German Car Forum

The New Fiat 500 (Cinquecento) will be launced on March 20. It shares its platform with the new Ford Ka.

Fiat is following VW and MINI by offering a vehicle that looks back to the most iconic and loved model in the company's past. It will compete in the ultra-compact market

The original FIAT Cinquecento from the 1950s

Fiat500

I wonder if this will have the same success as Mini and is it trying to compete with Smart? If it is, bye bye Smart...

Do you think bum-man. I mean firstly, it's hideous, and secondly, it's made in Italy ......so there won't be much left in about 6 months once the rust has taken hold of it.

Well, if it's based of the Ford Ka's platform it can't be too bad, it's not like its both Italian built and Italian designed. So it can only be half as bad as what it could have potentially been.
Besides, I quite like the design and am under the impression that the previous 500 design took a long hiatous much like the Mini, which makes the retro theme acceptable for me. The Fortwo doesn't do much for me especially in the interior department, looks like something that was designed by Playskool.

Small cars are something Fiat has traditionally done well, and many of their more recent models have been well liked by the motoring press (including Evo!). Fiat still has quality issues but they're nowhere near as bad as they used to be. I believe that as long as the price is right, this thing will be a common sight throughout most of Europe.

I think it's a stylish alternative to the Japanese and Korean cars which occupy this segment.

Yeah, I was not being totally serious as I'm sure you knew. It is quite cute really ...and Fiat have improved. But the funny thing is, (sorry bum-man, I don't know how old you are but..) do you remember in the 1980s how many Fiat Unos, Pandas, and Tipos were around ......where the hell did they all go?
I mean I still see 1980s Mercs, BMWs, Audis, etc..

These are the first official images of Fiat’s cute 500, the Italian rival to popular minicars such as the MINI Cooper and Nissan Micra. The 500 was originally planned to hit the market in September but it’s now scheduled to be released on the 4th of July, and unlike the original “cinquecento” models of the 1950s, the new 500 will be positioned as a premium model. Fiat will be offering customers multiple customization options to add to the car’s life-style appeal and up-market cachet.

Prices should start at close to the €10,000 mark, putting the new 500 above the larger five-door Panda in terms of price. Fiat is expected to sell up to 58,000 units by the end of the year, with this figure likely to jump to around 120,000 cars per year thereafter. Fiat will build the 500 in Tychy, Poland, alongside the upcoming second generation Ford Ka, with which it shares its platform.

The new 500 gets double projector headlights at each side, with a chrome ornament on the front bumper sporting the new Fiat logo. The 500 will only be offered in a three-door configuration and is limited to carrying four passengers. Power should come from a two-cylinder motor displacing just 0.9L. Thanks to a turbocharger, output should be in excess of 110bhp, while a high-performance 1.4L unit with 150hp is likely to debut in a sporty Abarth version.

Rival manufacturers are rushing to release their own minicars including premium versions from the likes of Volkswagen and Audi as well as more budget-based models from GM and Toyota. But none of these new models will have the cult-status of the new 500, its popularity garnered by the wholesome appeal of the original. It’s clear that Fiat’s marketing strategy for this model is heavily influenced by BMW’s revived Mini Cooper and we’re sure the new 500 will steal some of its limelight.

Great ...I have waited for over a year to see what the final production version would be like ...and it's not too bad.

Do I want one? ...ahh ..No

I see how this would work as a city runabout in a place like NYC or London. Parking space is a premium, and this would work just fine. I heard that people at NYC have to wake up very early in the morning in winter to shift their cars to the opposite side of the road because of snow clearances - and if they don't shift their cars in time, they'll never ever find a parking space!

A very likeable little car. I'd take this over a Smart.

M

It is quite cool ...and if you check out the website, there is likely to be a vast amount of options available. Fiat have been requesting people to submit their ideas on how to personalize this car.

I want Abarth!

I have to say that I'm impressed with Fiat's comeback from the brink. They pulled a fast on on poor, old, dumb GM that resulted in GM having to give them billions of dollars and now they're coming out with one car after another. Most of which are very desirable. Now once they get Alfa back to the U.S. with even decent quality they'll be really doing something!

M

ateekt, I find your posts to be non-contributory, uninformed and just plain uncool.

Leave out the bold formatting of your posts too... it just draws more attention to your low-value input.

People on this board are highly informed, well connected with the motoring industry from professionals, semi-professionals to hard-core amateur enthusiasts.

Fiat is by no means the greatest car brand in the world and you're entitled to put across your opinion provided you can substantiate that with a bit more insight.

Kick-@$$ post that will for sure bring you some karma from me!

ateekt:

There have been some complaints about the way you post your replies. You are kindly requested to stop using colored + bold fonts.

Thanks!

The Fiat 500 is another good move for a resurgent Fiat. In recent months they've surprised on numerous occasions by launching models that revive the brand's erstwhile image as a maker of superb, characterful and fun-to-drive small cars. The Panda is a tremendously realistic and well executed city car and the Panda 100HP shows that cheap doesn't necessarily have to exclude fun.

The Grande Punto sets itself apart from its competitors by virtue of its lovely styling infused with Italian flair. The new Bravo simply builds on this new brand identity.

The Fiat 500 is an ideal model to proclaim that Fiat has every ability to be the maker of seriously cool small cars it once was.

I love the new FIAT badge too...

I was never informed to stop doing this, I'll keep it in mind for next time, thanks mate ...!

No offences bro, but did you get what I wanted to say in my prior post ...? What I tried to say was, nice car & build quality & looks just don't sound like Fiat ..!

Peace ...!

Fiat has a very promising lineup in the coming few years & quite frankly I find their latest releases quite desirable. This is the first time I really would like to own their cars & I find them "cool" in its own way. First the Grande punto which was like an extreme makeover and now this. I really would like Fiat to heal from the crappy decade it had gone through. It is a historical manufacturer and I believe it has many to offer.



BTW the Punto achieved well in the latest EuroNcap tests, Five Stars

Well, FIAT Group does own Maserati and Ferrari after all... They can't be all that bad.

fiat 500 video

Very nice I like the FIAT 500. I would say it is a well designed car, but I'm unsure I word look hard in such a car.

a nice, neat little car. It is definitely trying to do what the Mini has done, by making this car a fashion accessary people will buy it by truck loads.

I think the retro styling is a touch heavy on the front, if they don't have the chrome strip on the side of the Fiat badge, then the styling will be almost perfect.

photo of front view

The problem is, the design is too literal. It really does look like a modernized copy of the original. The Mini is a far cleverer design than this IMO.

I am willing to bet that this model will not have any where near the longevity of the Mini.

The biggest difference I believe is, this car (like the VW Beetle) is a single 'product' ...the Mini is not just a single product it is a whole 'concept'. By this I mean the Mini has a lot of room to be developed and reinterpreted for future models. The new Mini is not just a model in and of itself -- and not just a sentimental pastiche of a past vehicle like this Fiat.