(S) How to remove the gear knob on a New Shape Punto

My Dad's been bought an aluminium gear knob for Christmas but can't get the original one off. Can anyone please give me advice how to remove it? It's the new shape Punto and has a lift up gear change for reverse, so does that mean he won't be able to change it, will he need a special replacement knob or will the replacement he's got still work with the lift up gear change if that part of the gear knob it left?
Thanks...

Hiya fella, by new shape do you mean mk2? what year is it?

if its mk2 its basically a case of twisting and yanking the thing off... Because its a lift reverse you need a knob with a wider base so that it can still be lifted, but if you take the spring out thats underneath the gear knob then it will no longer be a lift reverse and you can fit the knobs with the thinner bases.

Thanks for the reply,
Its an 07 but i think it might be a Grande Punto tho if that makes a difference??...

Yup, twist and a hard pull of the knob will sort it.

And yes, if it's 07 it's deffo a Grande.

Cheers fella, does it not really need to be a lift reverse then? Cant be that easy surely???
Thanks again.....

To save any hastle I'd go with a lift and reverse one, although I'm sure some guys here could advise you otherwise on how to do it, but I'd play it safe if it was me. I'm looking for a leather one that comes in the better models, anyone here want to sell theirs?