Filed under: Economy, Euro, Hatchbacks, FIAT
Benvenuto! Fiat 500 finally here
by Alex Nunez on Jul 5th 2007 at 3:27PM 
click above image to view over 100 high-res pics of the new Fiat 500
The wait is over for Europeans eagerly anticipating the new Fiat 500, which made its debut yesterday on the 50th anniversary of the original, iconic Nuova 500. The new-age version goes on sale immediately and pays homage to its predecessor in glorious retro style. The little Polish-built 3-door will bow with a 1.3L 16-valve turbodiesel good for 75 horses, a 69-horsepower 1.2L 8v four, and a 1.4L 16-valve good for 100 hp. A hopped-up Abarth version is well into development, and will satisfy the enthusiasts who want a little more juice with their new Cinquecento. Word is, we could see that version after 2010. Until then, the cute little bugger will remain an ocean away.
Click the gallery below for a fresh batch of over 100 newly-released official photos of the 500. Sorry for the delay in getting this post up, but we wanted to make sure our gallery included every single shot released by Fiat, which was a big bunch of snaps to gallerize.
[Source: Fiat]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Alessandro Merolla 3:39PM (7/05/2007)
Why price of 500 isn't so important: http://dallapartedichiguida.blogosfere.it/2007/07/nuova-fiat-500-i-prezzi-contano-zero-se-ti-piace-la-compri.html
Reply
Egisto Soldi 3:41PM (7/05/2007)
A new Fiat Panda? No, absolutely different: http://autoinsight.blogosfere.it/2007/07/nuova-fiat-500-ma-quale-panda.html
Reply
Don 3:49PM (7/05/2007)
About $13,600 USD. Nice.
Reply
srivendel 4:01PM (7/05/2007)
Bring it on! Sell these and the new Alfa 169 through existing Maserati dealerships -- at first -- and watch this thing steal sales from BMW's overpriced mini. Mini style at Fit/Yaris/Versa pricing + Italian cool = 500 FTW!
Reply
FLR 4:07PM (7/05/2007)
This car makes the VW Beetle look 'manly'.
Reply
Frick 4:42PM (7/05/2007)
Why is there a "Windows" button on the steering wheel?
Reply
Seminole 4:57PM (7/05/2007)
It might have something to do with this:
http://www.autoblog.com/photos/fiat-500-4/300491/
Barney 5:19PM (7/05/2007)
The Smart really has competition now. A lower price and nicer looking car BUT reliability of the Fiat will be questioned.
Reply
Val 5:54PM (7/05/2007)
Hah, finally, a car with a built-in USB, and at that price! I've seen many aftermarket CD-players come with USB or memory card slots, but this is way cooler, and much better than all the Line-In jacks on other minis, like the Toyota Aygo. Its whole advertising campaign was actually centered on the damn Line-In.
Reply
Colin Smith 6:05PM (7/05/2007)
Yes, the "Windows" thing takes care of the music, sat- nav and phone. All hands free and integrated with the sound system. It's very good and has been available on Fiats for a year or so. Fiat designed it with Microsoft and Magnetti Marelli.
This is a truly great car by the way. Wondereful reports from the press, 5 star NCAP, seven airbags, more room inside than Mini - truly - and a joy to look at and be inside. As for "manly"? This is a car for people who have no issues with their sexuality. Classless and non gender specific. Just sensible fun.
Reply
big L 6:33PM (7/05/2007)
No, Fiat 500 is finally THERE. In EUrope.
Reply
Peter 8:29PM (7/05/2007)
Can't stand retro-design, but somehow I really dig this one. Cute.
Reply
Rocket Punch 9:03PM (7/05/2007)
Just like the beetle. They copied the look but the spirit is hollow. Front engine....WTF!? They forgot why people liked it in the first place.
Here is a reminder:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKzULo6R4nc
Reply
Andy 1:22AM (7/06/2007)
I'll pass.
Reply
srivendel 9:18AM (7/06/2007)
OK.
Ols 5:12AM (7/06/2007)
It has an engine at the front for packaging reasons - pretty sensible really. No point in being nostalgic because while a rear mounted engine would get headlines initially, a little way down the line it'd just be annoying, expensive and impractical. Either way, reading the first reviews of the 500, they have been very very positive - each one has been five out of five.
They say it looks great, drives well, has nippy engines and is very easy to love! As for reliability, its based on the Panda, which has been getting top ten finishes in some satisfaction surveys - so things are looking good for Fiat to me. I'm waiting for the Abarth...
Reply
Daniele 6:44AM (7/06/2007)
The 500 Abarth will arrive in 2008.
The engine of the Abarth are the 1.4L Turbo with 135hp that can arrive at 150hp with an engine kit!!
In 2008 will arive 3 new engine. A 0,9L TWO stroke turbo with 70, 90 and 110hp!!
With the 0,9L 110hp the weight of 500 it can be about 800kg!!
The most important thing is that the 500 with the 0,9L engine with 90hp will drink LESS than the 1.2L with 70hp!!
Reply
Alex_davidsammy 9:02AM (7/06/2007)
:)))))) you call that a car......its more like a box
Reply
Brandon 1:38PM (7/06/2007)
I'd be interested in having one of these as my daily driver. It'd be a good replacement for my Corolla price-wise, and unlike the Corolla, this car is stylish and has a lot of different appearance options. The puny horsepower worries me though. My Corolla weighs 2200 pounds and has 125 horsepower and is a pain in the ass to drive--it isn't fun in the slightest.
If it only weighs about 1700 pounds (based on what a guy above me said) then perhaps a 100 horsepower version could be acceptable, but I'd prefer at least 130 or 140... My current zero to 60 time of 10.5 seconds (more or less) is unacceptable even for a daily driver. Get me an 8 second zero to 60 in a Fiat and we'll talk. (I'm ignorant and don't know the actual 0-60 for the new Fiat).
It'll be interesting to see what develops for us in the US. The colors currently offered are horrible. If I'm going to drive a cute car, I want a nice dark purple with white accents. If you're going to go cute, you can't stop halfway.
Reply
Colin Smith 2:47PM (7/06/2007)
Well Brandon,
The present 0-60 times range from around 12.5 to 9.5, for the 100 bhp. The 12.5 is for the Diesel, but this time deceives because of the torque wallop. Possibly not too fast initially away from the lights, but then - whoosh! Fantastic - and fun. This car is about fun, and economy. But fun in built up European cities and bendy country roads I suppose. Lost on a great plain or on a freeway the little 500 might get a shiver of loneliness. Even the current engines will be able to hold 90 - 110 + all day though. But the big SUVs would have to be kind:))
The Abarth should drop those times into the sevens, or less if for the 150bhp? And the new two-cylinder should offer 8-9 with stonkingly good fuel consumption.
As for colours. Well, purple would be interesting, but the metallic white and the light blue are in the spirit of the original, and some of the others, like the orange and the yellow, are funky and cute. The dark red is gorgeous.
There must be something for you?:(
Anyway, I hope you get them in the US. You know, you can hum along at 80-90 in one of these perfectly happily, and get really good mileage:))))