Click above for high-res gallery of the O.CT Fiat 500
Fiat's neo-500 has been warmly embraced by tuners, and Austria's Oberschider Chip Tuning (O.CT) has turned its focus to the teeny tiny 'talian. The car is purposely designed to evoke the 1960s, so why should the performance numbers be any different? Even with tuning, the horsepower from the 1.3 liter diesel is still under 100, though a bump from 75 to 90 is useful. Even better, torque goes up to 133 lb/ft from 107 in stock tune. It's enough to whack a full three seconds off the 0-60 time, though Corvettes will have covered a quarter mile in the same amount of time. Of course, speed is only part of the equation, and there are wheel upgrades in several colors to punch up the visual ante, too. With all the tuner support popping up for the 500, anticipation for the car's arrival in the U.S. market is beginning to reach Episode 1 levels.
[Source: Inside Line]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
BLS @ Mar 31st 2008 9:19AM
"Episode 1" levels...
There are nerds all over the country dressed like italians waiting outside of Maserati dealerships, while there parents bring them Dr. Pepper and Slim Jims.
Colin Smith @ Mar 31st 2008 9:31AM
Those wheels don't work on this car.
Also, the Abarth versions are on the way, with 135 and 150bhp. These will have gearboxes, brakes and suspensions to cope with the increased performance.
There are also some small concerns re the gearbox on the 1.3 Diesel and its durability when presented with the significantly greater torque of chipped motors.
Europe has gone bonkers over this car and the factory can't pump them out fast enough.
Andrew @ Mar 31st 2008 10:37AM
Really? I doubt most Europeans really care that much. I don't. I really don't like the look of it either - I'd much rather have a Renault or Peugeot. No, I am not French. And I am serious [about buying a new car].
Colin Smith @ Mar 31st 2008 10:50AM
Not EVERY European of course. Most people probably don't really care about cars much at all in fact.
Nothing wrong with Peugeots and Renaults either, just nothing charismatic coming out of their factories right now.
Andrea @ Mar 31st 2008 11:04AM
Andrew, Fiat 500's production has recently been raised to 190k units/year (from 150k) to supply the huge request.
Still now, you have to wait some months to have one.
And please, stop saying Fiat = Fix it again tony, cause it's no more like that since years.
Fiat's multijet diesel engines are the most reliable, efficient and with the highest power/displacement and torque/displacement ratios (1.3, 1.6, 2.4).
Even Opel uses them, but also Cadillac, Saab and Suzuki.
I've always had Fiat's in my family, and none of them broke down (and we usually keep the same car for at least 200k km)
Travis @ Mar 31st 2008 11:54AM
count me as one of the people who desperately, desperately wants this car (the Abarth version, or preferably the Abarth SS). smaller, lighter, more nimble than a Mini, with decent hp and good looks? sign me up!
this seems to be more of the "hey, look what we can (or rather can't) do with a stock 500" as opposed to being something that actually puts down any type of performance/drivability numbers. when the performance models come out, that'll be the time to see what the tuners can do.
Will @ Mar 31st 2008 2:15PM
Count me in for the Abarth too. Tuning a diesel model of this car kind of misses the point.
Not saying it's useless to build a hot hatch with an oil burner, just not when there are much better options coming down the pipeline.
Travis @ Mar 31st 2008 3:43PM
yup, and unlike other "oooooh, I want it" statements in other posts, I am looking to purchase a car in 2009, something in the $20-24k range, and want a small, fast, fun to drive hatchback. right now I'm seriously looking at a Mini Cooper S along with bigger, heavier turbo hatches like the Mazdaspeed3, GTI, etc, but if this reaches American shores, you can bet it'll probably come down to this or the Mini.
Not impressed @ Mar 31st 2008 6:03PM
Wohoo! Bring the 500 the the U.S. !!!