Clutch of awards for Fiat

Three Fiat models have been sweeping up coveted international awards across the globe, the car manufacturer reports.

The Fiat 500, Grande Punto and Linea cars have each won awards which range from Brazil's car of the year to best city car here in the UK.

The Fiat 500 has been an enormous success, with the accolades for Fiat's relaunched smart and stylish retro mini, better known as the cinquecento, mounting up.

As well as winning BBC Top Gear's best city car award, the Fiat 500 has been given Car of the Year 2008, Auto Europa 2008, EuroCarBody 2007, Auto Trophy, Fifth Gear Car of the Year, and CAR Car of the Year awards.

Alongside the mini, the Fiat Grande Punto hatchback has won Brazil's Carro do Ano 2008, as voted for by a panel of 37 journalists from the country's national press.

Larger still is Fiat's small family car, the Linea, which won the Autobest 2008 award, given by international media from 15 eastern and southern European countries.