The motoring and fashion world collide again to create another Fiat/Diesel collaboration. This time, Diesel got their creative hands on the Fiat 500C which makes its debut today in Japan. This cabriolet version received some of the same design aspects as the Fiat 500 such as the “midnight indigo” blue paint job, the 16” wheels, the denim –style upholstery, and the same Diesel Mohican emblems. It comes with 4 Euro 5 engine versions according to markets; a 1.2L producing 69hp, a 1.4L 16V producing 100hp, a 1.3L Multijet producing 75hp with DPF, and a 1.3 Multijet II producing 95hp. These engine choices come with a manual 5 or 6 speed gearbox. In addition to the “midnight indigo” blue, the Fiat 500C also comes in green with a black top and black with a black or red top.

This edition Fiat 500C expresses the concept of “massexclusivity” that has led to Fiat’s success with the “500 Project” which allows Fiat to “continuously evolve with the addition of new versions”. That success became clear when the 500,000th unit was produced in the 31st month after its launch. The Fiat 500C will make its European debut on April 15, 2010 at the Milan Furniture Fair and will be marketed worldwide in May. The starting price is 18,000 Euros.

Hit the jump for the press release.

Press Release

Fiat 500C by Diesel, the new cabriolet version of the model jointly created in 2008 by Fiat and Diesel, the famous clothing and lifestyle brand, will debut in Japan on 12 April. The Fiat Café in Aoyama (Tokyo) – an exclusive location, which has become a byword for sociability and Italian style – has been chosen for the prestigious event, which will be attended by representatives of the establishment, the world of culture and the press, in addition to Diesel founder Renzo Rosso and the top managers of Fiat Group Automobiles Japan. The car will then make its European debut on 15 April at the Milan Furniture Fair in front of the splendid Diesel flagship store in the renowned Piazza S. Babila.

The Fiat 500C by Diesel will be marketed worldwide - in Italy from May, with an on-road price starting from 18,000 euros. Nearly 6,500 units of the already available limited-edition saloon version have already been sold. The new cabriolet "by Diesel" confirms the extraordinary capacity of the "500 Project" to continuously evolve with the addition of new versions. This is precisely one of the secrets of the undisputed success of the Fiat 500, a genuine pop icon and expression of the concept of "massexclusivity" ("non-exclusive exclusiveness"), which a few days ago reached the target of 500,000 units produced in only 31 months after having been launched.

In detail, the 500 by Diesel is distinguished by some bold aesthetic features, starting with the exterior. Everything is exclusive for this version, the result of the creativity of two teams of designers: the aggressive 16" alloy wheels, the rear trim with imitation air intake where one of the most famous logos of Italian fashion is set, the yellow brake calipers (only on the 1.4 100 HP version) and the satin finish chrome painted details, including the mouldings which with their bosses evoke the atmosphere of the Diesel fashion world. The interiors are also highly customised, sporting a dark denim style fabric with yellow stitching, a fifth pocket with the unmistakable Diesel brand, the head of the famous "Mohican" on the gear lever knob and the special satin chrome coloured dashboard.

Just like the saloon, theFiat 500C by Diesel also combines two apparently distant worlds: fashion and motoring. In fact, they have some important concepts in common, such as talent, creativity, charm and innovation, the winning ingredients of Italian style, which is famous worldwide.

Finally, according to markets, the Fiat 500C by Diesel range comes with four Euro 5 engine versions (1.2 69 HP, 1.4 16v 100 HP, 1.3 Multijet 75 HP with DPF and 1.3 Multijet II 95 HP); manual 5 or 6 speed gearboxes (petrol engines can be fitted with a Dualogic 5 speed robotised gearbox); and three body and top colour combinations: the distinctive green with black top, the elegant black with black or red top and the original "Midnight indigo" blue with ivory top. The latest two innovations of the Fiat 500 by Diesel stand out: a second-generation 1.3 Multijet II 95 HP (Euro5) turbo diesel with Start&Stop system as standard, with emissions of just 104 g/km of CO2 and "Midnight indigo" blue, an intriguing metal-flake body colour which - with a finer paint texture and almost 3D effect - is reminiscent of the look of stone-washed fabrics.