With most car models, they seem to have a major styling upgrade each year. However, the 500 will be limited in this respect as any major styling change will negate the main point of the design. Apart from 'specials' how do other forum members see the future of the 500. For instance, will we see a re-run of the original 500s resulting in millions of them on the roads over the coming years?

Look to the new Mini and how it has evolved for clues. BMW have the same problem, in that you can't really "facelift" the Mini design without losing the point. I would expect the new 500 to have a fairly short production run as a result, once the chic retro appeal has worn off.

John

Apart from the possible estate version I would expect the greatest changes to come in the form of the forthcoming engines and transmissions. The car industry is too strapped to keep tooling up for new models, and when the Topolino arrives, and a replacement Panda, Fiat will have the small car market sewn up for a few years. This concentration on economical cars may enable Fiat to survive the depression as it produces cheap, sensible cars, and these are set to get even better.

But the basic outline of the 500 should remain for a good few years, it is, after all, practical as well as cute, and Fiat has a history of keeping successful cars in production for a long time.

I agree that changes will probably be under the skin, maybe the 2 cylinder engines and revisions to the suspension I bet... they have tweaked the suspension on their models in the past IIRC. Don't know about anyone else, but having seen a pic of the forthcoming topolino, it looks a bit bland like the VW fox to me! Sometimes designs work better in 3D though.

Is there a Topolino picture? I have only seen the test mule botched together from whatever was handy. I reckon the finished car will still be fun.

Ulpian said:

Is there a Topolino picture? I have only seen the test mule botched together from whatever was handy. I reckon the finished car will still be fun.

Click to expand...

These are the ones I saw ages ago... from the back looks better than I remembered it! Still a bit bland tho I think. Of course, this may not be what it ends up looking like at all!

Looks more like a twingo, I liked the mule with the abarth nose on it, who says engineers don't have a sense of humour.

yeah it does look a little twingo-esque, bit more squat and taller tho.

Oh yes, I remember this. I don't think it will work - too low - and too dull Looks like a Daihatsu as well as a Twingo. The mule has a rear engine, although that means nothing.
I reckon Fiat will produce something a bit wacky - I hope

I think the styling changes will be similar to the Mini - Different Wheels, slight changes to the chromework, tweaks to the bumpers, and different designed headlight internal components thats about all they can do really without upsetting the look.

Those images are just artist impressions. No one apart from Fiat designers know what the Topolino is going to look like


And when did cars start getting major facelifts evey year?! Maybe once every 3-4 years... and usually they're pretty minor - unless the original design was just awful.

agree with all coment's, i think poss some bumper tweeks to make it more "manly" thats all the mini and new beetle got. probably lots of "specials" maybe new colour's/interior's and more optional extra's (blu n me map/hid's/cruise cont etc ) i think a retro edition would do well with a specific colour and interior to the car A bar, bonnet strip, vintage looking alloy's. or even better a tjet sport model. personally i don't think the 2cyl will ever make it into the 500 all i have read say's its being designed by fiat/bmw for use in the topolino and a new bmw city car, time will tell

The twin will replace the Fiat engines which currently put out between 60 and 110 bhp. It is lighter, smaller, more economical, more powerful and greener, so there would be no point in Fiat persisting with the older, less efficient engines. Actually, a 500 with 110 bhp from a lighter engine would be quite quick, and should have an improved turning circle too.

I also suspect that the 500 will get readjusted trim specs and improved lighting, and maybe improved suspension. It doesn't need much.

I hope that fiat review the colour options, I think the choices at the moment are so limited, I would struggle to find one I liked if I was ordering now, 6 months ago I had trouble choosing because there were two or three I really liked.

I wouldn't be surprised if they bring out a pink version. :yuck:

Other than that, minor changes to wheels and maybe more interior fabric options (I would have chosen the pop interior in my lounge), perhaps more stickers, but all mainly superficial stuff as each car is pretty individual and that's the beauty of it!

(i'd buy a pink one lol)

Although expect you'll all say well yes you did spend £700 on funk white so we'd expect you to buy a silly colour ha ha ha.

I think we may expect a estate version and the people at Fiat are even thinking of a remake of the Multipla.

Next to these new body styles expect the 2 cilinder engines to appear in the near future. New gearboxens, a hybrid (have to keep the green folks happy )

And next to that some minor astetic facelifts.

For me I think the rear lights are a target - again like the mini - there's just something about them that isn't quite right on the current model, to my eye.

I think Fiat have done such a fine job with 500, its look is pretty timeless to me. Interior tweeks, new engines and trim, revisions to suspension settings hopefully, and new wheel styles should keep the car going for years. They need to develop it gradually rather than change it radically. BMW made just enough changes to the MK2 New Mini to spoil it. I hope Fiat don't make that mistake. Also, no estate please or Jolly versions made out of whicker!