Competition in the popular hatchback segment in the Nepali market is set to move to the next level with the upcoming launch of the Punto Pure from Italian carmaker Fiat.

Life Automobile, the authorised distributor of Fiat in Nepal, has planned to roll out a petrol variant of the Punto Pure by mid-September.

According to international media reports, the auto will compete with well-received hatchbacks like the Maruti Suzuki Baleno, Hyundai Creta and Volkswagen Polo, among others.

The carmaker has aimed to gain a foothold in the segment by providing an affordable option to tap the growing market for hatchbacks in Nepal. In recent years, the hatchback segment has gained popularity because of the low cost of ownership compared to SUVs and sedans. Moreover, hatchbacks have become an ideal option in the Kathmandu Valley with its shortfall of space in core city areas.

The upcoming Punto Pure is powered by Fiat’s signature 1.2 litre 8V FIRE engine. The power plant churns out 96 nm of torque at 2500 rpm. The city mileage is around 12.3 km per litre while on the highway the car offers a mileage of 15.7 km per litre.

“Fiat has been well received by the Nepali market and has experienced fair growth,” said Bikash Bajagain, assistant marketing manager at the company, “The Avventura model has been popular in Nepal, and the upcoming Punto Pure will help to consolidate our market presence.”

According to Bajagain, the distributor has opened pre-booking and has been entertaining queries. “The brand equity of Fiat is high because of the superior engine built by the Italian company,” he added.

The Punto Pure is equipped with a 5-speed manual transmission, disc brakes at the front and rear, MacPherson strut front suspension and torsion beam rear suspension. The car lacks an anti-lock braking system and airbags.

The Punto Pure has five seats, power steering and a fuel tank with a capacity of 45 litres. Priced at IRs407,000 in Delhi, the car has been called an affordable version of the Punto brand.