- Fiat CEO, Olivier Francois, spoke about the potential of a new Punto.
- He said that a “very sleek and sporty” Punto could make sense as an EV.
- Still, such a model would be only considered if the market shifts.
The Punto has been absent from the Fiat lineup since 2018, but a new comment from the CEO leaves a small window of possibility open for its return. Olivier Francois said that a new Punto could work as a “sleek and sporty” hatchback in the era of electrification, although no such model is currently under development.
The Fiat 600 marked the company’s return to the B-Segment. The small SUV was joined by the Fiat Grande Panda in 2024, covering a space once occupied by the defunct Punto. However, the Italian brand hasn’t completely ruled out the return of the popular nameplate in a future product with a focus on sportiness and aerodynamic efficiency.
More: Which European Car Should Stellantis Import Or Rebadge For America?
During a recent interview with Autocar about the next-gen Panda, Fiat CEO, Olivier Francois, said: “If Punto was very sleek and sporty, it would be hugely linked to the future of electrification.” The CEO made it clear that a new Punto is not currently planned, but he is reportedly “ready to respond to any market shift”.
In recent years, some conventional hatchbacks – including the Ford Fiesta and Focus – have been discontinued in favor of more profitable and popular crossovers and SUVs. The latter are slightly raised versions, although they often adopt sporty features and sleeker rooflines. This trend – in combination with the growing need for better aerodynamics – might bring hatchbacks back into fashion, allowing automakers to invest in their development.
The most plausible scenario for a future Fiat Punto would be to ride on the STLA Small architecture, an evolution of the CMP underpinnings of the Peugeot 208, Opel Corsa, and Lancia Ypsilon subcompact hatchbacks. However, this would put it in a crowded market with numerous Stellantis offerings competing for the same customer base, putting the conglomerate’s fragile balance at risk.
The same would apply in the case of a larger Punto that could be based on the STLA Medium architecture, as with the successors of the Peugeot 308, Opel Astra, and Lancia Delta. Furthermore, the Tipo, Bravo, or Stilo monikers would be more suitable for a compact hatchback with the Fiat emblem which sounds like a stretch.
Another option would be to use the Punto name for a sleek crossover, similar to the Citroen C4. However, Fiat has already teased an upcoming production model with its Fastback concept from last year, which doesn’t fall into the “sleek and sporty” description.
There Was Going To Be A New Punto But Francois Cancelled It
It is worth noting that Francois was responsible for canceling the Punto successor when he took over the position of the Fiat CEO back in 2011. He described the canceled model as “okay-looking but not super-iconic”, citing marketability reasons for its demise. Francois wanted a global model that could do “huge volumes”, something that is easier to achieve with a crossover/SUV rather than a small hatchback.
More: Fiat Shares Details On Aborted Punto Successor
During the presentation of the Fiat 600 in 2023, we got a glimpse of an official sketch of what would become a new Punto – if the project hadn’t been abandoned. It turns out that Fiat applied a similar design to the larger and taller 500X.
The original Fiat Punto was introduced in 1993 as a replacement for the Uno. The second generation arrived in 1999 with sharper styling, followed by the Grande Punto in 2005. The latter remained in production until 2018 with the help of two subsequent facelifts. It proved to be the last of its kind, at least until Fiat decides to dust off the nameplate sometime in the (distant) future.
Fiat Punto (2012-2015)
