Fiat kicks Punto into driveaway pricing

Fiat is putting a wick under Punto sales with the announcement of driveaway pricing for its full range, including the recently introduced 1.4-litre turbo T-Jet model.

According to the company, the driveaway deal means savings up to $3000, with the base 1.4-litre petrol Dynamic five-door priced on the road at $19,990, which is the same as the previous recommended retail, pre on-road figure.

The same applies to the rest of the Punto range, right through to the Sport JTD that tops Punto prices at $27,990 drive away, no more to pay.

The price initiative follows a sag in year-to-date Punto sales for 2008, with the figure sitting at less than half of the numbers recorded in March 2007, when 224 Puntos had been sold. This year the company has so far sold just 108 Puntos.

The Punto was launched in Australia in July 2006 and has just been followed by the bigger Ritmo five-door hatch that went on sale in February with an opening recommended retail, pre on-road costs price of $29,990.

All Puntos come with ABS, front, side and curtain airbags, cruise control, power front windows, air-conditioning and two-mode electric power steering.

All but the three-door turbo petrol and turbodiesel Sport models are five-door hatchbacks. A mix of five and six-speed manual transmissions, plus a five-speed DuaLogic auto, is available.

The driveaway deal applies to April 2008 sales only.

Punto Dynamic $19,990
Punto Dynamic DuaLogic $21,490
Punto Dynamic JTD $23,990
Punto Dynamic JTD DuaLogic $25,490
Punto Sport Turbo $25,990
Punto Sport JTD $27,990