Part of FIAT’s advance towards a thoroughly modern range of attractive, efficient and spacious cars, the award-winning, top-selling Punto is among the leaders in the so-called supermini class, with a wide range of engine options.  At first, there were two ranges of petrol engines: FIAT’s renowned 1108cc and 1242cc FIRE (Fully Robotised Engine) units, and the non-FIRE overhead camshaft engines in 1372cc (turbocharged) and 1581cc sizes.  In mid-1997, 1.1 engines (in cars) were replaced by 1.2 SPI and 1.6 by 1.2 16V.  The 1.4 litre turbocharged engine fitted to the GT model continued.   There is a 1.7 litre diesel engine in both Turbo and non-tubo forms.  An attractive Cabrio version and a useful Van (with a range of engines) completed the range.

November 1993

Punto range launched in left-hand drive form.

March 1994

Launced in UK in right-hand drive: front-drive 3-door and 5-door hatchbacks; 3- and 5-door 55 S/SX (55 bhp); 5-door 75 SX/ELX (75 bhp); 3-door 1.4 GT (turbo, 136 bhp); and 5-door 1.7 TD SX (72 bhp), all with 5-speed gearbox, independent suspension, rack-and-pinion steering (PAS on TD SX and GT). GT has rear disc brakes with ABS, other models have disc brakes front and drums rear. 55 S has tinted glass, 4-speaker RDS audio, rear wash wipe; SX also has central locking, electric front windows, 60/40 split rear seat, internally adjustable mirrors, height and lumbar adjustment on driver's seat, height adjustable steering wheel, digital clock, rev counter, bodyside protection strips; 75 SX and TD SX have manual glass sunroof; ELX and GT have remote central locking, electric sunroof, 6-speaker audio, centre console, front foglamps. GT also has alloy wheels, side skirts, alarm/immobiliser, headlamp washers, heated electric mirrors. Driver and passenger airbags optional on all models.

May 1994

75 SX and 75 ELX 3-door models introduced.

June 1994

55 EL 3-door (55 bhp, 6-speed), 60 SX Selecta 5-door (60 bhp, electronic Continuously Variable automatic Transmission (CVT), PAS), 90 ELX 5-door (88 bhp, PAS), 90 ELX Cabrio (88 bhp, PAS) and TD S 3-door (72 bhp turbo-diesel, PAS) launched. 55 EL has SX-type equipment plus colour-matched bumpers and front foglamps but without electric windows, central locking and split rear seat. 60 SX Selecta has equipment similar to 55 SX. 90 ELX has equipment similar to 75 ELX. 90 ELX Cabrio also has electric hood, 50/50 split rear seat and immobiliser.

October 1994

PAS option on 75 models; ABS option on 75 and 90.

February 1995

Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) window etching and immobiliser fitted to all models as standard.  Driver’s airbag on ELX, GT and Cabrio models.

June 1995

55 SX 6-speed 3-door, 1.7D S 3- and 5-door, and 1.7 TD SX 3-door launched. 1.7D S and TD SX models have PAS and immobiliser. Revisions: all models have locking fuel filler; S has trip meter; ELX and GT have rear head restraints.

July 1995

3-door Sporting with 88bhp, 1.6 litre engine introduced, with PAS, GT-like suspension, central locking, alloy wheels, driver’s airbag.

October 1995

75 SX, TD, SX, ELX and Cabrio models now with radio controls on steering wheel.

May 1996

Punto Van launced in UK.  Based on ‘55’ (1108cc petrol) and ‘D’ (Naturally Aspirated Diesel).

November 1996

Non-turbo diesel discontinued.  Replaced with TD 60 with improved low-pressure turbo.  Existing Turbo (now called TD 70) diesel gains a catalytic convertor for cleaner emissions.

June 1997

Range revised around launch of exciting, newly developed FIRE engine.  Existing 1.1 (55) engine replaced (in cars) by 1.2 SPI (60) engine.  60 S/SX (8-valve 1242cc, 60 bhp) replace previous 55 S/SX.  1.6 replaced by the new 1242cc 16 valve 86 bhp FIRE engine in Sporting, ELX and Cabrio.  Suspension and steering with improved refinement and response across range.  Several cosmetic changes, including;  colour-coded bumpers for SX models; electric rear windows for Cabrio; adoption of ‘GT’ alloy wheels and side skirts for Sporting; anodised alloy wheels for GT.  Air conditioning optional on most models.  Drivers’ and passengers’ airbags standard or optional on all except Punto S.

July 1997

Naturally Aspirated Diesel replaced by TD 60 Turbo Diesel with catalytic convertor, meeting more stringent exhaust emission limits.

Models from July 1997-on

Punto 60 and 75 models all fitted with the 8-valve 1.2 litre FIRE engine, SPI for 60, MPI for 75.  TD 60 still with low-pressure diesel turbo, and TD 70 with higher performance diesel.  GT still turbo-charged and now the only petrol Punto with the ‘old’ non-FIRE OHC engine.  Punto Sporting, ELX and Cabrio ELX now with amazing 16-valve version of 1.2 litre FIRE engine.   In spite of a much smaller capacity than the 1.6 it replaces, now with more torque, lighter weight and, in the lower geared Sporting version, giving better acceleration and economy than the old 1.6 litre engine, although the others are slightly slower.

March 1998

In the UK, 75 SX versions with 1242cc 8-valve MPI engine were replaced by the 85 SX (86 bhp, PAS) with the 16-valve engine.  Revisions: alloy wheels on 85 ELX; PAS option on 60 SX.

June 1998

Special edition 'Team' models introduced: 60 S 3-door and 5-door; and TD 60 S 3-door and 5-door

July 1999

Mark 1 Punto discontinued to be replaced by Mark 2