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Fiat India on Friday launched the Grande Punto 90HP multijet, its latest diesel variant in the premium hatchback segment.

Equipped with a 1.3 - litre multijet engine, powered by a variable geometry turbocharger, the car will be India’s most powerful diesel hatchback. Priced at Rs 6.79 lakh (ex - showroom price, Delhi), the car will compete directly with diesel variants of Hyundai i20, Maruti Swift and Tata Indica.

“ The launch of Grande Punto 90 HP multijet is aimed at consolidating our position within the performance diesel segment, which has been relatively untapped until now,” said Rajeev Kapoor, chief executive officer (CEO) and president, Fiat India.

The version is equipped with a 1.3 - litre multijet engine power of 93 PS and torque of 209 NM. The company claims the variant offers a mileage of 20 km per litre. This car comes with dual stage airbags, automatic climate control, anti - lock braking system (ABS) and alloy wheels.

“ The competition is stiff, we agree. But the car has many distinguishing feature like most powerful diesel engine and fuel efficiency. Moreover, this hatchback can also be personalised,” Kapoor added.

“ In fact, the Indian car market is getting very interesting and happening, and customers are spoilt for choice. With such stiff competition customers will get a cost advantage and there is hardly any scope for price hike, even when the input cost is going up,” Kapoor said.

The car offers customers a choice of personalisation through a special accessory pack that includes a rear spoiler, chrome exhaust tip, body decals, sporty aluminium pedals, leather seat covers and Punto branded door sill.

According to S. Krishnan, senior vice - president, commercial passenger vehicles of Tata Motors, which is a 50 per cent partner in Fiat India, “ The diesel car market is expected to grow at a much faster pace, which will suddenly see lots of technical innovation in a diesel engine. Moreover, it is more fuel and cost efficient.” The company is also developing another small car for the Indian market, which will be launched by 2012. Also, Fiat is planning to launch a new variant of its mid - sized sedan Linea by September as it aims to double sales during this fiscal to about 45,000 units.

Grande Punto, which was launched last year, is the third offering from the stable of Fiat after Linea and Palio.