sacrifice in economy and CO2. Its geared at 25mph per 1,000rpm in 6th, manages over 40mpg combined and emits just 162g/km CO2 (Cooper S 164g/km). Thats £145 tax this year and £175 next year, if the 2008 budget proposals arent changed.
It sits on 215/45 R17 P Zero Nero tyres and quite stiff springs so ride is hard over dilapidated urban streets, but it has excellent damping so out on real roads the chassis comes together with very good undulation absorption and a nice, grippy front end.
This gets even better with the Sport button pressed because not only does the engine give more torque, the electric steering weights up and gives you all the feedback you want. Its actually better than a MINI Cooper S. You can hool across moors with a grin from ear to ear, then, when you get to a motorway, switch Sport off and cruise in as much refinement as an R56 Cooper S.
The Abarth Grande Punto described so far is what you get for £13,500, which is actually less than the much slower MINI Cooper with the same level of equipment. If you want to go mad you can spend an extra £3,500 on the full Esseesse kit.
Like Abarth bits of the past, this arrives your Abarth dealer in wooden crates as is retrofitted to the car. You can spend less and buy the Asetto suspension kit alone, but if you want the engine kit you have to have the suspension kit to keep you on the road.
This consists of lowered springs, cross-drilled front brake discs, softer brake pads and 18 alloy wheels with 215/40 R18 P Zero Nero tyres.
The underbonnet box of goodies includes a Garrett 1446 turbocharger with boost increased from the standard cars 1.3 to 1.5 bar, a different injector rail, new water cooling and oil pipes to the turbo, new exhaust manifold, heat shield, MPA sensor, boost sensor, modified cat converter, larger diameter exhaust, new intercooler pipework, adapted radiator pip, new waterpump, new wastegate valve and new software for the ECU.
That little lot boosts maximum power to 180bhp and torque to 200 lb ft, pulls the 0-60 down to 7.2 seconds and lifts the top speed to 133mph. We didnt try it on the road, but up Harewood hillclimb it was much more eager than the standard car, though it took more skill than I had to keep the engine off the ESP (which cant be switched off). On the road, though, with members of the public coming in the opposite direction, our experience of the standard car, suggests this will not be a problem. The ESP simply doesnt intrude unless it needs to.
Of course, the Grande Punto isnt going to be the only new Abarth. The same magic wand has been waved over the FIAT 500, which hit showrooms in early 2009.
With its shorter and basically less stable chassis, the wick has had to be turned down a bit to 135bhp and a maximum of 152 lb torque in Sport mode. Though the same Torque Transfer Control as the Grande Punto Abarth gets the power down better than a standard 500 1.4, and at 7.6 seconds its 0-60 is 0.3 of a second quicker than the Grande Punto Abarth.
Like the old Abarth 850 and 1000TC there have been considerable body mods, with a front bulge to accommodate the turbo, nostrils either side to feed the twin intercoolers, a bigger front air intake, a large roof spoiler and a rear fin-shaped valence diffuser. Inside a new instrument panel with turbo boost gauge, flat bottomed leather steering wheel, special seats and black roof lining complete the sporty feel. While 155g/km CO2 keeps tax down.
European market 500 Abarths will be launched with an Esseesse kit lifting the power to 160PS, and this will eventually be a £3,500 option on standard cars. With the Sport button activating stiffer steering and an anti roll bar fitted inside the rear suspension twist beam, handling is said to be vastly better than the FIAT 500s.
Abarth has put back a bit more than brio into the new small FIATs. They are genuine small high performance cars, safe to use on the road. Not as hooligan as a MINI Cooper S John Cooper Works with everything turned off. But nothing like as expensive either.
| Engine | MPG | 0-62 | CO2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.4 T-Jet | 41 mpg | 7.5–8.2 s | 162 g/km |
Abarth Grande Punto (2008 – 2010) interior
- Boot space is 275–1030 litres
| Dimensions | |
|---|---|
| Length | 4041 mm |
| Width | 1721–1726 mm |
| Height | 1490 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2510 mm |
A comprehensive equipment package includes a host of safety and comfort-enhancing features. Safety features include window airbags, side airbags, height adjustable driver's seat, Blue&Me hands-free communications system, foglights, rear head restraints, ABS and ESP. The importance of safety is also shown by the fact that ESP comes as standard and cannot be deactivated. Equipment designed to enhance comfort includes a radio/MP3 player, fully adjustable steering wheel, air conditioning, dark tinted windows, electric front windows, Dualdrive electric power steering and cruise control.
Abarth Grande Punto (2008 – 2010) models and specs
| Dimensions | |
|---|---|
| Length | 4041 mm |
| Width | 1721–1726 mm |
| Height | 1490 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2510 mm |
| Miscellaneous | |
|---|---|
| Kerb Weight | 1185–1255 kg |
| Boot Space | 275–1030 L |
| Warranty | 3 years |
| Servicing | 18000 miles |
| Costs | |
|---|---|
| List Price | £14,405–£17,005 |
| Insurance Groups | 30 |
| Road Tax Bands | G |
| Official MPG | 40.9 mpg |
| Euro NCAP Safety Ratings | |
|---|---|
| Adult | 5 |
| Child | 3 |
| Pedestrian | 3 |
| Overall | - |
On sale until November 2010
| Hatchback | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Version | List Price | MPG | 0-62 |
| Abarth 1.4 T-Jet 3dr | £14,405 | 40.9 mpg | 8.2 s |
On sale until May 2009
| Hatchback | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Version | List Price | MPG | 0-62 |
| Abarth 1.4 16v Turbo Essesse 3dr | £17,005 | 40.9 mpg | 7.5 s |
Model History
July 2008
Abarth officially launched in the UK
Three versions of the Grande Punto Abarth are available - the 1.4 T-Jet and two further upgrades promising even more driver involvement. The first tuning kit, known as Assetto, is designed to enhance the chassis of the car, including the brakes and suspension. The kit includes ventilated and cross-drilled front brake discs, cross-drilled rear discs, high performance (softer) front brake pads, special shorter springs and 18-inch white painted alloy wheels fitted with Pirelli P Zero tyres.
The second option - known as the esseesse (SS) kit - primarily increases the power of the engine and is only available in conjunction with the Assetto kit. It adds several components including a special air filter, a larger Garrett turbocharger, new injectors, larger diameter freeflow exhaust system, and a revised engine control unit with esseesse software. All of this boosts engine performance from 155bhp to 180bhp. Visually, the £3,500 esseesse kit includes unique logos for the tailgate, wing mirror covers and engine cover.
Compared with the standard Grande Punto, the Abarth's track has been widened by 6mm and it is equipped with 17-inch alloy wheels with the option of contrasting striping bearing the Abarth name along each side. The front bumper has been specially redesigned and houses the headlights set in a dark surround, while the larger air intakes, adapted to cater for the turbocharged engine's cooling requirements, are enhanced with an exclusive Abarth design.
Sideskirts, wheel arch rims and black plastic underbody complete the fairing on the lower section, which is profiled to boost aerodynamic performance and extends as far as the tapered rear bumper. The Abarth badge is clearly visible, positioned in the centre of the front grille, the rear hatch, and on both flanks, at door handle height.
Inside, the charismatic Abarth scorpion badge is positioned on the passenger side of the dashboard, for example, while the 'carbon effect' central console is decorated with a textured cube motif. The car's instrument panel has been given a sporty new design, and the same smart finish is used for both the steering wheel and gear stick - black leather with red stitching.
Driver and front passenger seats have also been designed to capture the style and driving experience of Abarth. Both have built-in head restraints, lumbar support and excellent lateral thigh support. On request, the seats and central dashboard section can be finished in full grain leather.
The Grande Punto Abarth is fitted with a 1.4 turbo (T-Jet) petrol engine, delivering 155bhp. Combining with a 6-speed manual gearbox, the engine gives the car a top speed of 129 mph, and a 0-62 mph acceleration time of just 8.2 seconds.
Through cubic capacity downsizing allied to the adoption of a small turbocharger, this responsive 155 bhp 1.4 litre T-Jet engine delivers a performance equal to or better than a conventionally aspirated 2.0 litre engine with a reduction of between 10 per cent and 20 per cent in fuel consumption and emissions.
Via a Sport Boost button located in the centre console of the Grande Punto Abarth, the engine will deliver an impressive 229Nm of torque at 3000 rpm, (206Nm in normal mode), endowing the vehicle with a 0-62 mph acceleration time of 8.2 seconds and a top speed of 129 mph. Notwithstanding such strong performance, this superbly responsive powerplant will nevertheless return over 40mpg in the combined cycle and restrict CO2 emissions to just 162g/km.
Additionally use of the Sport Boost function modifies the amount of steering effort required by the driver, so as to give a sportier feel. For top stopping power the car is equipped with disc brakes all round; the front brakes being ventilated and equipped with powerful Brembo fixed four-piston callipers.
The Grande Punto Abarth's suspension is based on the tried and tested set-up of the Fiat Grande Punto, which means MacPherson struts and anti-roll bar at the front and torsion beam suspension at the rear, but it is significantly modified. The anti-roll bar has been thickened (diameter 19 mm), the front springs are 20 per cent stiffer, and the ride height is lowered by 10 mm.
Optional sports seats called ‘Abarth Corse by Sabelt’, are the result of co-operation between the two sporting Italian brands. Designed by Sabelt Style Centre, under the supervision of Abarth’s stylists, the new seats stem from the same philosophy that inspired, in the 1960s, racing seats for the Abarth 595 and 695.
‘Abarth Corse by Sabelt’ is light, strong, comfortable and highly efficient in retaining body control under cornering, braking and acceleration forces, thanks to its mono-layer padding containment bands. The forward-tipping seatback comprises a headrest with slit for a full multi-point safety harness.
Available in two versions – Frau black leather with fretworked black Alcantara, or black "F1" technical fabric – the seats are finished with red thread seams, a distinctive embroidered Abarth name, and the Scorpion Logo on the backrest tilt wheel.
Initially available on the Abarth Grande Punto from June 2009, the seats are priced at £2,250 per pair (leather) or £1,760 per pair (fabric). They will be available throughout Abarth’s 16-strong dealer network.
