If you look at the lineage (ie. history) of the 500 it's quite interesting:
1957 Original 500 launched - with 499cc engine in the back - hence the name
1973?Fiat 126 launched - replaces the Fiat 500, but is basically the same car with a more square body. Fits into the fiat range below the 127 and 128 (but the 124 and 125 were bigger!)
1985 the Fiat 126 gains a water cooled engine, and a rear tailgate!
1992 Fiat 126 no longer on sale in Uk (but produced in Poland up until 2001?)
1993 - Fiat cinquecento launched with front engine/fwd. European markets have 704cc engine available (septocento?!) whereas UK initially only has 899cc model. In Europe the cinq comes into the range somewhere between the 126 and panda - although both outlive it in the end!
1998- fiat seicento introduced - slighlty curvier body for the cinquecento, but now called a SIX hundred! In the 60s there had been a slighlty larger version of the 500, called a 600, with, you guessed it, a 600cc engine.
So, in the year 2000, you could buy a 126 (basically the original 500) or a seicento (basically the 90s cinquecento)
2004 - fiat has now given up on the 126 and panda. New panda launched, no longer in biscuit tin category. Seicento no longer available in UK. New (retro)500 announced - will cost more than a (new shape) panda.
Net result: Fiat has abandoned the baby car sector!!
I apologise if any dates or facts are wrong, I'm just writing from memory!
