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Fiat Nuova 500
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- "Fiat 500" can also refer to the former Fiat 500 "Topolino", Fiat 500 or Fiat Cinquecento (500).
A new Fiat 500 was announced by Italian automaker Fiat on May 5, 2006. Images of the new Fiat 500 were presented on March 20, 2007, and the car was launched officially on July 4, 2007, with 250,000 in attendance. This was the largest launch party held in the last ten years, a testament to the 500's huge popularity The car was displayed in the squares of 30 cities in Italy for the launch..
The car is produced in Tychy, Poland, by Fiat Auto Poland alongside a sister model, the second generation Ford Ka due for release in 2008, and the other city car in the Fiat range, the Panda.
The 500 is almost identical to the concept car Trepiùno, presented in 2004. Strictly a four-seater, three-door hatchback and about the same length as the Panda, it is intended to compete both in the city car market and the "fashion car" niche market. The 500 may be badged in different markets as the Fiat 500, the Fiat Nuovo 500, or the Fiat Cinquecento.
The 500 is available with four different trim levels: Naked, Pop, Lounge, and Sport. Customers can choose also between 15 interior trims, 9 wheel options, 19 decals, and 12 body colours. There are over 500,000 different personalized combinations of the 500 that can be made by adding all kinds of accessories, decals, interior and exterior colours, and trims.The car is also available with Blue&Me Navigation system.
Concept
The design of the new 2007 Fiat 500 is based on the Fiat Trepiuno concept introduced at the 74th Geneva Motorshow in 2004. This car featured a distinctive retro-look, with Fiat hoping to emulate the success that the retro-styled Volkswagen New Beetle and BMW MINI have achieved in recent years, with the 500 being substantially cheaper than those cars. The basic price is €10,500 in Italy (with options, €15,000). The Trepiuno was designed by Fiat Stile Centre.
The name "Trepiuno" is a contraction of "tre piu uno", meaning "three plus one" in Italian; the car received this name because it was one step above a 2+2, as it was designed so that by deflating part of the dashboard around the front passenger's legs, and using high-tech thin-layered materials which take up less room than conventional upholstery, the front passenger seat could be slid forward far enough to accommodate another full-sized adult seat behind it; the fourth passenger, behind the driver, would occupy the smaller seat.
500 Start&Stop
It is a model based on the 1.2 Lounge, with parts built by Bosch and Fiat Powertrain Technologies. The Start&Stop system stops the engine automatically whenever traffic conditions bring the car to a complete halt, and restarts it when the driver wants to move off again. The car reduced fuel consumption for up to 12% over 1.2 Lounge in urban driving, with 113g/km CO2 emission. Other standard features include hands-free telecommunications and entertainment system.
The car costs £9,500 in the UK.
500 Abarth
It is a performance model of Fiat 500. The 1.4L engine with IHI RHF3-P turbocharger is rated at 5500 rpm and ( in sport mode) torque at 3000 rpm. It includes 5-speed C510 transmission, low ride suspension, dualdrive electric power steering with SPORT setting, Dualdrive electric power steering with SPORT setting, 6.5 x 16” aluminium alloy rim with 195/45 R16 tyres, 4-wheel disc brakes (front ventilated). Interior includes turbo pressure gauge, Gear Shift Indicator, aluminium foot pedals, Blue&Me MAP with Telemetry monitoring and GPS system.
The car was unveiled in 78th Geneva International Motor Show, 1 year after the rebirth of Abarth brand and company.
500 Abarth esseesse
It is a conversion kit for Abarth 500 within 12 months or of the car's first registration. Engine is upgraded to at 5750 rpm and ( in sport mode) at 3000 rpm. It also includes drilled and ventilated 284mm x 22 mm front brake discs with new pads, 240 mm x 11 mm drilled rear brake discs, Abarth front and rear springs, 17-inch white or titanium colour alloy rims with 205/40 R17 tyres, tyre pressure monitoring system, unique key cover.
The conversion cost £2500.
500 Abarth Opening Edition
It is a limited production (100 cars) model for Italian market. It includes the upgrades found in 500 Abarth esseesse. The car is available in 2 colours (Campovolo grey or pearlised White) while there’s also the option of special stickers including a red chequered flag on the roof (exclusive to the Campovolo Grey shade) that pays homage to the numerous sporting victories of the Abarth brand.
500 Abarth Assetto Corse
It is a limited production (49 cars) model, designed by the Fiat Group Automobiles Style Centre and produced by a team of Abarth Engineers and Designers. Engine is rated at 6500 rpm. It includes white 17’ special ultralight racing wheels, low ride, sports racing mirrors and a place for a number on the sides, pastel grey body with red Abarth side stripes.
The car was unveiled in 2008 Paris Auto Show.
500C
A softtop version (cabriolet) 500C will be unveiled in Geneva Motor Show March 2009, it has same size and same three engine options as basic model. It will have also Start&Stop system.
Barbie version
It is a show car based on Fiat 500, to commemorate 50th anniversary of Barbie. Created by Fiat Centro Stile and Mattel, the car would be unveiled on 2009-03-09 in Milan's fashion district, and parked at the entrance to La Rinascente department store, in Piazza Duomo, where the band Nena will be playing live in the background.
La Nuova 500 in Mexico
The Nuova 500 was introduced in Mexico in September 2008, powered the 1.4 L 16V engine, transmissions are dualogic for the 500 Classic, 500 Lounge and 500 Vintage trims or 6 speed manual gearbox for the 500 Sport Trim. The 500 Abarth variant will be introduced during 2009. It competes with the successful Mini Cooper. México became the first country in the Americas in which the Nuova 500 is sold.
United States
Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne has indicated that the United States may receive the newly designed Fiat 500. “Sooner or later it is a possibility that the 500 will arrive on the American market,” he said, adding “but it will not happen now, probably after 2010."
Fiat chief technology officer Harald J. Wester revealed there are two new small cars in the works and the 500 minicar will be sold in North America, although he didn’t give a timeline. He also confirmed the car would be produced at either a U.S. plant or one of Fiat’s existing facilities in South America.
In May 2008, reports surfaced on a venture between Chrysler and Fiat, which could possibly see Fiat using Chrysler's excess manufacturing capacity to produce the Fiat 500 in North America for the United States market. The proposed Fiat 500 line for the United States would be sold as its own, separate brand, rather than under the Fiat name.
Specifications
Engines
At launch three engines are available: two petrol and one diesel engine. All the engines meet the Euro5 standards. The 1.3 Multijet is equipped with a diesel particulate filter (DPF) as standard. Despite the vehicle's name implication, the lowest displacement is 1242 cc, notably higher than the previous 500s. However, a 900 cc two-cylinder engine has been planned, but despite this, it will still put it above both 500s.
| Name | Volume | Engine | Fuel | Output | Torque | 0-100 km/h (s) | Top speed | CO2 emission | Notes |
|---|
| 1.2 8v | 1242cc | 4cyl | Petrol | | | 12.9 | | 119 g/km | with Start-stop system 113 g/km | | 1.4 16v | 1368cc | 4cyl | Petrol | | | 10.5 | | 149 g/km | | | 1.3 16v Multijet | 1248cc turbo | 4cyl | Diesel | | | 12.5 | | 110 g/km | | | Abarth | 1368cc turbo | 4cyl | Petrol | | | 7.9 | | 155 g/km | | Abarth esseesse
Abarth Opening Edition | 1368cc turbo | 4cyl | Petrol | | | 7.4 | | 155 g/km | | | 0.9 SGE | 900cc turbo | 2cyl | Petrol | 66-81 kW (90-110 PS) | | | | | Planned | |
Safety
The new 500 has seven airbags in all models. There are also electric aids available such as ABS brakes, ESP (electronic stability program), ASR (antislip regulation), HBA (hydraulic brake assistance) and hill holder device. The 500 was awarded with 5 stars by EuroNCAP, succeeding the BMW MINI as the shortest car to have a five-star rating.Fiat also said that the 500 was engineered so that it would have been able to achieve a six-star rating had EuroNCAP adopted this classification.
The Fiat 500 passed the Euro NCAP car safety tests with following ratings
Future
Fiat are also likely to go ahead with a 500 estate, in homage to the 500 giardanetta of the 1960s. An S.U.V version is being considered by Fiat too. If it gets the go ahead Fiat will launch this model in 2011. The 500 will be one of the first cars to receive Fiat's new generation of small engines. The all new 0.9 turbo engine will be launched in the winter of 2008. This will replace the 1.2 and normally aspirated 1.4 engines. This engine will be available in 90 and forms. As these engines are lighter than the engines they replace, performance will be improved. The big plus about these engines is not the added performance, but the extra fuel economy.. A stop-start system is also planned to be offered in the near future on the 1.2 and 1.3 Multijet.
Production sold out
Within three weeks of the 500's launch, the entire year's production of 58,000 had been sold out. To date, Fiat has received more than 205,000 orders for the 500. While Italy has been the 500's main market (In October 2007, some 9000 cars have been sold in Italy, making it the 3rd bestselling car there), the 500 has gained a strong following in many countries. Fiat France had received more than 10,000 orders by the end of October 2007. To cope with demand Fiat has announced that production has been increased to 200,000 in 2008. The 500 was launched January 21st 2008 in UK. By 2010 production (including the new Abarth, cabriolet and estate versions) is likely to break the 350,000 barrier.
Marketing
The launch show
The launch show, which took part in the Turin's Murazzi del Po region, was a huge firework spectacle that also celebrated the 50th anniversary of the old 500 launch. The show was coordinated by Marco Balich, who was also responsible for Turin's 2006 Winter Olympic Games, and was an event never made before for a car launch. Several artists performed during the show, including Lauryn Hill, Israeli dancing group Mayumana and others. In the first part of the show, artists reproduced scenes of the 60s, such as scenes from films by Federico Fellini, a Beatle's show made by a cover band and Marilyn Monroe's iconic Happy Birthday, Mr. President, which became "Happy Birthday, dear Cinquecento" (sung by a Marilyn cover to celebrate the original 500's fifty years). Several bikes also represented the Giro d'Italia competition, filmed by a camera man inside an original 500, just like in the 60s. Both the 500 and the bikes floated on the river.
The show was broadcast live by Italian Canale 5 and by a live video stream at fiat500.com, which was watched by over 100,000 people online.
"500 wants you"
A project called "500 wants you" was launched by Fiat as part of a major online advertising campaign. The project uses the Internet to involve the public in planning the evolution of the new vehicle. The official 500 Internet page has been visited by over four million people.
Awards
- What Car? readers' affections 2007
- CAR Magazine: Car of the Year 2007
- EuroCarBody 2007 award
- European Car of the Year for 2008
- The World’s Most Beautiful Automobile (City Car and Small Car category)
- AUTO EUROPA 2008
- Fifth Gear: Best Small Car 2007
- Top Gear: Best 'City Car' 2007
- Auto 1 Europa 2008 - (Auto Bild)
- 2008 ‘What Car?’ Green Car of the Year Award
- Auto Express: "Best City Car" 2008
- evecars.com Best Supermini/City Car Award 2008
- evecars.com readers Sexiest Car of 2008
- Best Compact Car Consumers' Choice Award-Car of the Year in Japan
External links
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