The flip-top roof uses technology and design that Fioravanti developed for the Ferrari Superamerica and enables the Grande Punto Skill to combine a hard top, open top motoring and a massive 750 litre load area that isn't affected by the roof, something none of its conventional rivals can match. The B-pillar that enables the flip-top to work also provides roll-over accident protection and a useful mount for items such as speakers for the audio system.

The second show car based on the Grande Punto and designed by Fioravanti was a more conventional coupe-convertible, with the roof still flipping down into the vertical position, but with a conventional boot and boot lid at the back.

The convertible model of previous model Punto was one of the most popular versions of Fiat's small car, so it is no surprise that ideas for a roofless version of the new car should appear so quickly after the launch of the new Grande Punto.

Fiat Grande Punto Skill show car

Land Rover 2006 Heritage Weekend
15th March, 2006
The annual Heritage Land Rover Weekend will take place during the British May Day Bank Holiday weekend, at the Heritage Motor Centre ..... more

Audi To Compete With Diesel Power In ALMS
15th March, 2006
Audi AG has announced it will contest the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) with the new R10 diesel sports car during the second half of the season ..... more

Saab Concept Named Geneva "Best of Show"
15th March, 2006
The Saab Aero X concept car, which made its world debut at the Geneva Motor Show, has been named “Best of Show” by the editors of AutoWeek Magazine ..... more

Holden Safety Recall
14th March, 2006
GM Holden has issued a safety recall on specific locally built vehicles from April 2003 to December 2005 sold in Australia and export markets and fitted with side impact airbags as standard or optional equipment ..... more

Ford Adds Fuel To The Energy Debate
14th March, 2006
Calling on American lawmakers to "act with urgency," a Ford executive has told the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee that policies are needed to support an aggressive, integrated approach by industry and government ..... more

Le Mans Dress Rehearsal For Audi R10
14th March, 2006
This weekend, Audi AG will unleash its high-performance R10 sports prototypes at the 12-hour race at Sebring, Florida ..... more

The Passat is Europe’s Number One
14th March, 2006
The Passat has won what is one of Europe’s most prestigious and important readers’ polls, in which over 40 million readers of 24 European magazines published by the AutoBild Group took part ..... more

Land Rover's E-terrain Technology Concept
13th March, 2006
Land Rover is showcasing innovative technologies – collectively known as the e-Terrain System – that reduce both fuel consumption and CO2 emissions while also improving the outstanding breadth of capability of Land Rover’s 4x4 vehicles ..... more

Evo IX Finishes Debut Rally, But Misses Podium
13th March, 2006
Team Mitsubishi Ralliart has achieved its primary aim with the debut of its first Evolution IX Lancer by finishing the season-opening Capital Rally in Canberra ..... more

New Ford Courier Debuts in Thailand
10th March, 2006
Ford Australia has indicated the all-new Courier light truck range will go on sale here at the end of 2006 ..... more

Mitsubishi Colt Gets New Engine and More
8th March, 2006
The '06 Colt gets a new 1.5 litre all-alloy DOHC four-cylinder engine with MIVEC that replaces the previous 1.5 litre cast iron block engine ..... more

Renault at the 2006 Geneva Motor Show
8th March, 2006
Renault has chosen Geneva for the public appearances of new Mégane, new Espace and its Altica concept car and the unveiling of the new Clio Renault Sport ..... more

Pirtek Backs Ford In Rally Championship
8th March, 2006
Ford's entry in the 2006 Australian Rally Championship will officially be known as Pirtek Rally Team Ford ..... more

Audi Names Driver Teams for Le Mans
8th March, 2006
Audi will compete at the Le Mans 24-Hour Race on 17/18th June, with a brace of high-calibre driving squads. Six seasoned campaigners, who have all won the endurance classic at least once ..... more

Precious Metal - The Peugeot 407 Coupe
7th March, 2006
Peugeot have announced the pricing structure for the stunning new 407 Coupe, which goes on sale in Australia later this month ..... more

Ford Announces New Racing Manager
7th March, 2006
Ford Australia yesterday announced the appointment of Ray Price as the new Ford Racing Manager in Australia ..... more

GM to Sell 17.4% Equity Stake in Suzuki
7th March, 2006
General Motors Corp announced overnight it would reduce its equity stake in Suzuki Motor Corp. from 20.4 percent to 3.0 percent ..... more

Jayco's Sterling Caravan Design
7th March, 2006
Jayco’s key challenge is to continue developing and building the best recreational vehicles (RVs) in the country ..... more

Ford Duo Claim Points Finish In Rally Mexico
6th March, 2006
BP-Ford World Rally Team drivers Marcus Grönholm and Timo Rautiainen and team-mates Mikko Hirvonen and Jarmo Lehtinen both claimed points finishes on the Rally Mexico ..... more

Small Cars Lead in Softer Motor Vehicle Market
6th March, 2006
The growth in sales of light cars continued in February against the background of a general softening in the Australian motor vehicle market ..... more

Exceptional Sales for Suzuki
6th March, 2006
Suzuki has proved itself as a major player in the automotive industry, with global sales in 2005 reaching a record 2,010,000 units, a 107% increase on the previous year ..... more

Mitsubishi Sales Continue To Build
6th March, 2006
Mitsubishi's sales continued to build in February with an increase in overall market share, a 41% lift in 380 sales and the car gaining further market share against its rivals ..... more

Caterham Seven Provides Fun
5th March, 2006
Perhaps it was never really in doubt but now it’s official; the British find the Caterham Seven is a fun car to drive ..... more

Ford Unveils Tough Truck Concept in Brisbane
3rd March, 2006
Ford today drove home the importance of the light truck market by staging the local premiere of a stunning concept truck at the Brisbane Motor Show ..... more

New Volkswagen Passat At Brisbane Motor Show
3rd March, 2006
The new Volkswagen Passat Sedan and Wagon made their Australian debut at the Brisbane Motor Show today ..... more

There's A Pajero VR-X Coming Soon
2nd March, 2006
Mitsubishi is introducing a limited edition Pajero VR-X this month. Based on the GLX, and available with both the 3.8 litre V6 petrol, or 3.2 litre diesel engine ..... more