IN the hot-hatch market, it's simply not enough to have muscle under the bonnet. You have to show intent and purpose on the outside, too.

Feast your eyes on the new Abarth Punto Evo and you are left in no doubt about its reason for being on the planet. It's built to thrill, and those head-turning touches are by no means just eye candy.

Drawing inspiration from the Abarth S2000 rally car, the front is characterised by side intakes in the front valance that help guide and improve airflow around the front of the car and the front bumper incorporates an aerodynamic splitter to guide airflow beneath the car.

Your eyes are drawn to the Abarth badge bearing the classic scorpion icon in its shield, while daytime running lights add some sparkle.

The side skirts are body-coloured to make the car appear glued to the ground, even when it's stationary, and the braking system's front discs are ventilated with fixed Brembo callipers that are accentuated by a racy red colour.

But best of all for grabbing the attention are the 17-inch alloy wheels, with their spokes now reflecting the scorpion pincers on the Abarth badge, while the logo also appears on the wheel centres.

At the rear, the bumper incorporates side vents along with a new diffuser to channel air away from the car's underbody.

This diffuser now houses the fog and reversing lights which have been centrally mounted so they become the focus of attention, as on a Formula One car.

The wider bore twin-exhaust tail pipes feature a satin finish and are also located in the diffuser.

The rear roof spoiler has been revised to improve its aerodynamics, while the rear lights are mounted high for maximum visibility, with LEDs framing the rear window to complete a car that's as special to look at as it is to drive. And it is special to drive.

An evolution of the Abarth Grande Punto that heralded the rebirth of Abarth in 2008, the Abarth Punto Evo has its origins in the world of motor racing.

It has under its skin the award-winning MultiAir 1.4-litre turbo engine that gives the car its combination of performance and eco-friendliness.

The resulting figures are impressive: 0-62mph in 7.9 seconds and 47.1mpg on the combined cycle. And by employing Start&Stop technology and a gear shift indicator it emits only 142g/km of CO2.

Despite these eco-credentials, it remains a performance car. From the throaty rasp of its exhaust system to those alloy wheels and the race-tuned suspension, this car is designed to get its driver's adrenaline pumping.

This is demonstrated by the Sport switch, a small lever located above the gearlever, which enables drivers to decide how they want the car to behave and adjust it accordingly. For a more relaxed drive, Normal is the default position. However, in Sport mode, the car becomes more responsive with sharper reactions from the accelerator and steering. And then there's the torque… bags of it.

I took one for a spin over the North York Moors on one of those days when the cloud hangs low and streaks of sunlight pierce dark clouds to illuminate the valleys. The car handled beautifully through the bends and gripped the damp surface sufficiently well to give me the confidence to press on through its excellent six-speed manual transmission.

At the end of my journey I pulled into an autodrome on the outskirts of Middlesbrough to try out its handling on a race track. That's where the torque came into its own, providing the performance to come out of bends with aplomb.

The performance credentials are symptomatic of the high level of standard equipment.

The steering wheel is both reach and rake adjustable and the driver's seat adjusts for height, too, so getting comfortable is an easy task. There are electric front windows and mirrors, air conditioning, a radio/CD/MP3 player with steering wheel controls and Blue&Me hands-free system that allows control of the sound system and a telephone through voice recognition.

The finish of the fascia has been chosen to replicate the effect of Tarmac on a race track. Above it, leather covers the dashboard with red and yellow stitching around the leading edge to highlight the cowl that shades the instruments from the sun.

These instruments feature larger speedometer and rev counter faces, while a graphic between the two shows how much boost the turbo is contributing.

This type of detail matters when you are splashing out on performance car. It has to feel and look special as well as provide the driving thrills.

The flat-bottomed steering wheel has been designed for maximum driver appeal, too. It's trimmed in soft black leather and has specially designed contours to ensure it is comfortable and wieldy.

Sporty metal pedals with a foot rest are also standard, like the figure-hugging sports seats. These are trimmed with soft black leather round the edges, although the option lists includes some very tasty front seats in either black fabric or Alcantara with red and yellow stitching.

It all adds to the feeling that you are in the claw of a scorpion with a potent sting.


Abarth Punto Evo

Price: From £16,500.

Engine: 1.4-litre turbo MultiAir, producing 165bhp.

Transmission: Six-speed manual.

Performance: 0-62 mph in 7.9 seconds; top speed: 133 mph.

Economy: 47.1mpg combined.

CO2 emissions: 142 g/km.