Abarth Grande Punto - another incarnation of the urban hatchback
Abarth is changing ownership of Fiat so much that it's being treated as a separate brand. There is a lot of marketing in this statement, but a lot of truth.
If you look at Abarth from the outside, then at first glance it is Fiat Grande Punto and that's it. Only a closer look shows that instead of the Fiat logo, the Abarth shield with a characteristic scorpion flaunts on the hood and tailgate. The same sign was also found on the wings and rims. An additional distinguishing feature is the strip used in each model of this brand, at the bottom of the door, with the name of the company. The belt, like the side mirror housings, is red.
Inside, a scorpion mark hit the dashboard and an Abarth dial hit the center of the steering wheel. Bucket seats with heavily developed side bolsters, integrated headrests and padding to limit movement of fabrics on them, clothing also has logos on the top of the backrests. The car is well equipped. It has automatic air conditioning, an MP3 radio, a Blue & Me system, six speakers and a subwoofer, power windows and mirrors. The center console was covered in gray material with black dots, which, to be honest, I somehow didn’t quite like. At the top is a row of buttons. In the center is a large, cheap-looking gray button with a red border and Sport Boost lettering. It looks terrible, but is indispensable for the character of Abarth. Clicking on it changes the character of the car.
As long as we leave that alone, the Abarth Grande Punto is a nice, efficient and fast car, but not exciting. The 1,4 turbocharged petrol engine offers 155 hp. and maximum torque of 206 Nm at 5000 rpm. It is dynamic, accelerates willingly and easily, but it is difficult to count on a very sporty feeling in it, and in the end Carlo Abarth became famous not for creating decent cars, but for changing road gray uncompromising athletes. Fiat cars, but now with a scorpion on the hood, did very well in sports rivalry, and this attracted the attention of fans of fast cars.
In the case of the Abarth Grande Punto, this change is achieved by activating the Sport Boost function. The maximum torque value then increases to 230 Nm, and the engine reaches this value already at 3000 rpm. In this mode, the power steering becomes more direct, giving the car a sportier look and a feeling of greater control over it. Adding to the experience is the Drive-by-Wire accelerator pedal, which allows precise adjustment of acceleration, the suspension lowered by 10 mm with springs 20 percent stiffer than standard, and the track width increased by 6 mm. mm. And a beautiful, sporty engine sound.
In general, the Abarth has good traction, and when activated, Sport Boost responds more accurately to steering movements and accelerates much faster. The car accelerates to 100 km/h in 8,2 seconds and has a top speed of 208 km/h. The driver has a variety of electronic assistance systems at his disposal, such as ASR and ESP, as well as a Hill Holder, which makes it easier to start on a hill.
It was already a pleasure to drive such a car. However, this requires one of two things - different roads or different wheels. The combination of our holes in the pavement and XNUMX-inch wheels with ultra-low-profile tires significantly spoils the driving pleasure of this car. Firstly, bumps into the pits are loud and very unpleasant, and secondly, they can easily lead to tire damage. Roads, unfortunately, cannot be changed quickly and easily, but with wheels it is different. Of course, on wheels with a higher tire profile, the car will no longer be as stable, but the change should not be so pronounced that it can be felt during normal driving.
It's much easier to feel the biggest downside of the Sport Boost button - the much higher fuel consumption. While driving in normal mode, the on-board computer showed me an instantaneous fuel consumption of 15 l/100 km, and after switching on the Sport Boost mode, it increased to 25 l/100 km! The use of this mode in everyday operation can significantly increase the cost of the trip. Fuel consumption is factory-specified at an average of 6,7 l/100 km, but frequently pressing the Sport Boost button and using the features offered by the car will increase this figure significantly.
