Just last week we revealed Fiat India’s plans for 2014 in which we spoke about the Punto Cross set for a May launch in the domestic market. Now Fiat has started testing the car in Italy and the vehicle will be launched in India at price of around Rs. 9 lakhs. To be called the Punto Adventure (the spare wheel reveals the Adventure name), the Punto based crossover is Fiat’s answer to the Renault Duster and Ford EcoSport in emerging markets. Thus the Punto Adventure will also be sold in Brazil, being locally manufactured there.
When Fiat spoke about launching a compact SUV in India, we all had our hopes pinned on the 500X but looks like that too is a distant reality. Instead we will get the Punto Adventure which gets a tail-gate mounted spare wheel. The rear door now opens horizontally and the bumpers won’t be painted. Side cladding along with bigger wheels and higher ground clearance will make the Punto Adventure look muscular. We can also expect Fiat to give the front of the Punto an aggressive treatment, similar to what it did with the Palio Adventure.
Can we expect the Punto Adventure to take to the less beaten path? Not quite. While Fiat does make 4-wheel drive versions of the Panda, the company has decided to stick with a front-wheel drive system for the Punto as revealed by the lack of a rear differential. Fiat might spurce up the interiors with new colours and better equipment to justify the higher price but in all honesty, we feel Fiat should consider bringing in the 500X and 4-wheel drive Panda if it wants to win the hearts of off-roading enthusiasts.
Pictures Source – Quattroruote.it
