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Social climber. Image by Alisdair Suttie.

Social climber
Al takes a Fiat Grande Punto for a test of a different kind, as he tries out hillclimbing.

   



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| First UK Drive | Doune, Scotland | Fiat Grande Punto Abarth |

As first drives go, tackling the UK's trickiest hillclimb course in the wet is a tough test for Fiat's Grande Punto Abarth, not to mention its driver. Car Enthusiast was lucky enough to bag the hot seat in Fiat's hottest hatch for a weekend's hill climbing at Doune in Scotland. We'd only managed a brief walk up the hill before rolling up to the line and dumping the clutch. Luckily, the Fiat was more than up to the job.

The point of the exercise is to show that you can compete in a close-fought form of motorsport without the Aga Khan's bank balance - and still have fun. Using a completely stock Punto Abarth, the only changes needed were the front timing strip to cut the timing beams at the start and finish, a sticker on the ignition barrel to show on and off, and a piece of tape on the positive battery lead should the marshals have to deal with the car in a accident.

An optional Esseesse kit was the only other change to our Punto Abarth racer. This brings lowered springs, 18-inch alloy wheels, stronger brakes and an increase in power from the standard 155- to 180bhp. Not bad for £3,500, as it turns the Punto into a very lively hot hatch for £17,005 all in.

On the road, the Punto Abarth Esseesse is a great way to get from A to over there in a hurry. The ride is just the right side of firm thanks to enough compliance in the harder springs and larger wheels to cope with nugget-y roads. There's also plenty of grip from sticky Pirelli tyres, which also proved more than up to the job of covering our mistakes on that first soggy run up the Doune hillclimb.

Fortunately, the rain disappeared and that rarest of commodities, the Scottish summer, showed up for the rest of the two-day event. Our second trial run in the dry instantly showed off the grip and poise of the Punto. With the Sport button engaged, the steering has a slightly heavier feel with decent feedback. It's also quick witted, to make Doune's blind corners and apexes less daunting than they might be.

With some heat in the tyres and tarmac, our times up the hill came down in satisfyingly big chunks. From that first wet run of 75 seconds, we ended with a best of 60.20 seconds. That was not the quickest run of the weekend - which went to a crazy V10-engined Gould single seater that set a new course record of 35.95 seconds at an average speed of 95mph. When you see how narrow and tricky the Doune course is, you appreciate that this time is all the more amazing.

The Punto Abarth's turbocharged 1.4-litre engine socks a big punch for a small engine. It covers 0-62mph in 7.5 seconds and has oodles of mid-rev grunt for overtaking thanks to 200lb.ft of torque delivered at just 2,750rpm. This meant a quick change into the second of six available gears gear off the start line for the hillclimb, but the engine showed no signs of bogging down. Instead, the Fiat hurled itself forward with even greater gusto.

Helping us to get the best from the Punto Abarth are the hip-gripping front sports seats. With the chair adjusting for height and distance from the steering wheel, we had no trouble getting comfy and the visibility in all directions was good, even while wearing a crash helmet. We also found there was enough head room for us to fit in the driver's seat easily while wearing a skid lid. The rest of the Abarth's cabin is just as practical as the rest of the Punto range.

This makes the Fiat Grande Punto Abarth very easy to live with, but we also found it makes a more than capable weekend racer. Practical, sporty, affordable and smile-bending-ly fun to drive - everything a hot hatch should be.

Alisdair Suttie - 23 Jun 2009



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Technical specifications for 2008 Fiat Grande Punto Abarth

Alisdair Suttie tackles a hillclimb in the Fiat Grande Punto Abarth. Image by Alisdair Suttie.Alisdair Suttie tackles a hillclimb in the Fiat Grande Punto Abarth. Image by Alisdair Suttie.Alisdair Suttie tackles a hillclimb in the Fiat Grande Punto Abarth. Image by Alisdair Suttie.Alisdair Suttie tackles a hillclimb in the Fiat Grande Punto Abarth. Image by Alisdair Suttie.Alisdair Suttie tackles a hillclimb in the Fiat Grande Punto Abarth. Image by Alisdair Suttie.

Alisdair Suttie tackles a hillclimb in the Fiat Grande Punto Abarth. Image by Alisdair Suttie.Alisdair Suttie tackles a hillclimb in the Fiat Grande Punto Abarth. Image by Alisdair Suttie.Alisdair Suttie tackles a hillclimb in the Fiat Grande Punto Abarth. Image by Alisdair Suttie.Alisdair Suttie tackles a hillclimb in the Fiat Grande Punto Abarth. Image by Alisdair Suttie.Alisdair Suttie tackles a hillclimb in the Fiat Grande Punto Abarth. Image by Alisdair Suttie.



Alisdair Suttie tackles a hillclimb in the Fiat Grande Punto Abarth. Image by Alisdair Suttie.
 

Alisdair Suttie tackles a hillclimb in the Fiat Grande Punto Abarth. Image by Alisdair Suttie.
 

Alisdair Suttie tackles a hillclimb in the Fiat Grande Punto Abarth. Image by Alisdair Suttie.
 

Alisdair Suttie tackles a hillclimb in the Fiat Grande Punto Abarth. Image by Alisdair Suttie.
 

Alisdair Suttie tackles a hillclimb in the Fiat Grande Punto Abarth. Image by Alisdair Suttie.
 






 

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