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Fiat Punto 1.3 JTD

How's this for being on the pace? Three months before the revised Fiat Punto goes on sale in the UK, Auto Express joined colleagues from our sister magazine Auto Foco in Portugal and climbed behind the wheel of the most important model in the new line-up at an exclusive testing session in Sweden.

By Jos� Caetano

April 2003

How's this for being on the pace? Three months before the revised Fiat Punto goes on sale in the UK, Auto Express joined colleagues from our sister magazine Auto Foco in Portugal and climbed behind the wheel of the most important model in the new line-up at an exclusive testing session in Sweden.

The 1.3-litre JTD uses an all-new lightweight 16-valve diesel powerplant, developed in conjunction with General Motors. As well as the Punto, the unit will power the Gingo and Idea from Fiat, plus the Vauxhall Corsa and Meriva. It is also currently under consideration for the forthcoming Tigra.

We aren't allowed to bring you driving impressions of the Punto until it is officially launched - the cars we drove are test mules, hence the disguise - but we can tell you that this new engine is one of the most refined and responsive small diesels on the market. Called 'Multijet', it uses an extremely high-pressure common-rail system, with the engine's compression ratio compensating for its relatively low capacity of only 1,251cc.

We drove the 70bhp version, which is designed more for economy than performance, returning 63mpg and running incredibly smoothly at speed. By producing a healthy 182Nm of torque at only 1,750rpm, it offers impressive low-range urge and pulls much harder than its official figures would suggest.

Although we have yet to put the car up against the clock, estimated performance suggests 0-62mph will take 14.5 seconds, with a top speed of 100mph. For those wanting more grunt, a 90bhp version of the engine goes on sale later in the year.

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FIRST OPINION

    The 1.3 JTD looks set to be one of the most exciting diesel developments of recent years. Thanks to its high compression, the engine gives the performance of a bigger unit and is on a par with Ford/PSA's 1.4-litre 16v and Renault's 1.5 dCi powerplants.
 

AT A GLANCE

    JTD unit will be available when revised Punto goes on sale in July
    Compliant with Euro IV regulations, 70bhp 1.3 is one of cleanest diesels around, and offers 63mpg
     
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