2010 Fiat Topolino Preview

Topolino (the Italian translation for Mickey Mouse - "Little Mouse") was the world’s smallest car when it was launched back in 1937. For almost twenty years, the little car helped Fiat weather some stormy times. And now that all good automotive designs must come back, just like the 500, the Topolino is reborn. Spy photographer already caught it on testing, and now here’s a TopSpeed rendering of the car.

The little Topolino will be placed bellow the current 500 with whom it will share the platform, but shortened to 3150mm in length (35 cm shorter than its brother 500). If this is true, this may contradict rumors about the car sharing a platform with a revival of the BMW Isetta. Unlike the original, the Topolino will will seat four people. This is scheduled for production in 2010 when will compete with models like Toyota IQ, and future Volkswagen Up!

The Topolino will be powered by Fiat’s forthcoming 900cc two-cylinder gas engine, which will first debut in the 500 later this year. For the Topolino Fiat will offer a normally aspirated unit that will deliver 65 hp. This is mated to a Volkswagen DSG-style twin-clutch gearbox, while the car is also equipped with a stop-start sys­tem, which can switch off the engine when it’s not needed in traffic. As a result, the Topolino should return fuel economy of more than 80mpg and emit less than 90g/km of CO2.

Topolino will be built in the former Zastava plant in Serbia. U.S. consumers know Zastava as the company that made the Yugo in the late 80s and early 90s.