Fiat Punto GT

Manufacturer	FIAT
Type	sports car
Production	1993  to 1999
Length	3770  m m
Width	1625 mm
Height	1440 mm
Mass	1100  k g
Style	Giorgetto Giugiaro

The Fiat Punto GT was the most powerful model in the Punto range introduced in 1993 . 

History

The GT stands for GranTurismo, was equipped with a 1372 cc engine (derived from the Fiat Uno Turbo second series) supercharged by a turbocharger IHI model VL7 water-cooled, with intercooler  air-air cooling system.with 98 kW of power (133 hp ), this engine, according to data declared by FIAT , was able to push it to almost 205 km / h (204.7) and accelerate it from 0 to 100 km / h in 7 , 9 seconds .

The GT has undergone two major restylings that have divided production into three series: 1 ^st series: 1993-1995 2 ^nd series: 1995-1997 3 ^rd series: from 1997 until the end of production, approximately in 1999.

The first series of the GT was not presented at the launch of the Punto, but a few months later, as is Fiat's practice for more sporty or special models.It appeared on the market equipped with electric mirrors in body color with defrosting, 14 "alloy wheels with 185/55 tires, black plastic skirts not in car color, black side moldings with red stripe, headlight washer on the front bumper, ABS at 4 sensors, dual-reflector headlights height adjustment, fog lights, sports seats, steering wheel and shift knob .

The instrument cluster with black and red stripe down, specifically for the GT (but similar graphics to that of TD 70 ELX),included speedometer with full scale at 240 km / h, rev counter, water temperature indicator, petrol level, oil pressure and turbine pressure. The seats were in velvet-blended fabric, called "slate velvet", not exactly sporting, but specific for this model. The driver's side featured standard height and lumbar fascia adjustment. The airbagwas an option that caused the steering wheel to lose its specific leather, in favor of the steering wheel of the Punto ELX version, however, covered in leather. Also on request it was possible to install the airbag for the passenger side and the predisposition for the radio ; the latter presented a substantial change to the front doors: different pockets in the door panel, for a 16.5 cm woofer . For the rest, the car had the same standard equipment as the "Punto ELX" version.The engine of the first series was identified with the code 176A4.000, with a power of 98 KW, or 133 HP.

Second series 

The second series of the GT was presented in 1995 . The headlights had been replaced with groups of the same characteristics but with, internal plastics and black exterior cladding (those of the original version were the same with the double parabola of the Punto ELX, clear) creating a "smoky" effect that gave sportiness at the snout; the sill skirts were now in body color. The side moldings changed, now all black with the stylized "GT" logo introduced with this version and also shown on the tailgate as a model identification tag.

The instrument panel saw the color of the pads shift from black to the sportier white, specific and unique for this version. The seats, with their new design , took on a lower seat and a more enveloping profile and the steering wheel was replaced with one of the same design as those used on Fiat barchetta and Fiat Coupé , leather and fitted as standard with the airbag device . The airbag for the passenger side remained on request. The logoFIAT on the steering wheel for this model was initially embossed and of the same color as plastic, and was later replaced by a metallic and color logo. The standard interior upholstery had a new fabric, called "gray fabric"; leather interiors were available upon request.

Also the plastic of the front doors changed: in the first series they were the same as those of the ELX, more refined, with the upper edge flush with the glass, in gray plastic and "better" connected with the dashboard. Now they were stylistically the same door panels as the "S" version of the Punto, but with specific upholstery.On request the for the car radio with 16.5 cm woofer in the door.

The engine did not undergo substantial modifications: the identification code is the same as in the first series, 176A4.000 always credited with 98 KW and therefore 133 HP. Part of the electrical system was changed, with a new engine management unit which now featured the "CODE" safety system from Fiat, which, through a transponder in the key, allows recognition of the original key without the engine failing to start .

Third series 

The second of 1997 facelift saw little change from the aesthetic point of view than the second set, the interior had a plastic of the dashboard from the darkest gray, update that touched the entire 1997 point range and also alloy wheels, unchanged in design, they were no longer light gray, but metallic anthracite.

The interiors had seats similar in shape to those of the second series but with a new black / dark blue upholstery that featured the GT logo on the entire surface, called "black fabric". The mirrors also changed, now with an external cup in the same color, removable and paintable separately from the mirror (modification that affected the entire Punto range).The air conditioner, now with manual recirculation (unlike the previous series where it was electric), became a standard accessory.Also on request, the predisposition for the radio  with 16.5 cm woofer in the door.

The internal equipment was reduced, in fact we see the vanity mirror in the driver's side sun visor, the glove compartment lock, the warning light of non-functioning "stop" lights and worn pads disappear; not even available in the optional extras.Rather important changes, however, concerned the engine : the head had been replaced and the intake was managed by a new butterfly, with a minimum control directly connected to the valve itself. The compression ratio changed to 9: 1, a change that limited the supercharging pressure to a constant 1.2 bar (official FIAT data). Furthermore, other minor details led Punto GT to comply with the Euro 2 anti-pollution legislation instead of Euro 1 .These changes made it lose 3 hp, lowering the total power to 130 hp and increasing the click 0–100 km / h at 8.2 seconds. However, the greater compression of the engine increased the elasticity of driving at low speeds.

Production officially ceased in late 1999, along with obviously the other Punto series. In reality it was a model that could be purchased, often with enormous discounts, even after the introduction of the second series, in order to evade the stock.The models that have "ideally" replaced the GT are the HGT and the Fiat Punto HGT Abarth , equipped with a 1747 cm³ (1.8) 16v engine of 131 hp, the same engine mounted on the Fiat Coupé and Fiat Barchetta; the HGT already in the name emphasized the relationship with the GT , simply adding an H to the abbreviation (name used by Fiat previously to indicate a version of the Bravo , the Bravo HGT with a 5-cylinder 2.0 20v engine).

The initials that started with the letter H were used by Fiat initially on the Tipo , to indicate the HSD (acronym of High Safety Drive), one of the last models, when it had already undergone the restyling, and that was equipped with special safety precautions , including anti-intrusion bars in the door and airbags. On the HGT it is assumed that they indicate High Gran Turismo.

Engine

There are two versions of this engine that differ in some details. The first and second series were equipped with the most performing 176A4.000. Subsequently, in 1997 it was replaced with the 176B6.000, which, in the face of lower performance, allowed it to meet the more stringent EURO2 anti-pollution standards.

These are Otto cycle 4-stroke engines, four cylinders and two valves per cylinder with an overhead camshaft . The displacement was 1,372 cm³ ( 80.5mm bore - 67.4mm stroke ). Power was 100 kW (136 hp) at 5650 rpm (176A4000), 98 kW (133 hp) at 5750 rpm (176A4000) and 96 kW (130 hp) at 5600 rpm (176B6000) with a torque of 200 Nm (21.2 kgm) at 3000 rpm

Both engines are equipped with the same turbocharger unit equipped with the same calibration, water-cooled IHI VL7 model with the supercharging pressure managed by the control unit. The engine management is provided by a Bosch Motronic 2.7 control unit while the fuel injection is a phased sequential multi-point type. The engine control unit also managed the overboost : if the engine required the maximum power, it carried the boost pressure for 1.2 seconds at 1.2 bar, granting an additional injection of power and torque.

Braking system 

The brakes in the three GT series have undergone three modifications: on all the wheels disc brakes were mounted , with the front ones ventilated. The first series was equipped with pincers without a holding clip, the second series was fitted with revised calipers with respect to the first series; they shared the same tablet model, but the noise problem had been eliminated. They were dimensionally identical.

The third series of the GT has a new caliper, larger in size, the same model mounted on the Bravo GT and other cars of the FIAT group. It is always a single-piston caliper, the size of which is increased, the piston covers the entire area of ​​the pad, which has changed shape and size compared to the previous ones, making it larger. Unchanged the disc.Following this change, the braking qualities improved on the third series.From the second half of 1998 new rear calipers were adopted, but the tablet model remained unchanged.