The Italian job

ALASTAIR SLOANE was in Italy for Fiat's 100th anniversary bash and the launch of the new Punto.

Italians sit on the car horn more than most. It's a way of communication, a constant reminder to each other that they just want to get to where they're going.

That's when the traffic is moving. When it's not, the horn becomes a source of pollution, just as toxic in confined inner cities as dirty exhaust gases.

Car makers can't do much about noise pollution short of removing the horn. But they are constantly working on insulating occupants against the noise the car itself makes.

The industry calls it NVH levels: noise, vibration and harshness.

It was something very much on Fiat's mind when it pegged the design for the new Punto, unveiled at the company's spectacular centenary dinner here this week - which, judging by the designer dresses and dripping jewels, was high on the social calendar list.

It's not that the previous Punto model was noisy, just that Fiat identified improved NVH levels as a way of maintaining a competitive edge in the popular small-car market.

Fiat got its sound engineers to suppress the noise the new Punto makes on the road to below that of the average office mumble. As a guide here, a Concord airliner at take-off records 130 decibels; a Formula One car llOdb; and a working office 85db.

Fiat say the Punto at 100 km/h records 71db, thanks to materials which improve the car's rigidity (avoiding noisy flexing) and deaden sound.

There are other innovations, too, as Fiat attempts to stay ahead of small-car trends. The new Punto is the first car in its segment to use a "common rail" diesel engine, a significant advance which first appeared in Europe in the Alfa Romeo 156.

It is the only car in its class to offer an electronically controlled automatic transmission that doubles as a sequential manual gearbox, with up to seven gears.

It is also the only small car to have electric power steering with two operating modes - slightly weightier for open road touring and lighter for town life, specially when parking in confined spaces.

This system is called "Dualdrive" and works via a button marked "City" set in the middle of the facia, and an electric pump which replaces the conventional hydraulic pump driven by the car's engine.

Drivers who forget to switch off the city setting when they head out on a motorway need not worry: both programmes offer the same degree of power assistance over 70 km/h.

The new Punto is similar in size to the outgoing model but boasts a better interior environment - more room and comfort.

Especially efficient is the car's air-conditioning system: it is quiet and kept its occupants cool and collected in this hot and humid city, where the temperature reached 37 deg C.

The five-door Punto is slightly longer than the three-door. But both models offer good interior room and luggage space. Fiat says the five-door is roomier and has more room for luggage than any other car in its class.

The interior design has a fit and finish about it that shows improved quality and style. The seats might just set a new standard for comfort, too.

The Punto comes with a choice of five engines: two diesel and three petrol. New Zealand buyers are likely to be offered only two: the petrol-powered, 16-valve, 1.2l four-cylinder and the more powerful 1. 8l unit, which powers the HGT model and produces 96kW.

The standard 1.2l is quiet, reasonably flexible and offers class-leading fuel economy. Mated to the five-speed manual gearbox, it offers a complete small-car package. The automatic/manual "Speedgear" model, with its seven gears, wasn't available for testing. But it can be expected to offer the same excellent ride and handling characteristics as its manual stablemates.

Brief highlights of the Punto include some small-car precedents:

* electric windows that work even when the ignition key has been removed;

* headlights that can stay on in dipped mode for 30 seconds to five minutes to light a parking area once the car's doors have been locked .

Safety equipment includes anti-lock brakes which distribute brake force evenly to each wheel, and dual airbags with optional side airbags.

No word on the Punto's price in New Zealand, but expect it to be competitive, as Fiat chases a bigger share of the small-car market.

The Punto will go head-to-ahead with French rivals Peugeot and Renault. Renault has already launched its well-priced Cleo, and Peugeot will soon unvei1 its 206. The standard Cleo costs $21,995. Peugeot is expected to rival that. Soon, perhaps even before Christmas, it will be Fiat's turn. Will Italian styling beat French flair? Some here are saying it already has.