Fiat Punto Coming to America as Jeep Hot Hatch?

"PilotMan" (Pilotman)
03/27/2014 at 17:45 • Filed to: None

My Abarth would be stocked to see this happen, it might also be offended that the 500 wasn't enough for the NA market. Could be 1.6L or possibly up to 2.0L for 280 HP and awd.

via Jeff Perez -Bold Ride

DISCUSSION (22)

Frosted > PilotMan
03/27/2014 at 17:47

10/10 would buy and rebadge immediately.

MonkeePuzzle > PilotMan
03/27/2014 at 17:48

this is A: smoking hawt! and B: makes no sense to be a jeep

El Relámpago(LZone) - Humanity First! > PilotMan
03/27/2014 at 17:50

Not April Fools', yet.

JR1 > PilotMan
03/27/2014 at 17:51

I just can't see a hot hatch Jeep.

bob and john > PilotMan
03/27/2014 at 17:53

oh man, if they bring this as a jeep its going to end soooo badly

PilotMan > El Relámpago(LZone) - Humanity First!
03/27/2014 at 17:53

There is a whole lottashoppin going on there. I'm also not sure how it would be priced with awd and 280 hp. A $33k jeep hatch seems not all that good of an idea.

jkm7680 > PilotMan
03/27/2014 at 17:55

I'd like to have a Punto Abarth.

I like the looks of the 500 Abarth, but it's too small .

PilotMan > Frosted
03/27/2014 at 17:56

Totally, straight to the Fiat store with part numbers in-hand.

PilotMan > JR1
03/27/2014 at 17:57

It's right there, look at it, LOOK AT IT!

BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather > PilotMan
03/27/2014 at 18:02

As long as they call it the Eagle. That's all I ask.

Textured Soy Protein > PilotMan
03/27/2014 at 18:03

I think for it to come over as a Jeep, it would be more likely a somewhat crossover-fied vehicle like the Cherokee or Renegade, rather than just slapping Jeep badges on a Punto.

Now if they oh, I dunno, brought it over as a Fiat, that could work too.

duurtlang > PilotMan
03/27/2014 at 18:10

There is no way. This car was introduced in 2005, so it's 9 years old already. Sure it has received its fair share of face lifts in redesigns, but underneath it's still a car that was introduced 9 years ago.

evil2win > PilotMan
03/27/2014 at 18:11

I'm not so sure about selling as a jeep but I'd like to see the Punto sold stateside, and an Abarth version doubly so.

Your boy, BJR > PilotMan
03/27/2014 at 18:18

I WANT TO RUB MY NAKED WEINER ALL OVER IT.

Michael Flatter > PilotMan
03/27/2014 at 18:22

They will never do it, but issues of brand identity aside, I think that looks pretty badass.

oldirtybootz > PilotMan
03/27/2014 at 18:27

I highly doubt that will happen, especially not in favor of a Dart SRT4 nor badged as a Jeep rather than a Fiat. The Punto Evo Abarth Esseesse has a 180hp version of the 1.4 Multiair turbo so that would seem to be engine they'd use, if not the Alfa 1.75L. The Esseesse is sexy as hell though, give it the uConnect 8.4 and I'd buy one.

Otto-the-Croatian-'Whoops my Volvo is a sedan' > PilotMan
03/27/2014 at 18:31

Oh for fuck's sake!! Jesus this made me feel angry on the internet.

I'd love for you guys to have the Punto, but this whole rebadging thing is pathetic. A Jeep?! Reeeeallly?! Of all the Chrysler-owned shit they say Jeep is the best badge for a hatchback. Which, as duurtlang pointed out is 9 years old. Ugh.

cuts_off_prius > PilotMan
03/27/2014 at 18:42

This.. and the possibility of it coming over as a crossover with Jeep badging makes my blood boil. Why can't we just be a CIVILIZED country for once and bring over cars that the rest of the world gets as-is? Why lose their character?