It is a bit strange for one of the most cheapest cars in the world to be sold with £200,000, nearly $400.000, but it happened! A Fiat 500 has been auctioned for charity last week in London and this is the incredible amount for which it was sold.
Generous donors from the ARK (Absolute Return for Kids) charity raised an incredible £25 million for children at a gala reception in the Royal Naval College, Greenwich on Thursday (5 June) with an auction which included the iconic Fiat. It wasn’t just any 500 though. This was one of four specially designed and painted examples of the supermini which took the art world by storm last year, designed and painted by acclaimed English artist Tracey Emin.
The work, entitled ‘Dark, Dark, Dark’, was among lots which included diamonds, a safari holiday, a speaking role in actress Uma Thurman’s next film, Eloise in Paris, use of a luxury yacht, fashion pieces and other works of art.
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Fiat confirmed that a convertible version of its 500 city car will go into production in the summer of 2009. According to styling chief Roberto Giolito, the car will be simple, affordable and "aimed at bringing maximum customer enjoyment".
What does that mean? That a heavy folding hard-top will never happen. Instead Fiat will use a light-weight retractable canvas roof, which is in keeping with the 500’s retro appearance.
The car will have space for four. The compact canvas top has allowed designers to squeeze in a pair of rear seats, which will ensure the cabriolet is a match for its MINI Convertible rival.
Under the hood there will be a choice of 69bhp 1.2 and 100bhp 1.4-litre petrol engines, plus a 75bhp 1.3-litre Multi-jet diesel. A 135bhp Abarth variant has yet to be confirmed.
Fiat announced its intention of selling the 500 mini-car in USA by 2010. The USA version could come from the North American plant that Fiat Group is scouting for Alfa Romeo.
"I am convinced the 500 with a full range will be a smash (in the United States) if we do it right," Fiat Group CEO Sergio Marchionne said last week on the sidelines of the Automotive News Europe Congress here.
Marchionne also said selling the 500 in the United States will not mean the Fiat brand will return to the United States because the 500 is a brand in itself.
Answering reporters’ questions, Marchionne said the 500 should be produced in North America to be cost competitive.
The 500 debuted as a three-door hatchback. A soft-top cabriolet version will follow in 2009. In 2010, Fiat will add a long-wheelbase, wagon-looking 500. Fiat also is considering an SUV-looking variant that could feature all-wheel drive.
Abarth returns to track racing, and it has chosen to do so with its new ‘500 Abarth Assetto Corse’, the baby supersports car from Abarth, due to be produced in a Limited Edition (49 cars).
The new vehicle, designed by the Fiat Group Automobiles Style Centre and produced by a team of Abarth Engineers and Designers will be the star of track races from next year and its creation confirms Abarth’s racing vocation.
The Assetto Corse version of the petite 500 Abarth takes up the baton from its forerunner, the ‘595’ that notched up numerous successes and great victories from 1963 and led to the coining of the description ‘small but deadly’.
The cars sports a full racing outfit: wide track, white 17’ special ultralight racing wheels, low ride, sports racing mirrors and a place for a number on the sides.
Available in pastel grey with red Abarth side stripes, the ‘500 Abarth Assetto Corse’ reveals an assertive front end that houses a badge bearing the Abarth logo and, below this, wide bumpers complete with an aerodynamic spoiler and screen-printed grilles to replace the plastic louvres on the standard production version. In addition to the classic bonnet clips, the bonnet houses two carbon air intakes bearing the Abarth scorpion logo.
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In order to make the Fiat 500 look even better, the well-known tuning company Novitec, specialised in Ferarri and Alfa Romeo cars, unveiled its new body kit for the small vehicle. Characterized by the front lip spoiler, 16 and 17 inch alloy wheels, rear roof spoiler and a double exhaust system, the small vehicle from the Italian manufacturer becomes car even more desirable.
Novitec also re-programmed the ECU of the engines and now the 1.3 JTD turbodiesel develops 83 hp, with 13 hp more than the standard, while the 1.4-liter petrol engine is now capable of developing 131 hp.
Press release after the jump!
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Big tuners also love small cars, not just V8 powered sports car with plenty of power. Hamann also love small cars and today unveiled their customization programme for the recently launched Fiat 500. The new programme includes 17” alloy wheels painted in black, a sport exhaust system that changes completely the sound of the engine but also a re-programming of the diesel ECU which improves the power from 75 to 90 hp and 230 Nm of torque.
For the exterior the Fiat 500 also received some stylish Hamann stickers while at the interior the aliminium pedal set which includes a footrest and a car mat set with an embroidered Hamann logo accentuate the sportivity of the car.
Press release after the jump!
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Fit is working on a hybrid version of the mini 500. It will be powered by a petrol-electric engine that offers incredible fuel economy and super-low CO2 emissions.
The engine will be based on the company’s forthcoming 900cc two-cylinder unit – which will debut at July’s Good-wood Festival of Speed in West Sussex. The engine is mated to a motor and a battery pack, and will allow small cars like the 500 to run solely on electricity for short distances. Add a stop-start system and VW DSG-style twin-clutch gearbox, and it promises reduced CO2 emissions – engineers estimate a figure of below 90g/km!
. The hybrid 500 is likely to benefit from other green technologies seen on the Aria, which include low-rolling-resistance tyres. The featherweight two-cylinder engine is 20 per cent lighter than a four-cylinder motor, so owners could expect 80mpg-plus fuel economy.
A few days ago we were reporting that the estate version of the Fiat 500 (the 500 Giardiniera) will debut in 2009 and will come to compete with Mini Clubman. And now, here are the first spy shots to prove that the car is really under production.
Under the hood there will be the standard 500’s engine range: an entry-level 69bhp 1.2-litre petrol unit, a more power-ful 100bhp 1.4-litre and a 75bhp 1.3-litre Multijet diesel. An Abarth version is also under production.
When Fiat launched the 500 on 4th of July 2007 they also announced another 2 version are on the work: a convertible version and an estate version. The second one, the estate version is set to be unveiled in 2009 at the Geneva Motor Show with sales to begin later after. It will come to compete with MINI Clubman.
The compact estate is inspired by the small load-lugger from the Sixties, and could even carry the same Giardiniera badge worn by that model. Fiat will keep development costs to a minimum by using the same front end and wheelbase as found on the hatch. However, a slightly longer rear overhang, a more upright tail and a pair of neat alloy roof rails will set the new model apart.
Under the hood there will be the standard 500’s engine range: an entry-level 69bhp 1.2-litre petrol unit, a more power-ful 100bhp 1.4-litre and a 75bhp 1.3-litre Multijet diesel. Fiat is also believed to be considering a hot Abarth version of the estate if there is sufficient demand.
The Austrian Tuner O.CT Tuning has worked it’s magic on the new Fiat 500 and turned the cute city car into a performance mini, without sacrificing the likeable appearance.
The results are impressive. Engine performance is enhanced by IPRO. O.CT Tuning first offers power enhancement via OBD, and can be brought in worldwide by the O.CT base partners. The Fiat 500 1,3 16V engine output is raised from 55 kW / 75 hp to 66 kW / 90 hp. Also welcome: the increase in torque from 145 Nm to 180 Nm.
After the upgrade, the 500 1.3 16V runs to 100 km/h in 12,9 seconds, three seconds faster than the standard version. Even more breathtaking: the difference to 150 km/h. The O.CT. Tuning Fiat 500 reaches this speed in 34 seconds – a whopping 20 seconds quicker than the 75 hp stock version. 20 % more power and 25 % more torque helps the O.CT 500 to win the race against the serial car with about 209 carlenghts. Top speed is also increased.
7,5 x 17 inch alloy wheels available in many colors, including black, paired with 205/40 tires, are adding spice to the Fiat’s roadhugging qualities.
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