Top Gear gives Fiat 500 another award, though Captain Slow didn't like it
Fiat's undeniably adorable 500 has closed off the year with yet another award. The retro-licious little supermini already won the car award of all car awards when it took the 2008 European Car of the Year award, which it somehow managed to squeeze into its little hatch packed with the Auto Europa 2008 award, EuroCarBody 2007 and the Auto Trophy.
The latest to pile on the praise is Top Gear magazine, which named the Fiat 500 its favorite City Car in the BBC Top Gear Awards 2007. Rival publication CAR also named the 500 its Car of the Year, as did rival television program Fifth Gear. Ironically, though, James May (a.k.a. Captain Slow) didn't like the 500.
That's a lot of accolades for such a small car, which Fiat is hoping will help turn its fortunes around as part of its recent resurgence in the marketplace.
[Source: Italiaspeed]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
ToMiTa 8:12PM (12/31/2007)
I have a new MINI here in America and would welcome the Fiat 500 as a rival with similar heritage. There are alot of cool mods that you can throw into them.
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Brent 9:11PM (12/31/2007)
Why doesn't have Fiat export to the US right now? Time seems perfect!
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juju 9:15PM (12/31/2007)
Because your "government by the people, for the people" really is not.
Dave 10:04PM (12/31/2007)
The vast majority of "the people" of the USA certainly have decided that cars like the Fiat 500 are too small.
Dave 9:55PM (12/31/2007)
Sounds like the VW Beatle at introduction.
More expensive than a Golf with less space.
If we haven't got the Fiat Panda (European COTY), we won't get the Fiat 500.
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Brent 10:19PM (12/31/2007)
When the Smart cars do well in the US, will Fiat follow?
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Rocketboy 6:29PM (1/01/2008)
"When the Smart cars do well"??? You're kidding,right? Smart Cars are dreck. Nice idea, terrible quality.
SamKochel 11:28PM (12/31/2007)
People in America don't want cars this small for various reasons: they are scary to some when driven next to SUVs, they don't haul all the stuff Americans have (family, material things, big bodies), Americans associate size with quality often (dinner, cars, houses, etc...) and so if you want a somewhat "nice" car you are going to want something bigger..."how can a small car be anything buy something that says cheap?" (common "logic" by many here), many American men would think this car not "tough" enough, women would think it's not safe enough for them/family (see first reason), also the freeways here make many people want something with more than ample power for merging and passing even when they weight 160 and their husband weights 240 and maybe even equal sized friends in the back, also American cities are easier to drive and park in for larger cars than Europe so being this small is not that important, and lastly and very very importantly gas is much cheaper RELATIVE to European gas costs
This is why the market for cars like this in America is very small...and when you compare that you can get a Toyota Corolla for about $14,000 brand new...why buy something so much smaller many Americans would think...
Anyway, I sure wish we had more cars like this here...but I am an exception...look at what sells #1 is still a full sized pickup (Ford F150)...we have smallerish cars...they just aren't as popular here.
p.s. Ford, if you're listening please build your rally inspired AWD Focus and send it here...please...
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FThorn 12:37PM (1/01/2008)
SUVs are nothing to drive next to. The freaking huge and plentiful Semi Trucks are. SUVs are afraid of Semis, too.
Rocketboy 6:31PM (1/01/2008)
That's the argument that was against BMW brining the MINI stateside. Now, the US is their strongest market for the MINI. People will not flock to a cheaply made small car. They WILL be more than happy to buy a premium small car.
smileyjoe 4:02AM (1/01/2008)
Americans are fat and lazy and gross. They would never go for this car. It is too stylish, efficient and too small for their fat arses.
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DANKELE 4:37AM (1/01/2008)
呵呵 山姆大叔该减肥了
huk 5:09AM (1/01/2008)
Heehaw, aint nothing gonna tear me away from my 5 Baconators I eats everyday. Need a F-350 just to carry me and my hefty wife (she likes them Triples) down to the Wendy's everyday.
happybee 10:25PM (1/02/2008)
I don't know what America will do when Detroit finally goes under. I guess Americans will have to slim down so they can fit in smaller Asian cars.
F-350 haha
AndyMF 6:10AM (1/01/2008)
James May didn't like it because it's better than his Fiat Panda...just watch his review of it on Top Gear season 10. Forgot what episode though.
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KarlW 10:22AM (1/01/2008)
Agree with the awards, it's an awesome car.
If I had the money, I'd buy one. Nice and good-looking, compact, good for a city like London.
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Colin Smith 3:11PM (1/01/2008)
Yes, James May has bought a Panda with his own money.
One point is that the 500 is very strongly built. It has seven airbags to the Panda's two, and meets every safety requirement for both the present and the immediate future. This adds some weight. However, it is also quieter than the Panda and better suspended, and even in its simplest form, better equipped. So, excepting the fact that it has only three doors, it is the better car. Its the cuteness and charm that'll seal it for most punters though.
I'll wait a couple of years for Fiat's new twin cylinder engine with Multiar valve actuation; this will provide 90bhp with even better economy and greatly reduced emissions.
The American market IS different. Even in the States not everyone needs to haul a fat family all the time, with all their possessions permanently in the back: we all know this is a spurious arguement. Modern small cars really are fine for long distances, but, with huge roads and lots of space, not to mention dirt cheap fuel, the imperative for Americans to buy small and economical cars simply isn't there. I can understand that.