The Fiat 500C made its world debut at the Geneva Motor Show, with sales to begin on July 4th, on all the European markets. Today Fiat launched the first official video of the 500C.
When you hear the words Fiat 500 you might be thinking about a compact city car that is more about achieving outstanding fuel economy as opposed to all out performance. That is not what the German computer tuning specialist McChip had in mind. They see the little bubble from FIAT and decided that it deserved some extra help to get everything that the car could out of the tiny 1.4 Liter turbocharged engine. With a little engine recalibration the McChip tuners were able to get an extra 25 HP out of the turbocharged 1.4 Liter four banger, raising the maximum output to 160 HP and an additional 35 lb-ft of torque to give the city car 190 lb-ft of torque. The reflash was also good for a few miles per hour raising the top speed to 130 MPH.
Aside from the high performance version, McChip was able to get an additional 10 HP out of the 100 HP naturally aspirated version of the 1.4 Liter four cylinder and squeezed and extra 20 HP out of the 75 HP 1.3 Liter Multijet 16V diesel version. Aside from the engine tuning, McChip also offers a variety of styling upgrades as well as a set of 17" alloy wheels wrapped in sticky Hankook tires rubber. The computer tuning kit is priced at only 509 euro, not bad for the performance gains.
We first presented the idea of a possible 500 Giardiniera back in 2008. Back then; the rumors were suggesting that the vehicle would be an estate version of the current Fiat 500. However, those suspicions have turned out to be false. According to the latest reports, the Giardiniera will be a mini-SUV to compete with the future Mini Crossover.
The future compact SUV will be built on a stretched version of the Fiat 500 and will feature a four-wheel-drive system based on the drive train of the Fiat Panda 4x4.
The future Giardiniera will be a three-door model, featuring suicide doors in the rear, rear-hinged doors, and a possible retractable canvas sunroof.
Press release
Enter the new 500, the manifesto of the ‘new Fiat’, a model that represents to all intents and purposes the materialisation of a new approach, of new brand strategies, and a different approach to the car. Exactly 50 years after the launch of the first edition of the model, which was to become an icon of Italian motoring and of an entire period of history, Fiat is accelerating into the future.
Anyone could re-edit the 500, because its shape is part of our (...) > More
You have heard the rumors about Europe’s hot hatch, theFiat 500 coming to the U.S. Now is official. After Chrysler announced their plans for bankruptcy the company’s CEO Bob Nardelli has announced that the Fiat 500 will soon be homologated for stateside sales. The Fiat 500 is already a hit in Europe and with Fiat taking over the the five pointed star, they want to see how the little 500 will do in the U.S. market.
A few elements need to be changes in order to be road legal, for one the current model is not eligible for sale because of the height of the headlamps. The original 500 received revised "bug eye" headlamps in order to conform with different standards, so it is expected to see the same thing when it comes to the U.S.
Until Chrysler decides to bring the little Fiat 500 to the U.S., the U.K. will be as close as we get to open-top 500C. Pricing has just been announced from £11,300 to £14,100 (about $16K to $20K at current rates) for the lineup.
Full breakdown in the press release after the jump.
Can someone please tell me what is with people and pink car? If until now you have seen car customized by clients, this pink 500 was created by Fiat itself. It is called 500 Barbie and was created in order to celebrate Barbie’s fiftieth birthday celebrations in Milan.
This special edition features a pink paintwork on the exterior; on the interior the seating is upholstered in strikingly soft fabrics: silver laminated Alcantara is not only trendy but plush to the touch and its glimmer bounces as far as the roof panel.
Then there are mats enhanced with natural silk yarn and sleek viscose, not to mention lip glosses in brilliant colours stored in the glove compartment, plus a LED-decked vanity mirror to ensure perfect application.
The car has more features than a crown has jewels! Crystals sparkle on interior bezels, hubcaps, outer window mouldings and antenna and even outline the doll’s famed silhouette on the pillars. Lastly, this Fiat 500 show car also has its own glossy cover, featuring the distinctive Sixties version of the Fiat 500 and a Barbie autograph.
Rinspeed can’t bring two outrageous cars to the Geneva Motor Show, it’s already tough enough to take the iChange seriously. So next to the car with the morphing body, Rinspeed will pace a Fiat 500 painted in copper. Oh yeah, and this one will have a pretty cool engine, too.
It’s called the E2, which is named for two different power levels. THe first level is called “Commuting” and the engine puts out 60 hp (9 hp less than the smallest standard Fiat 500), gets about 59 miles per gallon. The second model is called “Highway”, and then the same engine produces 160 hp (25 more hp than the 500 Abarth)
The technical details of the engine were not disclosed. We’re just hoping a company like Rinspeed is more innovative than just using technology that we’ve had for years, like cylinder deactivation.
Last month we saw an undisguised spy shot of the Fiat 500 convertible, but it seems now Fiat wants to blur that image in our memory. Fiat released a teaser shot and sketches that should hold us over until Monday when the car is officially revealed.
Because the car will use an outer frame with a fabric rolling roof, the convertible version will follow closely to the design lines of the coupe. Under the hood there will be the same engines as in the coupe: a 69 hp 1.2-liter gas unit, a 75 hp 1.3-liter turbo-diesel, and a 1.4-liter gas unit producing 100 hp.
Americans shouldn’t get out their sunscreen just yet...the Fiat 500 coupe hasn’t even been confirmed for the U.S. market yet.
The sporty little Italian hatchback the Fiat 500 has received a tuning kit from the German tuners Rieger. The aftermarket company has given the popular Italian vehicle an extensive makeover.
Consisting of a fresh body kit with a more aggressive front lip spoiler, side skirts, rear diffuser and a fresh wing on top of the hatch. The exterior is done in a striking two tone orange and black color scheme that is just wild. The car is finished off by a set of 17-inch alloy rims making the Fiat 500 a sure head-turner.
This kit by Rieger will give the Abarth guys something to worry about. Pricing for the Rieger Fiat 500 is still to be announced.
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