Novitec dials up the Fiat 500
Click above image for a gallery of the Novitec Fiat 500
Fiat's retrolicious 500 is designed to transport people with panache, if not punch. Novitec's specialty is both bringing the punchbowl to the party and then spiking it. Sure, the tuner tweaks the likes of Alfa and Ferrari, but the everyman isn't left out either, as evidenced by the new collection of mods it's now made available for the Fiat 500.
500 drivers can add a subtle front chin spoiler, new wheels and tires, and suspension updates to improve the car's already appealing looks. On the performance side, Novitec has come up with an exhaust upgrade and a pair of power packages. The 1.3L Multijet turbodiesel gets bumped from the stock 70 horses to a stouter 83, and the 1.4L gasoline engine gets an even more substantial boost. In standard form, it makes 100 horsepower and 96 lb-ft of torque. With Novitec's supercharger, it jumps to 131 horses at 5,200 rpm and 126 lb-ft of torque at 6,200 rpm.
Yes, these numbers are topped by the upcoming 500 Abarth (quite dramatically, in fact -- the Abarth makes 155 lb-ft at 3,000 rpm), and the factory hot hatch probably makes more sense for new shoppers looking to combine the 500's looks with better power the moment they drive away from the showroom. with the Novitec mods, however, early adopters who grabbed the huggable little hatchback as soon as it arrived now have some power options of their own, too.
Gallery: Novitec Fiat 500
[Source: Novitec]
Get a WordPress.com Blog
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
bakka 10:47AM (5/14/2008)
Cool little car.
Reply
Cole Mitguard 11:32AM (5/14/2008)
It looks like a toy, I don't know, something about 11", or whatever small size those are, rims just doesn't sit well with me. But I would probably give it a proper flogging, I just don't know if thats what I would have parked in my driveway.
Reply
RMc 11:57AM (5/14/2008)
I don't know if I'd call 17" wheels small (the wheel size is visible in the gallery.)
Anything larger would probably look off. 17" is also about the largest size you can fit onto a Mini without getting impractical.
Cole Mitguard 12:12PM (5/14/2008)
Well you got me there, I didn't read the Gallery, they just look so small, you are right that 17" is probably the biggest that I would opt for on a 500 based on numbers, but they just look... odd.
Rick 1:08PM (5/14/2008)
Just send them over already. Even the hopped up gas version has to be good for over 40 mpg.
Reply
gt2378b 7:51AM (5/15/2008)
Ah, I do so hope the 500 will actually make it to the US...
Reply
uhit235 3:35PM (5/15/2008)
I want this to come to the US so bad... seeing them all over in France oh that and the swift
Reply