General NEW Fiat 500

Currently reading:
General NEW Fiat 500

Joined
Feb 15, 2006
Messages
1,375
Points
201
Location
Auckland
Has anybody else spotted these little beauties....
WHAT A STUNNING CAR!!!!:worship: (y)
 

Attachments

  • soft top front.jpg
    soft top front.jpg
    31.2 KB · Views: 130
  • soft top!.jpg
    soft top!.jpg
    28.7 KB · Views: 121
Yeah but thats the first time i've seen a convertable one :eek:
 
I think the story is in today's Auto Express.

Yes, it is very girlie.

My hope is that it is so ubercute in the metal that everyone will be able to drive it unselfconsciously. Like the old 500. It is a two seater, and that'll help.

I've been thinking about this boy-girl car thing and checking on Minis. Nearly all of them are driven by women. Mostly middle-management matrons with something to prove to the world. They tend to look very serious and unhappy. Very self conscious, very contrived, and not a good look at all. I hope the 500 is funky enough to be genuinely sexless and classless and that kids of all sexes and all ages will be able to afford to have a little fun in it:) .
 
the mini biatches wont touch a new 500, its a fiat and girlpower career women want bmw (mini) or mercedes (smart) to show off their status.

now that you mention it i'm not sure who'll buy the new 500. i'm looking forward to seeing one, but i know i wouldn't drive one, doubt i could fit in it! if its affordable i think it'll do well with young women who dont have children.
 
Think you're probably right.

Let's hope its non-status gives it, er, status?

If they sell it with really stonkingly gutsy motors from day one then it'll instantly be a cult. Sadly, Fiat usually launches new models with lawnmower engines; which then get tested by the press and hammered for their gutlessness. The message sticks, and by the time they fit the real engines everyone has gone off and bought something else.
A Mini probably.

Shame:mad:
 
Last edited:
Just had another thought.

Kinda reminds me of the Daihatsu Copen (or whatever it's called). Oddly, the Suzuki Cappucino could be driven by a bloke - just - but the Copen can't.

Funny that!
 
FuzzyPanda said:
2) It gives two fingers to modern cars always getting bigger and bigger.

definately (y)

i'm seriously getting worried by the size of cars these days. learner drivers aren't getting better, carpark spaces aren't getting bigger, lanes aren't getting wider, so cars really shouldn't get bigger. many of the new "superminis" like grande punto, corsa, fiesta etc. are bigger than my bravo inside and out. thats a big change in a short space of time! we need more small cars.
 
Well I've already decided that IF they launch the turbocharged verison with circa 140bhp, I'm signing on the dotted line :slayer: I don't have kids yet, so small cars all the way for me until I do. Imagine how much fun all that power in a little tin pod with 4 wheels would be! Knowing Fiat, it'll probably only come with a 1.2 8v at best :rolleyes:
 
not much scares me, but a 140bhp turbo lump in a car that small is a scrary thought. you'd stuggle to keep it in a straight line! it would need 4WD to pull off that much power. hey that would be amazing!! (y)
 
I prefer the tin-top, non convertible one. Cars are getting so large these days, that we do need good smaller models to be introduced. The 1.6 MJTD that Fiat are working on would be a good unit for a hot diesel (and offer fantastic economy too). With the size it would zip through small gaps in traffic that other cars wouldn't contemplate trying. And hopefully those traits would turn it into a car people desire to own and drive.

The success of the 206CC shows there's a market for 2 seater convertibles (OK, so you can put your bag on the back seat in them). Cute retro inspired styling, and a good range of engines would see Fiat keep up thier growth in many markets. They lost out on market share when they stopped supplying the big rental companies at big discounts, but I think that was needed to firm up residuals and actually turn a profit.
 
true a small modern turbo diesel would be a wise choice for this car.

now that you mention the 206cc, almost all the girls i know want one including my girlfriend. i've promised to get her one for her next car, but maybe she'll prefer a 500 instead?
 
I'd be in the market for one too - the hardtop only!

Lovely little car. I'd sacrifice the space of my Doblo for real nippy funfulness. But not less than 100bhp; either petrol or Diesel.

A really stonky TD automatic with Brembos, great A/C, decent stereo and perfect steering, and they 'll have me hooked. Not a 55bhp 1100 please Fiat!!:cool:
 
The 1.3 Multijet is already a superb engine for the car. I don't think an engine line up's been announced yet but for a hot diesel the 1.3MJ in Punto tune (not the torque-restricted tune for Pandas with weaker transmissions) would be superb.

Could maybe replace the Uno Turbo (and modified turbo Cinquecentos/Seicentos) for "how the hell is that car going that fast" factor.

I'm really looking forward to the 500 hitting the market. It wouldbe nice to see a 100bhp 1.4 like the new warm Panda on the way to compete with the inevitable new SportKa.
 
You've hit the nail!

I feel the cult forming already. Ooooohh!

Now Fiat....decent fun colours - and some 'smart' ones as well. Great seats and elegantly simple interiors - not like the too-funky-and-clever-by-half Mini. Ugh!

The original 500 was clean, simple, very attractive and surprisingly well finished inside. More of the same is needed.


And make it handle and go like stink. Also, already I detect a 'based on the Ford....' sense creeping into the reviews. How about Fiat's publicity department going for a 'based on Fiat...' line. This is the case, so remind people!

Forza Fiat!!!:D
 
Dont think it needs to go fast to be successful. Part of the small fiat attraction is the utility specification and simplicity.

The girlfriend thinks her Seicento is on borrowed time after seeing these pictures in Autoexpress today!

I think they need to sort out the rear lights, they dont seem to match the rest of the car.
 
Perhaps they are a bit predictable and angular.
Interstingly, the door handles are not like the retro ones on the Trepiuno, and that bonnet bulge is different from the mock-ups on the 500 site.

I wonder if we are getting close to seeing the true detailing here?

I understand that outright power is not what small cars are about. My old Dyane was brilliant with virtually nothing in the power department, but that was a long distance loafer that could cruise all day at 80, very comfortably. (Forget 2cvs by the way, they were bendy rubbish. The Dyane had a rigid frame and better aerodynamics....off thread again!)

No, baby Fiats were designed to nip about in cities. Now we all drive distances some of the time so even little cars have to be motorway friendly.

And if they are, I want to overtake and nip about like a maniac.....!!! Er:rolleyes:

Gimme 100bhp, or else....:D
And yes. Your girlfriend had better start saving...
 
I thort a 1.6 Turbo lump was going in?

No that would be mean some serious potential in lurking in there!

Fit blonde/brunette bird in that would cause crashes! lol
 
ivantate said:
I think they need to sort out the rear lights, they dont seem to match the rest of the car.

This is true for virtually every Coupé Convertible on the market. The longer rump of the car makes styling the extra metal quite a task I imagine. The lights on the original hatchback concept look a lot less like an afterthought.

Check it.
 
Back
Top