FIAT 500 Debut (I Love It!)

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Top Gear
Carinissima!

If you took the time to peruse our 100 Sexiest Cars gallery a while back, you'll know that Top Gear has a bit of a soft spot for the original Fiat 500. In fact, we put the original city car top of our definitive list.

And, after many months of rumours and whispers, we've finally got some concrete details about the all-new 500.

Due to be released in Europe on July 4 - exactly 50 years to the day after the original 500 made its debut - it's the car that could spearhead a new golden era for Fiat.

Why? For a start, it looks great.

Based on the same platform as the Panda (and, interesting, the next-gen Ford Ka - all three cars will be produced at Fiat's Polish factory), it does the whole 'bringing an icon up to date' thing far better than, say, the new Beetle.

Stubby front and rear overhangs and a cute, curved glasshouse make the 500 look retro without appearing schmaltzy.

At just 355cm long, it's a properly tiny city car. Admittedly the new 500 is significantly longer than the original - which measured just under three metres from bumper to bumper - but it's still only as big as the current Panda.

Predictably, the new 500 shares a lot under the bonnet with the Panda, too. The initial engine line-up comprises a 75bhp 1.3-litre diesel, a 69bhp 1.2-litre petrol and (to Top Gear's great excitement) the same tuned 1.4-litre unit as the Panda 100HP.

OK, so the engine's up the front, unlike the original rear-engined 500, but it's a decent power hike over the 13bhp of the 1957 Nuova.

Inside the cabin, it's clear there's been a concerted drive to up the quality of the materials. Only a few bits of switchgear have been carried over from the Panda - and Fiat is describing it as 'a leap forward in terms of comfort, technology and equipment'.

So it's clear where Fiat's pitching the new 500. It's not going to be dirt cheap - expect the 500 to be slightly more expensive model for model than the Panda - but no one does a stylish city car like Fiat.

The new 500 is due to reach the UK next January, though we're unlikely to see the base-spec model in right-hand drive.
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What an awesome little car. The details seem to be so well-thought-out both inside and out, and the price doesn't seem bad either. My God that interior is beautiful, particularly on a car that 'cheap.' I'd gladly take the 100 BHP model in a semi-champagne color, its just plain sexy.

...What a shame we won't see them in the States...
 
I always loved the old 500, I think they did it plenty justice when designing the new one. I wish I could get one, but sadly I can't. :(

Ah well, glad it's out for some people to enjoy.

Come on Lotus, do a new Elan following Fiat's example.
You too VW, we need a new Kharman Ghia!
 
That is great. I love it! Perfect for where I live, although I don't think Fiat have an official distributer in Hong Kong. =(
 
I'm starting a fund-raiser for some of us Americans to move to Europe. Anybody want to join me? ;)
 
I'm good for it... I was planning on London this summer, but going to Miami scrapped those plans...

Otherwise I may save up a bit and check it next-year, otherwise there is always the three-month stay in Ireland for school in 2009...

But, being realistic, it would be easier to do a weeks vacation. It might be kinda fun to have a bunch of the American GTPers go across the pond and shoot the breeze with our British counterparts, be it in London or Manchester, etc. Maybe we should go find Poverty while we're there too...

...I've always wondered: Would they let a Yank test-drive a car in the UK? Same question for Australia. There are so many cars that I need to go and see since they aren't sold here...
 
I'm down. I have been contemplating moving over there, and the car market has a pretty significant role in that, more than it should. Get away from our big SUVs:yuck:. All the good ones come from there anyway.

As has been discussed earlier, more than a few Americans would consider the 500 to be a bit underpowered for the US. As a purely city car, I can think of few better cars. Make the rear wheels spin, stick a 200 hp engine in and this would be one heck of a hot hatch.
 
philly cheese
As has been discussed earlier, more than a few Americans would consider the 500 to be a bit underpowered for the US. As a purely city car, I can think of few better cars. Make the rear wheels spin, stick a 200 hp engine in and this would be one heck of a hot hatch.
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Its only about 5-ish BHP short of the Fit, Rio, and Yaris/Scion kiddies... As long as they gear it right, 100 BHP would be enough to keep most people satisfied.
 
Looks like it will be a great little car, looking forward to seeing them on the road.
 
A great contender to the Yaris & Fit, and it's a good start for Fiat to get back to the US...oh, wait, they're not coming here. :grumpy: Too bad. It would have been nice to see Alfa's 8C being out of reach for most people, but you can get a lesser Alfa or the 500 while you're in the showroom. Another missed opportunity by another company.

Neat car, though. Not exactly like the original, but what American can actually fit inside the original? The Mini wasn't quite so mini, and that did well. I think Fiat is underestimating the cult of the small car in the states.
 
Will they ever be sold here in the US? I'd like to see more Italian cars in the here, especially ones that don't cost hundreds of thousands of dollars to buy.

I swear, we never gets cool cars like these. Hell, we don't even get the best ones made by OUR companies (Ford, I'm looking at you)!
 
Hmm, technically I guess one could argue this is further away from the original's formula than the New New Mini is from the original... yet I like this so much more than Not-So-Mini. I wish very, very badly that this was available here. Fiat is seriously on a roll lately, I wouldn't mind seeing just about their entire modern lineup over here.
 
I saw the original 500 at the MAS. It was TINY!

Well anyway the rear looks a bit like a Nissan Micra and the front keeps the heritage of the original.

SO I think it looks like a: Nissan Micra(Rear)+Old 500(Head lights)+A slight bodyshape of a Beetle+Fiat Punto(Body lines). Hard to explain.

I hope this car will offer maybe a bit more horsepower maybe 110-120?
 
"This...is-a the most glorious day...of-a my life..." *Faints* - Luigi, "Cars"

But i like how the cute little thing looks. wonder if it meets Kei regulations...
 
Wow, what a beautiful little car - that interior is fantastic 👍 👍

It does that whole modern-retro thing so much better than the new Beetle or the new Mini IMO.

I'd certainly buy one of those ...if i was in the market for a city car (which i'm not)
 
:drool:

Perfect. 4-5 years from now, when I get out of the forced military service, those little buggers will be even dirtier-cheap, and I'll get one of those for the price of a Pug 205 these days :D

Fiat seems on a roll, as others said. Pandas are quite common here lately, mainly since it's the cheapest car available here - just 75,000NIS, which is less than the Corsa (81k), and has a superior bang-for-the-buck ratio. The Punto Grande seems to catch on with the leasing companies and privates, so I'm seeing more of those lately... And now this awsome little thing. Can't wait for the Abarth version.
 
I've give anything to live in England or one of a handful of European countries. Or Australia.

Ontopic: This thing is awsome! I really like it.
 
...It does make you wonder how hard it would be to get in the import business to bring cars like this to America...

Slightly off-topic: I realized the other day that you can buy Renaults down in Mexico, and given that most of their laws are fairly similar to ours (I think) in terms of safety and emissions, I do wonder how hard it would be to drag a Clio or a Megane up here...

Good news, its about $16,000 for a "Euro" Clio, and about $27,000 for the Megane Sport

...Hmmm, I wonder what the used-Renault market is like down there...

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EDIT:

...They sell FIATs south of the border, and their list includes the Grande Punto, Panda, and the Bravo...

I might need to venture back to the country I disliked so much on vacation... Problem is, I don't speak Spanish. And I have no idea if I can buy a car there and bring it to America, have it titled, and insured...
 
Sorry to rub your nose in it if you're American, but this lovely little car should start at about £8,000 (do the conversion yourself) when it's released in the UK next year.

Sadly, the rest of Europe gets it in July. :(

Still, I'm looking forward to this car, and despite it being a 'retro-car', I actually want one.

The new Beetle was rubbish, though the BMW Mini was alright despite it being fat and German, and nothng more than an overpried fashion statement far-removed from the original.

This, at the right price, should be great. It's a better recreation of the old car than what BMW or VW can manage, and if the Panda it's based on is much to go by, it should drive well too.

Perhaps the thing making this car al the more appealing is that I have quite a soft-spot for small Fiats. My father once had an Uno, the cheap sporty little car of choice was a Cinquecento Sporting when I was growing up in the '90s, and even playing GT2, I remember tuning the original 500 up to a somewhat ambitious 140BHP

Obviously, the new car will only be even more appealing withthe Panda 100HP engine.. :)
 
YSSMAN
...It does make you wonder how hard it would be to get in the import business to bring cars like this to America...

Slightly off-topic: I realized the other day that you can buy Renaults down in Mexico, and given that most of their laws are fairly similar to ours (I think) in terms of safety and emissions, I do wonder how hard it would be to drag a Clio or a Megane up here...

Good news, its about $16,000 for a "Euro" Clio, and about $27,000 for the Megane Sport

...Hmmm, I wonder what the used-Renault market is like down there...

---

EDIT:

...They sell FIATs south of the border, and their list includes the Grande Punto, Panda, and the Bravo...

I might need to venture back to the country I disliked so much on vacation... Problem is, I don't speak Spanish. And I have no idea if I can buy a car there and bring it to America, have it titled, and insured...
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Do they sell the hottest Clios and Meganes in Mexico? - To be honest, the rest are hardly worth bothering about. 👎
 
Its the Renaultsport Megane...

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...A pretty decent car, if my understanding is correct...

The Clios are separated between the 'basic', Nuevo, and Euro Clios, but I do not see any of the racer versions...

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...And it would seem that Peugeot can be found south of the border as well, unfortunately Citroen is not...

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This may be deserving of a thread within itself...
 
And I love it too. Granted it isn't rear/RWD, it still remains just a cute car. A cute car that can bite you on the bum if you're not careful. Even if you don't like minis and superminis, you have to admit that this is a cleverly-designed automobile. I, too, sort of imagine this was a rear/RWD machine. I think Fiat should do this in the future for nostalgic reasons. Maybe even have some with the big engine hanging out ^_^. Anyhow, my approval rating for this car (out of 100%) is pretty much 100%. Something that kind of gets me is... some people here will hate on cars like this and make a big deal out of it. But when you have these "soccer moms" and wannabe gangsta' girls in these Hummer H2's and stuff... nobody says a damn thing! Wazzupwitdat (what's up with that)?

Anyhow, nice going, Fiat. You got my respect. This should help financially unless this thing tanks.
 
I say we make a trade. Japan GTFO! and come on in europe, lol.

Id kill to see most average Americans driving fiats, citreons, and Peugeots instead of toyotas, nissans, and hondas :yuck: :yuck: :yuck:
 
Toronado
The engines are too big and it makes too much power.
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So how about fitting a small one in as well... Should sell good, even in Japan, where probably zero people ever saw a Cinquecento outside GT4. Cute Retro-styling is a trend all over the world.

Heck, even my father, who is usually a puritan when it comes to revival of old names (car-wise) was impressed. First response was "get me one" :p
 
YSSMAN
Problem is, I don't speak Spanish. And I have no idea if I can buy a car there and bring it to America, have it titled, and insured...
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I speak enough Spanish to probably buy one. What you are forgetting is the US emissions and Customs taxes...that will effectively make your purchase worthless. Unless you removed the drivetrain and imported it as a kit car. Keep in mind if you import a car whether its by land or sea you have to have it pass US emissions AND safety...and if it doesn't you have to PAY to get it compliant.
 
Toronado
I'd give FIAT the benefit of the doubt on this one. As much as I really want the Grande Punto, they just returned to profitability for the first time in, what, 2 decades?
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Oh, I had nothing against the car, just the missed opportunity by not bringing it to the US. I think this (and the Panda/Panda 100) should be good, profitable cars for FIAT.
 
I'd venture a guess and say that a lot of the European companies want to see how well SMART performs in the US before doing anything, and they probably want to watch Alfa Romeo as well...

The thing is, FIAT could push their Panda/500 and maybe the Punto through their Alfa dealers, and I'm sure most people would sill buy them. Bring them in for the Alfas and Maseratis, sell the kids a Panda while they're there...

Of all the brands I could see as 'successful' in the US that aren't currently here, I'd have to say that Citroen and Renault continue to trade places on the top of the list. Nissan would probably never let Renault come to the US, and that is unfortunate, but with rumors that Citroen wants to test the water in Canada, it can't be long before they come here...

I'll take my C4 Piassco (sp?) in gunmetal gray with the black interior please. Oh, and I would prefer diesel power as well...
 

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