2010 Fiat Punto EVO Live from the Frankfurt Motor Show

Exploiting a moniker that's usually held for race- or rally-bred sport cars such as our beloved Delta Integrale, Fiat introduced a mildly facelifted version of the Grande Punto in Frankfurt. To be known from now on as the Punto Evo, the Italian supermini gains a restyled front-end with a new bumper design that brings it closer to the 500 along with tweaked front and rear light clusters as well as a reworked rear bumper. These changes "stretched" the car's length to 4,060mm, while all other external dimensions remain the same.

The upgrades in the cabin are more noticeable as the dashboard, seats and instrument panel have been given a thoroughly restyled look that borrows from the C-segment Bravo hatch.

Furthermore, the 2010 Punto Evo is the second car in the Fiat Group after the Alfa Romeo MiTo to benefit from an updated range of petrol engines equipped with the firm's revolutionary MultiAir technology that uses a new electrohydraulic valve management system to reduce fuel consumption by controlling air directly via the inlet valves without using the throttle.

Along with the familiar diesel line-up, the supermini's range also includes two alternative fuel engines, a methane and an LPG unit.

Prices are expected to be announced closer the Fiat Punto Evo's sale date in the second half of October.