Originally introduced in 1957, the Fiat 500 remained in production for nearly 20 years, during which it became one of the most iconic vehicles in history. The nameplate was revived in 2007 as a competitor for the modern Volkswagen Beetle and Mini Cooper and was received with great enthusiasm. However, Fiat didn't do much to upgrade it over the last 11 years, with only two minor facelifts launched as of 2018. The latest update was unveiled at the 2018 Chicago Auto Show, where Fiat also brought the turbocharged 1.4-liter engine back to the U.S. in a non-Abarth model. Two months later and the Italian brand launched a new special edition model called the Urbana Edition.

It's become quite common for automakers to add special edition models when their facelifts aren't very consistent, and this is exactly what the Urbana Edition is all about. With add-ons that include black trim, new wheels, and a limited color palette, the Urbana Edition was designed to keep things interesting for a vehicle that's getting a bit long in the tooth. The 500 is not alone in this though, as both the 500L and 500X received identical packages. The 500 Urbana Edition will become available this spring.

Continue reading to learn more about the Fiat 500 Urbana Edition.

What makes the Fiat 500 Urbana Edition special

The Urbana package doesn't do much to alter the 500's exterior, but extra features give it a slightly sportier stance. This new look comes from the black trim of the headlamps and fog lamps, which work well with just about any color and not just the white hue of the presentation model. Fiat also added new wheels, which are made from aluminum and finished some sort of dark chrome that the Italians call "hyper-black." The rims measure 16 inches and have black hubcaps with the "500" logo and a red ring for contrast.

Other than that, the Urbana Edition is pretty much a standard 500, so it benefits from the upgrades that Fiat introduced in 2018. Up front, highlights include a revised bumper with new air intakes, new fog lamps, and Abarth-inspired cues. Fiat also added revised side sills and gave the rear end a more aggressive stance by way of a bigger spoiler and a diffuser-like element. There's also a larger exhaust pipe and a "turbo" badge on the tailgate.

The Urbana Edition is limited to five exterior colors: Pompei Silver, Bianco White Ice, Perla White Tri-coat, Granito Gray, and Metallo Gray.

Inside the cabin, the Urbana package is all about black accents. The sporty bucket seats are wrapped in black Sport Cloth with silver accent stitching, while the dashboard sports black bezels and trim. These features join the only new feature that the cabin received in 2018 in the form of a Parkview rear backup camera.

The drivetrain remains unchanged for this model, so it comes with the same turbocharged, 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine rated at 135 horsepower and 150 pound-feet of torque. The mill mates to either a five-speed manual or a six-speed automatic transmission.

References

Read our full review on the 2018 Fiat 500.

Read our full review on the 2018 Fiat 500L.

Read our full review on the 2018 Fiat 500X.

Read more Fiat news.

Read more New York Auto Show news.