Fiat Abarth Punto Evo and Abarth Avventura launched

You could say that the Polo TSI and the Figo 1.5 petrol hatchbacks are the cars that are right on the money for car enthusiasts on a budget, but now with the launch of the Abarth Punto and Abarth Avventura, Fiat is giving petrolheads more than what is already on offer - almost 150 horsepower and a manual gearbox. Priced at a mouth watering Rs 9.5 lakhs for both the Puinto and the Avventura, the hot hatchbacks with the Scorpion on the grille are locally produced, and are the most bang you can get for your buck.

Both cars get a racy colour scheme with contrasting paintwork for the mirrors, a fantastic set of 16 inch alloy wheels, a subtle spoiler at the back and a chrome tipped exhaust. On the inside, all-black upholstery with yellow and red stitching and an Abarth logo on the steering wheel are the noticeable changes.  

Both the cars come equipped with a turbocharged 1.4-litre, 4-cylinder, twin-cam engine, which punches out 145PS of peak power and 212Nm of maximum torque on the Punto Evo, and 140PS of peak power and 210Nm of maximum torque on the Avventura. This makes them the most powerful hatchback duo manufactured in India. This engine comes mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox. That’s not all, the Abarths ride lower and on stiffer suspension to add to make them handle better. Ground clearance on the Punto Evo is 155mm, while the same is a higher 205mm on the taller Avventura.

Fiat recently launched the Abarth 595 Competizione as the halo product of the company’s performance arm. The 595 is a full import and thus priced steeply, but with the Abarth Punto and Avventura, a lot more enthusiasts can now get access to the Abarth brand at prices that won't break the bank.