500: Fiat moves things up
We've grown more accustomed to reporting production setbacks and launch delays, but in its never-ending quest to recreate themselves, Fiat is actually moving things ahead. Following rumors circulating around the European motoring press, Fiat chief Sergio Marchionne confirmed yesterday that they'll actually be moving the official launch of the highly-anticipated 500 up by a couple months. The new 500 was originally scheduled for launch in September, but with development progressing along smartly, Fiat is moving the launch date ahead to July, which will conveniently coincide with the 50th anniversary of the launch of the original 500.
[Sources: Italiaspeed and Euronews]
The 500 is a reinterpretation of the iconic Fiat by the same name. The original Cinquocente was a tiny car with a two-cylinder half-liter engine mounted in the back that produced just 13 horsepower, yet it has endured as a blast to drive and is one of the most recognizable cars ever produced – in the Old World, at least. Even Michael Schumacher drives one. The new 500 is being based on the Panda platform and will have the engine up front, driving the front wheels. Think of a Mini, only with Italian flair.
In related news, unfortunately that won't be the only thing Fiat is moving earlier. After negotiations with its workers' unions and with the Italian government, Fiat announced the early retirement of as many as two thousand of its workers. It's unfortunate for those workers being let go, but hopefully the severance package arranged with the pension fund will see them well taken care of. It's part of the cost of Fiat's drive for the top, and a by-product of production partnerships its formed with competing carmakers.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
NoNameDenton 5:33PM (2/20/2007)
Got to be the creepiest cars I have ever seen
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Anton Lang 6:28PM (2/20/2007)
My good lady wife told me that when she was young, she went on a trip around Tasmania with her mum and dad and her sister. Now Tasmania is the small island at the bottom of Australia, and having said that, I hope no Tasmanians are reading this as I'll get flamed for sure.
It cost a fortune to transport your car across there, so my wife's Dad, being pretty well off, took the family there and when he landed just bought a car for the three week holiday to take his family around the Island State.
He bought a Fiat 500. This was back in the early fifties, and it was a tight fit for the 2 adults with two little girls in the back and all their luggage, but she tells me it was the most fun they ever had as a family.
What stuck in her mind was the fact that this little car just chugged along without a hitch.
She tells me that often they passed bigger cars going up the hills, (Tassie is a pretty mountainous place, and the roads in the fifties were not what they are today.) The bigger cars had their bonnets up, (hoods for you Americans) steam pouring out of the engine, while the little air cooled Fiat just chugged (slowly) straight by them.
She has fond memories of that little Fiat 500, and before he passed, I talked about it with him, and for a man who owned Jags, and all manner of big American and British cars, that little Fiat always brought a smile to his face.
Tony.
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andrebrown1 7:28PM (2/20/2007)
Check out this Fiat 500!! a great way to celebrate 50yrs since the original...
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andrebrown1 7:30PM (2/20/2007)
ooops....
http://www.f500.co.uk
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wally 7:32PM (2/20/2007)
Bring them on.
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Allan 10:31PM (2/20/2007)
It'd be even cooler if someone drove it backwards. :D Just like this video of a Fiat:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zpGD8HNqWKE
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rick 9:40PM (2/20/2007)
Too bad Fiat gave up on the US along time ago...This looks so cool.
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Harrison 10:22PM (2/20/2007)
As a 15-year old, I would gladly get one even if people called me "gay".
Yep... chick magnet.
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spots 4:47AM (2/21/2007)
The cars pictured were "styled" by visitors to Fiat's special 500 website where you could color and accessorize your own. Fun website, but I seriously doubt they'll show up at dealers looking like those four! LOL...
Sure wish they'd sell them in the US, though. Maybe Fiat will buy Chrysler and....
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C. McFeeny 8:10AM (2/21/2007)
We've had this conversation before, but here goes -- the New Fiat 500 is built on the same platform as the Ford Ka and will be manufactured at the same plant in Poland as the Ford Ka. Due to this partnership, if anything Ford would be the most likely candidate to bring this to the US. The good news is that since the "Ford Fivehundred" no longer exists in the Ford line-up, they could bring this over at the Ford/Fiat 500; trim it out with a enhanced motor and packaging. Thus positioning it up against the Mini. It certainly falls in the same wheelhouse as the Mini and would definitely attract the same customer base that looks at the Mini or the new VW Beetle. I think the interesting thing about people who buy Beetles and Mini's is that they don't really have any loyalty to BMW or VW -- it's ALL about the styling. So, this could very easily hop in the US market and make a considerable dent in that demographic.
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gino 10:26AM (2/21/2007)
A 500 with the full Abarth treament would a hoot. Again.
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Andrew 3:15PM (2/21/2007)
McFeeny, Fiat will collaborate with Ford on a reincarnation of the 500 which will share underpinnings with the *next* Ford Ka. It will be based on the *Fiat* Panda platform
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Colin Smith 7:59PM (2/21/2007)
Quite right Andrew. The Polish plant is owned by Fiat, the Fiat Panda is already built there, and the new cars - both Fiat and Ford - are to be built on modified Fiat Panda platforms. Drivetrains will be sourced from both Fiat and Ford.
Why do people keep reading Ford as the senior partner in all this?
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C. McFeeny 11:34AM (2/22/2007)
Sorry for the confusion. The information I have read on the Fiat/Ford partnership with regards to the Ka and the 500 is at best spotty. Thanks for the correction.
I'm just hoping that someone with some modicum of power in either Ford or Fiat are having the same thoughts as I am as far as the possibility of the new 500 showing up on US shores.
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josephine 1:43PM (5/04/2007)
I am sooo stoked about the re-introduction of the Fiat 500. I always thought they were so cool. I remember even emailing Fiat telling them that since VW cambe back with Beetles, and BMW with Minis and gas prices being what they are that Fiat should consider marketing 500s again (not to mention they were having a little trouble struggling) I can't wait to get one ! This is very cool. Good for them on timing w/ 50th anniversary. For some reason I thought it was older. In any case, I wish them great success with it.
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