The Fiat 127, first of the ‘superminis’, was voted Car of the Year 1972 and was destined to become Europe’s best-selling car, continuing in production until the introduction of the Fiat Uno in 1983, by which time a total of 5.6 million had been built.

Compared with the 127, the Uno was some 6cm shorter and a similar amount taller. Voted Car of the Year 1984, it was also destined to be Europe’s best-seller, with no less than 2.5 million sold in just four years, and a total production run of more than six million.

Its successor, the Punto, was another Car of the Year winner, in 1995, and more than seven million would be produced worldwide, including over 650,000 sold in the UK. In Grande Punto guise it is still Europe’s fifth best-selling car.

Now the new Punto Evo is set to build on the strengths of its illustrious predecessors and move the game on with a host of innovations. To cater for customers who are more demanding than ever, the Punto Evo has been designed to meet the requirement for smaller, more environmentally friendly cars that are easier to park and more affordable to run, yet still stylish, safe, comfortable and fun to drive. Fiat has managed this by combining ground-breaking new engines with a healthy dose of technology and features traditionally associated with larger cars.

As a dynamic development of the popular Grande Punto, the Punto Evo has a bold new look inside and out, cloaking a stronger structure that makes it safer, better to drive and more welcoming for passengers. In line with Fiat’s philosophy of technology-for-all, every model in the range is fitted with the firm’s Blue&Me interface that allows drivers intuitive control of all the car’s major functions. And all models, except Active, can be specified with the cutting edge Blue&Me TomTom system and includes Fiat’s ground-breaking eco:Drive which helps owners lower their fuel consumption and exhaust emissions.

Owners can also choose from an extensive options list and find plenty to interest them in the new Punto Evo range.

PLEASE NOTE THAT SOME VARIANTS, TECHNOLOGY OR MODELS MAY NOT BE AVAILABLE IN SOUTH AFRICA.