Italian stablemates are go, go, go!

After a 17-year absence Fiat passenger cars are set to return to Australian roads. The push into the local market will be led by the new Grande Punto small car which debuted at the Melbourne Motor Show this week ahead of sales which start in June.

Australian importer Ateco Automotive which already imports the Fiat Ducato commercial van, is entrusted with relaunching the Italian company’s car fleet. Ateco will kick off with just the Punto and will add new models as they are released in Europe.

Fiat dealerships will be established in due course but it is expected that Alfa Romeo dealers will also represent the Italian giant in the mean time. Eventually a complete range of passenger cars will become available.

The fully-equipped Grande Punto will sit at the premium end of the small car sector and will come with a choice of either petrol or diesel engines coupled with manual transmissions.

Both three and five-door variants were unveiled at Melbourne, by local Fiat (and Alfa Romeo) chief, David Stone.

Stone described the latin hatch as having "true Italian style, with a hint of new-generation Maserati." Well, he is a car salesman.

The Punto rates five stars in Euro NCAP crash testing.

Pricing and full specifications will be announced closer to its mid-year release, however, Melbourne showgoers were able to download information on the new compact at the Fiat stand to their BlueTooth cellphones and PDAs via 'hot spots' located on the Fiat stand.

Somehow, the mix of Fiats and high technology is just a little unsettling. ;)

Meanwhile stablemate Alfa Romeo pulled the wraps off its 159 providing the Italian marque with an all-new sports sedan to replace the 156. Due to go on sale mid-year too, the 159 is the first of a whole family of new Alfa Romeo cars to arrive over the next two years.

“This year will be the busiest for Alfa Romeo in Australia since the brand returned in 1998,” says Stone.

“Replacing the Alfa 156, will be a tough task, but 159 adds more features and performance and will offer versions that have not previously been available in Australia.”

Designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro in collaboration with the Alfa Romeo Styling Centre, the new car has elegant lines and generous dimensions: 4660mm long, 1828mm wide and 1417mm high, with a wheelbase of 2700mm.

The 159 is equipped with a broad range of engines including two new petrol JTS engines: the 3.2 V6 24v with 191kW and 322Nm and the 2.2 with 136kW and 230Nm. A 2.4 five-cylinder Multijet diesel engine is also available with 147kW and 400Nm. The front-wheel drive version 159 range will be joined by a permanent Q4 all-wheel drive variant.

Full details, prices and specification will be released when the new model goes on sale in June.

Also on show at Melbourne was the first right-hand drive production Alfa Romeo Brera. Designed by “Designer of the Century”, Giugiaro, the Brera created a sensation when it debuted as a concept car.

“We knew the Brera would cause a stir, but we have been amazed by the things that have been written and said about this car,” said Stone.

Australian versions of the Brera in will be available with a choice of either 2.2-litre 136kW or 3.2-litre 191kW V6 mated to the Q4 all-wheel drive system. The 2.4-litre JTD turbodiesel offering 147kW and 400Nm is also being considered for the Australian market.

It is anticipated the Brera will be available in Australia from June 2006.