International Fiat launches are lavish affairs fraught with potential for disaster thanks to the challenge of shepherding over 1,700 journalists from airport, to dinner, to hotel, to presentation and then, finally to drive the car. If I'm being honest, it's not a great way to get to grips with how good a car as, so limited is the time spent behind the wheel, but what it does do is give a flavour for how Fiat has developed the new model and how it is positioned in the market. With those thoughts in mind, we went along to Rome for the revealing of the new Fiat Bravo.

The event itself was a spectacular display put on by the Cirque de Soleil performers, with the climactic revealing of a convoy of new Bravos hurtling past the famous line of Greek-style statues in the Stadio dei Marmi (Stadium of Marble). There is no doubt that Fiat wants you to know that the new Bravo is Italian. Where the company attempted to make a more Germanic car in the Stilo, Fiat is proud to call its replacement an Italian product.

Nowhere else is this nationalistic pride more prevalent than in the exterior styling. The preview images, and indeed the latest photographs, don't do the new car justice; it is truly head-turning. At the front, sculpted wings and bonnet are decorated by jewel-like headlights, with more than a little of the Jaguar XK about them. The confident looks of the Grande Punto are built upon and the Bravo debuts a distinctive new grille shape, which houses the new Fiat badge.

A high waistline leads into a pert rear end that is similar in profile to the SEAT Leon, but the rear three quarters view wouldn't look out of place on the next generation VW Golf. That's thanks in part to the stylised rear lights that hark back to the previous Bravo and to the large Fiat roundel positioned in the centre of the hatch. Like the Golf, this will be used as a release in some markets.

The boot itself is massive, apparently accommodating a class-leading 400 litres. Occupants of the cabin are also gifted with plenty of room, front and rear, though the shallow side glass means that rear passengers may feel a little too cocooned. Fiat's designers have also done an excellent job on the dashboard and instrumentation without going overboard. It not only looks good, it works well and importantly when attempting to lure Golf and Focus buyers, it feels good to touch, with good material selection and well-damped switchgear. It's a world away from the rubberised controls of the Stilo.

Fiat has yet to announce the final line-up and pricing structure for the UK market, but it will be loosely based on the range that is now on sale in Italy. The trim levels are basic, Active, Dynamic, Emotion and Sport, though we expect an Abarth version in a couple of years too. Equipment levels should be competitive, with air conditioning and a high level of passive safety equipment across the board. The latter will be aimed at obtaining five stars in the Euro NCAP occupant protection ratings, which Fiat is confident the new Bravo will achieve.

Sales of the new Fiat Bravo in the UK will not commence until June, which ostensibly is due to the decision to launch the car here with the new range of engines. Alongside the entry-level 1.4-litre FIRE unit and two versions of the 1.9-litre Multijet turbodiesel (120bhp and 150bhp), the Bravo signals the introduction of a completely new engine range that will be marketed under the T-JET banner. The new name represents the use of turbocharging with gasoline direction injection. First up is the 1.4-litre with 120bhp and 150bhp options. Peak torque is an impressive 152lb.ft, available as low as 1750rpm on the lower-powered car. Unusually, the 150bhp Sport version has the ability to output 170lb.ft when the Sport button is pressed.

The car we briefly drove was in fact equipped with this new engine and it's impressive. As well as having plenty of low-down grunt, it revs cleanly to the red line, yet is civilised and quiet at a cruise. Really, its power delivery is more akin to a well-calibrated turbodiesel, with only a slight amount of lag. We were told that there will be even more powerful engines in the T-JET range, including a 1.8-litre version with over 200bhp.

First impressions of driving the new Bravo are favourable too. It feels like a bigger can than it is thanks to its stability and comfort, but it's also pleasant to drive, with well modulated brakes and an excellent gearchange. I'm afraid the roads we drove on told us very little about the car's outright abilities, so we'll have to wait until a longer first drive this summer.

Italians aside, customers can get their first glimpse of the new Fiat Bravo at the Geneva Motor Show next month. Prices will be announced closer to the on-sale date in June, though word is that it will comfortably undercut the Ford Focus on model for model terms. It has huge potential.