The popular supermini will start from £9,990 for the three door 69bhp Pop 1.2L, 8 valve model, topping out at £15,600 for the five door 85bhp Lounge 1.3L Multiair variant.

The 135hp Lounge 1.4 Multiair Turbo looks likely to be the nippiest of the 2012 Punto class, coming in at £15,200.

All of the new Punto models will come with and Start/Stop as standard and in a choice of six low emissions Euro 5 engines – 1.2 8-valve petrol (69hp), 1.4 8-valve petrol (77hp), 1.4 16-valve MultiAir petrol (105hp and 135hp), TwinAir 0.9-litre petrol (85hp) and 1.3 16-valve MultiJet diesel (75hp and 85hp).

The Engine of the Year-award winning TwinAir engine will be introduced from April.

Standard spec includes remote central locking, electric front windows, driver and passenger airbags, window airbags, radio/CD/MP3 player, electric power steering and height-adjustable driver seat.

Elena Bernardelli, Marketing Director of Fiat Group Automobiles UK, said: “The Punto range has been – and still is – an important car in the Fiat line-up, and we’re delighted now to be able to reveal prices of this latest evolution.

“Punto is up against some tough competition in its sector but we are confident that we are able to offer an attractive package at exceptional value-for-money prices to keep it a viable and desirable proposition.”

The new Punto is available from your nearest Fiat dealer now.

In a chart depicting the top 10 most reliable European cars, the French brand also claimed the third and ninth spot with the 206 CC and 107 respectively.

Just one in seventeen 207s were reported to have broken down in an average year following research from Warranty Direct which looked at over 20,000 policies.

In contrast, 47% of the Mercedes SL models covered by Warranty Direct recorded a fault, with 36% of those suspension-related.

Fiat’s Panda was found to be the second most reliable, with only 14% of owners likely to have to pay for repairs.

Peugeot claimed the third spot, this time with the 206 CC, which as well as needing relatively little attention, is also cheap to repair when it does go wrong, costing on average £185 to put right.

The Renault Clio is the cheapest to repair at £173 on average, while the priciest single claim among the bottom five cars was £7,239 for a BMW 7-Series fault.

Dependable

Duncan McClure Fisher, Warranty Direct’s MD, said: “Some people might be surprised to see Fiat and Peugeot claiming the top three positions, but the data doesn’t lie, these cars are very dependable. It’s perhaps less surprising to see a couple of VWs in the top 10.

“Running a car is a costly business, particularly when a car moves into its fourth and fifth year, when most cars leave the protection of a manufacturer warranty. Anything that gives a little extra peace of mind, like getting further warranty cover or simply doing research about the car you’re buying, is worthwhile.”

To gauge a car’s overall reliability and running costs, Warranty Direct reviewed rate of failure, average mileage, age and repair cost to calculate its rating.

For more info, head to www.reliabilityindex.co.uk.

EV recharging station provider Elektromotive has been brought in to install the UK’s largest network of publicly accessible high-speed charging units for electric vehicles, the first of which is already in action at Gateshead’s Metro Centre.

In just 20 minutes, the Rapid Charge Elektrobay can fill the battery of a Nissan Leaf or Mitsubishi i-MiEV to 80 per cent of its capacity; something that would take over seven hours with an everyday household powerpoint.

Calvey Taylor-Haw, MD of Elektromotive, believes this brisk and accelerated necessity will bring more drivers round to the idea of electric vehicles.

“Reducing battery charging times is crucial to a successful adoption of EVs,” he said. “We co-developed the Rapid Charge Elektrobay to quickly extend a vehicle’s range. 

“This will help reduce ‘range anxiety’, which has the potential to undermine demand for EVs. While battery manufacturers continue their efforts to increase range, the Rapid Charge Elektrobay offers an immediate solution for owners of the new EVs that are compatible with this charging technology.”

The charging stations are also operating in Dublin.

Greg Robins, sales director at Carra – a reseller of Elecktrobay in Ireland, said: “The Irish government has ambitious targets for developing the EV market, and aims to have 6,000 EVs on the road by 2012, and 250,000 by 2020. Inevitably, this creates a very pressing requirement for a robust, publicly-accessible recharging infrastructure. 

“A number of car dealerships have also started to install Rapid Charge Elektrobays in preparation for the arrival of new EV models.  While the number of EVs in Ireland are quite low at the moment, this is set to change this year with the arrival of hundreds of pre-ordered examples of the Nissan Leaf, Mitsubishi i-MiEV and Renault Fluence Z.E., as well as the launch of various electric commercial vehicles.”

Reporting to the newly-appointed fleet and remarketing director Simon Wheeler, Miller takes over responsibility for the remarketing and disposal of all Fiat Group vehicles, which now includes Fiat, Alfa Romeo, Abarth, Fiat Professional, Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge.

“I am looking forward to this new position. Using my knowledge of the used car market, I aim to develop Fiat Group’s approved programmes and strengthen our vehicles’ residual values. I’m especially excited to be working with the new Chrysler Group products that will be launched over the next few years. There’s certainly a fascinating time ahead of us,” commented Jonny Miller on his appointment.

The new vehicle – launched in March – scooped the top prize during a special winner’s lunch in London two days ago.

“An all-new product that stands out head and shoulders above some tough competition in its sector. The Doblò has made the most progress over the model it replaces and offers a clear advantage over its rivals. Good load space, high build quality, a one-tonne payload, competitive running costs and Fiat’s improved support for van fleets marks a step change for the Doblò Cargo. Stop/start comes as standard on 2.0-litre and Euro 5 versions and the independent rear suspension improves ride and handling. Fiat has flexed its engineering muscles and got it spot on,” said the Fleet Van of the Year judging panel.

The Fleet, a clever farce starring top comedy actor Phil Cornwell and seen across this very website, was commissioned in March by the commercial vehicle arm of Fiat Group Automobiles UK, to launch the new advertising approach.

Now it has scooped the Best Marketing Campaign honour at The Blades, an awards programme designed to showcase agencies’ talents. The programme measures all advertising campaigns in the automotive sector, including passenger cars and commercial vehicles, so the result is particularly important.

“I am delighted we have won this prize as we had a lot of faith in the Fleet campaign,” says Gerry Clarke, director, Fiat Professional. “It was such an innovative step forward for van advertising and we were pleased with the reception it received from customers and the media. To win a top award such as a Blades category is further proof of just how good the campaign was.”

The first episode of The Fleet was aired on national TV in March in a special commercial break during News At Ten, and was followed by a series of 3-4 minute episodes broadcast on the Internet (www.lightfootlogistics.co.uk). The campaign was devised for Fiat Professional by marketing specialist krow.

It followed the trials and tribulations of Pete, played by Phil Cornwell, the fleet manager of Lightfoot Logistics. The hilarious script carried a strong marketing message from Fiat Professional.

The new van achieved 128 out of a possible 168 points, from a jury made up of 24 specialist commercial vehicle trade journalists representing the same number of countries.

The trophy was presented during a gala evening to mark the 63^rd edition of the Hanover International Motor Show.

“The winning van design had impressed the jury on a number of fronts and above all by the fact that Fiat has succeeded in widening the number of platform and body varieties to a higher number than any other van in this category. The jury was particularly impressed with the wide range of engines. Furthermore it was impressed with the driving qualities and the high level of comfort that the different versions of the Doblò offer,” said the chairman of the International Van of the Year jury, Pieter Wieman.

“New Doblò Cargo has been an innovative vehicle right from its concept. With Doblò we offer our customers the widest choice, the lowest emissions and the most advanced technology in this category. The award is a testimony to our product innovation capacity. The fact that the Doblò has won demonstrates its level of innovation, but also the extent of the changes in order to respond to new customer needs. Gerry Clarke, Director of Fiat Professional UK, said: “We have been enjoying a high level of interest from customers and the media in new Doblò Cargo since it was launched in the UK in March this year. It has already been widely acclaimed, and the International Van of the Year title is a wonderful accolade,” added Lorenzo Sistino, Fiat Professional CEO.

The new Doblò comes in seven different forms – Cargo, Cargo Maxi, Cargo SX, Cargo Maxi SX, Combi, Combi Maxi and Platform Cab. The engine line-up comprises a 1.4-litre 16v 95bhp petrol unit and three MultiJet 16v diesels – 1.3 (90bhp), 1.6 (105bhp), and 2.0 (135bhp). Prices start at £11,305.

Content and ease of operation were the overriding focus of attention Fiat claim that the site will now allow the commercial vehicle arm of Fiat Group Automobiles UK to offer an enhanced and more enjoyable web experience, compared with the outgoing website.

Among its features is a new home page with larger, clearer buttons to locate the most important elements of the site. Access to information on finance, promotions, conversions and fleets has also been made simpler.

Further links are provided while more buttons give details of the full commercial vehicle model range, offer the opportunity to configure a vehicle to exact requirements, book a test drive, make further inquiries or locate the nearest dealer.

The brochure download facility has also been simplified and unlike the previous site, it does not require personal contact details to be input by the customer.

“We are delighted to unveil this new website,” says Gerry Clarke, director, Fiat Professional. “As the brand continues to grow, we are expecting more customers to visit us, so it’s right that we have a clearer, easier-to-use website that everyone can enjoy and obtain good use from.”

To take a look at the new website, whose URL remains exactly the same, visit www.fiatprofessional.co.uk.

The Hertz-owned car-by-the-hour business has agreed a deal that makes the Fiat 500 and Alfa MiTo key cars in its fleet. Rolled out initially in London, the car-share scheme is being prepared for wider use later this year.

Connect works by making cars available to hire for as little as an hour at a time. A special swipe card unlocks the pre-ordered vehicle, allowing the driver to use it for the time booked before returning it to its home point.

Both Hertz and FGAUK believe the Fiat 500 and Alfa MiTo will make perfect cars for this service, and the former has agreed to take 170 vehicles at the start.

“The Connect arrangement fits very well into our fleet strategy and is a high-profile, exciting deal,” says Andrew Humberstone, managing director, Fiat Group Automobiles UK and Ireland.

“This gives us a significant retail platform as it’s exactly the right audience for our products,” adds Paolo Lo Monaco, finance and business development director, Fiat Group Automobiles UK and Ireland. “It puts the Fiat 500 and Alfa MiTo right where we want them to be – in the hands of young, environmentally-conscious individuals who are free-thinking about the car they want to drive.”

Bob Stuart, Senior Vice President of Global Sales at Hertz, says: “We are extremely excited to have formed this exclusive alliance with Fiat for our car sharing club offer in the UK. The addition of the Alfa Romeo MiTo and the expansion of our Fiat 500 fleet really demonstrate Connect by Hertz’s commitment to transforming the way we travel in the city. The Fiat 500 has been extremely popular with customers, so we are reacting accordingly by adding more of these to the service.  Both cars offer innovative and eco-friendly alternatives while remaining at the height of fashion – a perfect combination for our members.”

Fiat’s breakthrough MultiAir technology has been reliably employed on other Fiat and Alfa models since early 2010, and with this new 500 having just two cylinders (plus about £300m of Fiat’s cash invested in its development) there’s theoretically much less to go wrong. The new model will be available (in UK from Sept 2010) as either a hardtop or convertible and, as the 500C retains the hardtop’s door pillars and roof frame, it also retains pretty much all of the hardtop 500’s body rigidity. The 500 is based largely on the tried-and-tested Panda, which itself came second in the City Car segment of JD Power’s 2010 customer satisfaction survey. More subjectively, the 500 seems solidly built and is exquisitely finished with attractive, high-quality materials and lovely design and detailing inside and out.

Read the full Fiat 500 TwinAir 85hp road test

Lightfoot Logistics, the sitcom fleet management firm introduced in Fiat Professional’s TV and internet campaign ‘The Fleet’, features heavily at this year’s show from April 13-15. The ad campaign opened with a slot during ITV News at Ten, and then hit the internet.

All six vans to be shown on Fiat Professional’s stand will be finished in white and feature the blue Lightfoot Logistics logo. Centrepiece vehicles will be two new Doblo Cargos, which were launched in the UK earlier this month.

The full line-up of vehicles comprises:

• Grande Punto Van Actual 1.3 litre 75bhp MultiJet diesel

• Fiorino Cargo SX 1.3 litre 75bhp MultiJet diesel

• Doblo Cargo SWB 1.3  litre 90bhp EURO 4 MultiJet diesel

• Doblo Cargo LWB SX 2.0 litre 135bhp EURO 5 MultiJet diesel

• Scudo Comfort 1.6 litre 90bhp MultiJet diesel

• Ducato Maxi LWB Extra Long Body High Roof 3.0 litre 160 POWER

Gerry Clarke, director, Fiat Professional said: “We will also have displays showing images from ‘The Fleet’ filming and advertising campaign, along with a TV monitor showing some of the episodes from the series and a DVD about new Doblo Cargo. Other than a preview screening earlier this month and the ITV news spot, this is the only currently planned public viewing of some of ‘The Fleet’ episodes.”

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The Doblo range starts at £12,295 otr (1.4 petrol Active), but the 1.6 and 2.0 MultiJets in top-of-the-range Eleganza spec tested here cost £16,795 and £17,145 respectively. For that you get alloy wheels, electric windows front and rear, air conditioning, electric door mirrors and a radio/CD/mp3 player with audio controls on the leather-covered wheel. Fiat’s Blue&Me telematics system is also standard, ‘though the integrated Blue&Me TomTom satnav is an accessory. Fuel consumption is 54.3mpg (1.6) and 49.6mpg (2.0) combined, with C02 at 138g/km and 150g/km (tax bands E and F). And did I mention that the new Doblo is a great deal easier on the eye than the old one?

Read the full Fiat Doblo 1.6 and 2.0 MultiJet Eleganza road test

RoadTestReports.co.uk provides road tests reports written by members of the Guild of Motoring Writers. These reports are complemented by car reviews submitted by the members of the public who drive the vehicles day in day out.