A FIAT Grande Punto with a 1.4 16v T-jet 120 high performance has gone on sale. The engine develops 120 bhp and delivers 206 Nm of torque at 2000 rpm.

The top speed is 195 km/h and acceleration from 0100 km/h takes 8.9 seconds.

Apart from the sparkling T-jet performance the car can cover 100km on just 5.4 litres of petrol (52.3 mpg) and the emission levels are lower than you would expect from such a highperformance car, at only 155 g/km. This is the smallest turbo engine in its class and the most powerful engine under 1.4l currently available.

There are three versions available . . . a three-door and five- door 'Dynamic Team' and a three door 1.4 T-jet 'Sporting'.

The T-jets fit into the existing Grande Punto Sportline line-up.

Prices are: Dynamic Team three-door, 18,795; Dynamic Team five-door, 19,295 and Sporting three-door, 19,845.

Gone with the 'Wind'

RENAULT is racing ahead to get in on the two-seater convertible car market.

Plans to have a car based on the 'Wind' concept car shown at Geneva Motor Show in 2004 are advanced and expect to see the new vehicle ready for launch next year.

The fact that the Toyota MR2 Roadster was discontinued last year has accelerated the Renault plans and the French are now looking to take a slice of the Mazda MX-5 market.

The model will be a leader in the Renaultsport range and much of the design concepts used in the 'Wind' will be incorporarted in the new vehicle. Insiders say refinement is to be the keyword in the presentation of the new offering as Renault's previous one in this niche market, the Sport Spider model, did not have the mass appeal of the MX-5.

It's not known if the designers have opted for a hardtop or cloth roof but are not expected to follow Mazda who offer both.