A whole raft of new products from the Fiat and Alfa Romeo stables will be arriving in 2010, the most exciting being the debut of Fiat’s 500C and the launch of Alfa’s much-anticipated Giulietta. Other big news from the Italian automaker is the ‘re-launch’ of the entire Fiat 500 range – not many details are forth coming from the brand but they have confirmed that the little 500 will be a whole lot more “accessible”.

Fiat has released the following details on what to expect from their 2010 model line-up:

Fiat Panda will be freshened up with a subtle facelift (grille, headlights, mirrors, wheel trims, exterior colours and interior trim) as well as a re-shuffle of the range – out goes the 1.1 Active and in comes the 1.2 Dynamic with Duologic auto gearbox (MTA). Other models remain and benefit from the cosmetic updates. Expected in Feb / March.

The Fiat Punto range will be re-arranged, with the Punto Active being the entry-level model and the Punto Evo doing service at the upper end. Engines for the entry-level Punto are likely to remain unchanged with a naturally aspirated 1,4-litre unit, however, an additional model – Punto Emotion – is expected. The Punto Evo range will most likely comprise two MultiAir units – a 1.4 and 1.4 Turbo, with the turbo being more of a certainty than a naturally aspirated 1.4. Expected arrival time is mid-2010 for both Punto additional models and Punto Evos.

Fiat 500 will receive a complete ‘re-launch’ with the aim of making it more “accessible” with the intention to make it the staple of the Fiat passenger range. Two new additions also planned – the 500C (convertible) and an MTA version equipped with Fiat’s Duologic automatic transmission. Unfortunately Abarth will not be coming this year. Expect to see the revised 500 around March or April.

The Alfa MiTo range is set to expand with two new models – a 100 kW and 125 kW powered MultiAir version (both 1.4 turbos). The 125 kW version will most likely be badged ‘Quadrofoglio Verde’ and will be even more sport-biased than the current 114 kW MiTo 1.4 TBi thanks to its extra grunt and racy add-ons. Look forward to these new models between the 2nd and 3rd quarter of 2010.

The Giulietta, Alfa’s answer to the Golf 6, Audi A3 and Ford Focus, is coming this year – the same year as its international release and Alfa Romeo’s centenary year. Two models are currently planned – a 125 kW 1.4 Turbo MultiAir and a 170 kW 1.8 Turbo MultiAir, also likely to be badged ‘Quadrofoglio Verde’. Expect the all new Giulietta no later than Oct 2010.

Alfa say they are still uncertain whether the Brera & Spider, with 1750 TBi engine, will be offered. If it happens, expect cars to land on our shores by mid-year.

As a world premiere, Fiat will be presenting the refreshed Grande Punto at next month’s Frankfurt Motor Show before the supermini goes on sale across Europe in late October. Now named ‘Punto Evo’, the Italian automaker’s proposal in the hot B-segment has been given a mild exterior restyling, a reworked interior and an updated engine range that includes a 1,4-litre Multiair gasoline and a second generation 1,3-litre Multijet diesel.

On the outside, Fiat has tweaked the Punto Evo with restyled headlamps and a new front bumper that now

incorporates three grilles and a dark grey center section while at the back, there’s a redesigned bumper and updated tail lights. Overall, we’d say that the styling changes make the Punto Evo look more fussy than it needs…

Fiat said that latest redesign has ‘stretched’ the car to a total length of 406cm while the other external dimensions remaining the same, with a width of 169 cm, a height of 149 cm and a wheelbase of 251 cm.

Inside, the reworked cabin gains a newly styled dashboard with a more premium feel that’s inspired by the larger Bravo and features deep-set gauges on the instrument panel, new audio and climate systems as well as circular side vents.

Moving on to the engine range, there’s a new 1.4-litre gasoline unit featuring the company’s MultiAir system which uses electrohydraulic valve management to reduce fuel consumption by controlling air directly via the inlet valves without using the throttle.

Fiat did not release any performance figures but the automaker said that compared to a conventional petrol engine of the same size, the MultiAir unit develops up to 10% more power and 15% more torque while cutting fuel consumption and emissions by up to 10%.

There’s also a second generation 1,3-litre Mulitjet diesel with a new common rail injector that offers an improvement of around 2% in consumption and CO2 emissions.

As a first, all Euro5 petrol and diesel engines in the range will be fitted with a Start&Stop system as standard.

Finally, all Punto Evo’s will get seven airbags as standard, including a driver knee airbag, while there’s also a new ‘Blue&Me–TomTom’ infotainment system that manages telephone, navigation and information functions on a colour touch-screen.

Adapted from CarScoop