In a bid to lure auto enthusiasts of the country, Fiat India is planning to launch more powerful versions of the Punto and Avventura Crossover under its performance brand 'Abarth'. Though the first to enter between these two could be the Abarth Punto Evo, as the vehicle was recently spotted in India.

Powering this performance-oriented version of the car will be a 1.4-litre T-Jet turbocharged petrol unit that will churn out a whooping 135bhp of power. The same engine will also do duty on the Abarth Avventura. Just so you know, the regular Punto Evo models come with three engine options - 1.2-litre and 1.4-litre naturally-aspirated petrol units and a 1.3-litre multijet diesel unit.

Fiat Punto Abarth T-Jet

The Punto Evo T-Jet will take head on against the country's only hot-hatch - the Volkswagen Polo GT TSI. The Polo GT TSI derives its power from a 1.2-litre TSI petrol motor that, mated to a 7-speed DSG automatic gearbox, produces 105bhp. So the Punto Evo T-Jet, at 135bhp, will be about 30bhp more powerful than the VW's hot-hatchback. Tata Motors too might launch a performance-oriented version of Tata Bolt in the country, which was recently unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show.

- Manohar