The New Fiat 500

[thegriffon]

Turin — On July 4, 1957, in Turin, Fiat presented the Nuova Fiat 500, a real icon of our times, with which Fiat concluded a revival that had begun straight after the Second World War. On July 4, 2007, exactly 50 years later, again in Turin, Fiat will present the new Fiat 500 which will be marketed immediately after the launch. And the new car will conclude an equally important cycle of revival for Fiat Automobiles SpA.

Developed by the Fiat Style Centre and manufactured in the plant in Tychy (Poland), the new 500 is a 3-door model with very compact measurements …

Go to full release and photos at AutoReport

[prototype66]

WOW,that is small! It is really a 4 seater? It has a cool retro-esc look to it inside and out. almost looks to be a two seater smart type of vehicle competiter (or should be)

You go Fiat!

[thegriffon]

It's much bigger than a smart—nearly 3 feet longer. It's main competitors in what is sometimes called the A0-segment are the new Renault Twingo (just 2" longer) and the C1/107/Aygo triplets from PSA/Toyota (5" shorter—aimed at the old Twingo). The previous gen 3-door Yaris was only marginally bigger than the new Twingo. Slightly bigger (4-8" longer) are A-segment hatches such as the Mini One, Suzuki Swift, Nissan Micra and Toyota Yaris. Slighlty smaller (5" narrower) are Korean microcars (restricted to under 3.5 m long and 1.5 m wide—Daewoo Matiz, Hyundai Atos, Kia Vista) and the export version of the Suzuki Alto. Smaller again are Japanese microcars, restricted to under 3.4 m long and 1.475 m wide, and the slightly bigger export versions. Believe it or not there are actually three 4-seat cars requiring a licence smaller than that—the aging Fiat 600 (just over 3.3 m) and SeAZ Oka (3.2 m), and the 3-door 2+2 Subaru R1 (just under 3.3 m). The 2-seat smart fortwo is (and the recent Suzuki Twin was) about 2.7 m long, while the 1st gen fortwo was just 2.5 m long.

Edited March 21, 2007 by thegriffon

[turbo200]

very cool in and out

[ocnblu]

A sweet little scrapper. Yo Adrian, very nice!

[ZL-1]

Fiat should have called it the Topolino: a cuter name for a very cute little car

[Z-06]

What about getting it here?

[Flybrian]

What about getting it here?

According to an article in Automotive News, Fiat is considering exporting the new 500 microcar to the States sometime next decade. But instead of getting the rather moribund city car version, we're likely to be blessed with the Abarth 500, complete with a turbocharged 1.4-liter inline four. AN pegs output at 120 HP (or 135 HP depending on which article you read), but since the 500 plans to go head-to-head with the MINI, other reports have suggested that the lil' blown motor will be making upwards of 150 HP.

The launch of the Fiat will come soon after Alfa Romeo re-establishes itself in the U.S. in 2009, as the two dealers will coincide with each other, mainly in larger, urban areas.

And more pictures!

Conceptual Renderings

[Flybrian]

Exterior

[Flybrian]

Interior

[ocnblu]

That little sucker is snazzy as heck! I want one!

[mustang84]

It's not that small...it looks about the same size as the "Cinquecentos" (500s) they have on the streets now. The 500s from the 60s...now those are small! I don't think I would fit in one.

[Sixty8panther]

Just like the "new" Beetle it's a lame, pale imitation of an old school econobox.

[balthazar]

Sorry; I'm having difficulty getting past "iconic" and "fiat" in the same sentence.

[Robert Hall]

Just like the "new" Beetle it's a lame, pale imitation of an old school econobox.

No, I'd call it a modern evolution of a classic subcompact..

[Polish_Kris]

There was an article in World of wheels, a Canadian auto magazine, that Fiat is thinking of making a come-back in Canada with this model.

[Satty]

Thats cool, even cooler than my beloved Mini.

[pow]

Thats cool, even cooler than my beloved Mini.

That's definitely the word to describe it... cool. Makes the fortwo look like yesterday's fashion accessory.

[Robert Hall]

That's definitely the word to describe it... cool. Makes the fortwo look like yesterday's fashion accessory.

Too bad GM doesn't have something this stylish and cool in the subcompact market..the generic, styleless Aveo doesn't compare favorably..

[Drew Dowdell]

hmm... bring back the Corvair?

[Satty]

hmm... bring back the Corvair?

+1

I wouldn't even bitch if it were FE/FWD (though there could be some really interesting things as a result of RE/RWD), as long as it looks good, handles well and gets great mileage.

[Intrepidation]

It's very cool...especially all of the interior customizability it has...I still like the Mini better, but it's nice to see the small car segment featuring cars with character.

[LosAngeles]

Can't believe you guys are feeling this car. I, for one, think it could stay in Europe and not have me crying in my beer. Fiat simply isn't ready for prime time right now.

Too bad GM doesn't have something this stylish and cool in the subcompact market..the generic, styleless Aveo doesn't compare favorably..

Yeah, the Versa KILLS the Aveo IMO...even the notchback.