Fiat’s improving touches for ‘Italian masterpiece’
Fiat says the new version of the car will allow it take on new market challenges without forgetting the 500’s illustrious roots.
Centro Stile Fiat has refreshed the exterior and interior, retaining the unmistakable 500 look which made it a global success, but at the same time making it even more attractive and contemporary.
We’re told it has not grown in size but has grown in maturity with many new advanced technologies, improved efficiency and even more customisation ideas.
“In this way, Fiat has carefully evolved and refined the features which have made it an Italian masterpiece in the first place,” the company modestly claims.
The new car will be available in two body styles (hatchback and convertible) and three trim levels — Pop, Pop Star and Lounge. All models will have LED daytime running lights, seven airbags and an Uconnect infotainment system with six speakers, AUX-IN/USB ports and steering wheel remote controls as standard equipment.
The Pop Star version in Britain (and presumably Ireland too) adds air conditioning, body-colour mirror caps with defrosting function and 15” alloy wheels, while the Lounge version adds sophisticated features such as a panoramic glass sunroof, rear parking sensors, a chrome front grille, front fog lights, a leather-trimmed steering wheel and a Uconnect 5” LIVE touchscreen infotainment system with smartphone integration and numerous built-in apps to help users stay safely connected while on the move.
The engine line-up of the new Fiat 500 at launch includes a 0.9-litre TwinAir engine (85 bhp or 105 bhp) and a 1.2-litre 69 bhp unit. We’ve already raved about the two cylinder engine in these columns and its figures speak for itself — 90g/km for the 85hp engine and 99g/km for the 105hp unit — while a new ‘Eco’ configurations of the 1.2 litre 69 bhp (available after the launch) will reduce emissions to 99 grams of CO2 per kilometre, although Irish availability remains to be confirmed.
Fiat says the new 500 benefits from no fewer than 1,800 innovative detail changes, all designed to enhance the ownership experience and refine its inimitable style. Most noticeable are the new front headlights with LED daytime running lights and the new rear light clusters, a revised colour palette; a revamped dashboard and the improved materials used throughout.
“The Fiat 500 is a global best-seller with a quintessentially Italian heart — elegant and stylish but also affordable and packed with fun — and with its carefully considered enhancements, the new 500 will undoubtedly reassert itself as the benchmark in its segment from every perspective,” Fiat claims.
Well, time will tell but given the massive success of the last version, one can reasonably conclude the new one will be mega too. The new 500 will go on sale in Q4 this year with prices and final Irish specification announced closer to launch.
