The Fiat 500 Is Cool As A Cucumber
First we had the VW Beetle with its flower holder in the dash, then the BMW Mini came along and stole the show. Recently the slightly under credited Suzuki Swift hit our roads and it was not long before this clever little city car was being spotted in every town. Now its 2008 and the all new Fiat 500 was re-launched, it has received moderate attention in the press, perhaps less than it is due. It's not fast nor is it elegant, styling is quirky and performance is geared towards those who want pure economy. but really there is more than that to this little car. Nostalgia and a sense of fun, if you want to be seen in a car that is notability different from the rest, then the new Fiat 500 is for you.
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Fiat 500
The Fiat 500 has proven to be one of the most popular cars of 2008.
Even before it hit the UK market, the Fiat 500 had attracted a host of awards & thousands of orders. It has become iconic since its first launch in 1957, achieving worldwide recognition through its combination of super city driving & great design, enabling to still turn heads long after production ceased in 1975. Therefore when Fiat announced a return for the model, it prompted huge interest & thousands of pre-orders.
Styling
Fiat have taken a car icon from a past era & have made it modern & practical whilst still retaining the spirit of the original. It still has the as cute yet characteristics traits. The face has recently been made familiar to a whole new generation through the character of Luigi in the Pixar animated film Cars. He still grins back at you, with its short bonnet & distinctive headlights.
The appearance of the rear with chrome tailgate handle, top-hinged tailgate & integrated roof spoiler all adding to the overall stunning effect. The rear tapers neatly upwards from the flat, rectangular exhaust, looks modern & retains the spirit of the original. They also come in 12 colours & an array of styling effects available.
Interior
The majority of the plastics & fabrics used in the interior go alongside the retro image of the 500. The simple design of the dash enables easy use, along withn style. However, the cabin does have traces of Fiat Panda, e.g. the switchgear. However, you can personalise your interior with a variety of different colours & styles. The classic 500 was renowned for its compact dimensions, & this has been reincarnated. In the front, traveling is comfortable, but it has much less rear-seat space than rivals. The 500 has a bigger boot than most, the split rear seats fold down easily to improve luggage space. Standard equipment includes driver, passenger, side & driver's knee airbags, a CD/MP3 stereo, power steering, electric mirrors & colour-coded bumpers. Stability control, a sunroof, metallic paint & parking sensors are available as options, along with air conditioning at a higher level model.
Engine
The engine is borrowed from the Panda & have so far proved trouble free. The 500 is available with a choice of three engines, two petrol engines - a 1.2 or 1.4-litre or a 1.3-litre diesel. The 69bhp 1.2-litre version offers a 0-62mph time of 12.9 seconds & a top speed of 99mph. The 100bhp 1.4-litre model covers 0-62mph in 10.5 seconds and has a top speed of 113mph. The 100bhp 1.4-litre petrol feels lively around town, but a little slow off the mark. There is also a 75bhp 1.3-litre MultiJet turbo diesel model which covers 0-62mph in 12.5 seconds & boasts a top speed of 103mph.
Because of its known reliability, you won't be paying to fix the engine frequently,
but the fuel tank is small, so stops between fill-ups are inevitable & frequent.
The engines are also good on fuel, on average 44.8mpg and 55.4 mpg while it
is claimed the diesel will cover a pleasing 67.3mpg. The smaller engine petrol
model & the diesel version also fall within car tax band B, an annual bill
of just £35. The 1.4-litre petrol model comes into Car Tax Band C, which
sees that rise to £115.
Driving
No surprise here, the 500 is at its best when city driving. All thanks to its small dimensions & easy steering. Away from the city, the 500 doesn't shine as much. The handling becomes jerky. The diesel is a little noisy at low speeds, but it settles at pace. Wind & road noise increase at speed also, but not so much it is annoying. The 1.4 litre engine is great for such a small car, albeit not as quick as first thought. Safety in the 500 is first rate. All models come with front, side, curtain & knee airbags, which has helped it, receive a five-star rating in Euro NCAP crash tests. Some versions of the 500 also feature further driver aids like traction & stability control. Other impressive safety features include anti-lock brakes, electronic brake force distribution & an electronic stability program. In addition to these safety features, the basic Pop model also comes with a CD player, electric front windows, electric door mirrors & a trip computer. Lounge and Sport models both add air conditioning, 15 inch alloy wheels & body-coloured door mirrors as well as other additional features of their own.
Despite the steering wheel having no reach adjustment, the seat height adjusts to aid you driving position. Fiat are definitely now sturdy cars. The dashboard-mounted gear stick is well placed, but the gearshift actions sticky. Due to the look of the 500, price reflects this, naturally. However it is cheaper, than its rivals. Its desirability also means solid residual values, though, perhaps as much as just over half of its list price after three years.
Models
The 500 comes in three trim levels, Pop, Sport and Lounge. There are also seven alloy wheels, two wheel trim designs, eight sticker kits & 10 badges to choose from, including chequered flag, monochrome stripes, a barcode & the Italian flag.
On all models the central console houses the audio & climate controls with
a stylish dash, the same colour as the car’s exterior.
The Sport trim adds leather to the steering wheel & a sports interior trim,
complementing the overall look. The Lounge model gives a calmer styling with
a cream interior, glass roof & subtle changes to button designs. The ultimate
in fashion.
Sources:
www.autotrader.co.uk
www.whatcar.co.uk
www.evecars.com
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