PUNTO TOPS EURO CHARTS AS HGT ABARTH ARRIVES

Fiat Punto was the number one best-selling car in Europe after the first two months of this year, and Fiat Auto recently moved up to third place in the manufacturers' overall European sales league.

This impressive sustained sales performance coincides with the UK importing company's 75^th anniversary, and the introduction here of a new Punto version - the Punto HGT Abarth - at the top of the UK range. It has just become available here throughout the company's dealer network.

The second generation Punto, which was launched during the company's centenary year (Sept 1999), is a huge success story. After just 19 months' production, a build total of one million units was achieved, compared with 22 months for the original Punto launched in 1993. The company sold some 543,000 units of the latest Punto in its first full year, compared with 482,000 for the original car in its first year.

Punto's success story is mirrored in the UK, where Punto sales last year totalled 54,840 units, the best ever on record. By the end of February, Punto had reached the overall Number Ten position here, with sales of 7064 units.

Based on the Punto 1.8 16v HGT, the new HGT Abarth, featuring the latest Phase Three version of the company's twin overhead camshaft 1747cc 130bhp engine, is equipped with a full Abarth sports pack.

Standard features include aluminium gearknob and gearlever surround, aluminium handbrake, Abarth branded kick plates, Abarth styled front and rear spoilers, Abarth branded side skirts, aluminium sports pedals, Abarth steering wheel and Abarth alloy wheels.

Standard equipment also includes driver, passenger and side airbags, ABS anti-lock brakes, a satellite navigation and audio system, remote central locking, air conditioning and the latest Fiat CODE immobiliser.

The Punto HGT Abarth is available in just two colours - Broom Yellow and Black.

All Fiat cars in the UK now come with a comprehensive three-year warranty and roadside service package made up of a one-year unlimited mileage manufacturer warranty, a second and third year dealer warranty, with a mileage limit of 60,000 from the date of first registration, and three years' Fiat AA Assurance cover, consisting of Roadside Assistance, Home Start, Relay, Relay Plus and European cover.

The Punto HGT Abarth is priced as follows:

ends.

For further information please contact:

PETER NEWTON Public Relations Director

or

Fiat Auto (UK) Limited

Tel: 01753 511431 Fax: 01753 516871

e-mail addresses:

peter.newton@fiat.com/puneet.joshi@fiat.com

This press release and pictures are also available on www.newspress.co.uk

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