Fiat 500 (2007)
The Fiat 500 is an A-segment city car manufactured and marketed by the Italian car maker Fiat, a subdivision of Stellantis, since 2007. It is available in hatchback coupé and fixed-profile convertible body styles, over a single generation, with an intermediate facelift in Europe in the 2016 model year. Developed during FIAT's tenure as a subdivision of FCA, the 500 was internally designated as the Type 312.
Derived from the 2004 Fiat Trepiùno 3+1 concept, the 500's styling recalls Fiat's 1957 Fiat 500, nicknamed the Bambino, designed and engineered by Dante Giacosa, with more than 4 million sold over its 18-year production span. In 2011, Roberto Giolito of Centro Stile Fiat received the Compasso d'Oro industrial design award for the Fiat 500.
Manufactured in Tychy, Poland, and Toluca, Mexico, the 500 is marketed in more than 100 countries worldwide, including North America, where the 500 marked Fiat's market return after 27 years. The millionth Fiat 500 was produced in 2012 and the two-millionth in 2017, after 10 years. The 2.5-millionth Fiat 500 was produced in the Tychy, Poland plant, in March 2021. The 500 has won more than 40 major awards, including "Car of the Year" by the British magazine Car, the 2008 European Car of the Year, and the "World's Most Beautiful Automobile".
Design and development
Since 1998, Fiat's entry-level model in Europe had been the Polish-built Seicento, itself an updated version of the 1991 Cinquecento. These models had only ever been sold with three doors, although Fiat had responded to the growing demand for five-door city cars in 2003 by launching the Panda, which replaced a three-door model of the same name which had slotted into Fiat's European range between the Cinquecento/Seicento and the larger Punto. Around the time of the Panda's launch, Fiat set about developing a three-door city car to replace the Cinquecento. Driven by the tremendous success of the Smart Fortwo, especially in Italy, Fiat began examining a variety of small car concepts "to regain its small-car crown," — developing an "intense interest at producing a Smart competitor" — and concluding that "most customers want more than just the Smart's two seats."The 2004 Fiat Trepiùno concept, from which the 500 derives, was introduced at the 74th Geneva Motorshow —designed at Centro Stile Fiat by Roberto Giolito in a style strongly reminiscent of the original Fiat 5001957. The name "Trepiùno" is a contraction of the Italian words tre più uno, or "three plus one" in English; as the design accommodates three adults and one child
—this by reducing spatial form factors in front of the front passenger, sliding the front passenger forward, and positioning the third adult directly behind the passenger, allowing a fourth, smaller, occasional passenger to sit behind the driver.
The concept design was translated into the 2007 production model under the direction of Frank Stephenson. According to Stephenson, aerodynamic concerns were paramount with the new 500, saying his team preferred the look without the spoiler as on the original Nuova 500. Nonetheless, the small rear spoiler at the top of the rear hatch provides a CD of 0.32 — where without the spoiler the drag coefficient would have been 0.40.
The 500 uses a widened variant of the Fiat Mini platform. The 500 features Dante Giacosa's 1964 breakthrough front-wheel drive layout — which ultimately became an industry standard, the layout "adopted by virtually every other manufacturer in the world" for front-wheel drive automobiles. Announced on May 5, 2006, photographs of the 500 were presented on March 20, 2007, officially debuting on July 4, 2007, with 250,000 people in attendance and with new models prominently displayed in 30 Italian cities.
The 500 uses Fiat's Multiair hydraulically actuated variable valve timing engine technology, winner of the 2010 International Engine of the Year, as well as Popular Sciences "Best of What's New".
2016 facelift
For the 2016 model year, the Fiat 500 and Fiat 500C received a facelift including redesigned grille and reshaped headlights incorporating daytime running lights with LED technology; revised 15" and 16" alloy wheels; new paint colors, rear bumper chrome strip with fog lights and rear taillights featured integrated LEDs. Interiors have revised controls and a redesigned steering wheel. Available trims are Pop, Pop Star, Lounge and S. Three engines are available in Europe: 1.2 petrol, 0.9 Twin Air petrol in either 85 or 105 hp setup, all Euro 6 emission compliant.The facelifted 500 were introduced with strong product placement tie-ins with Charlie Puth's debut single, "Marvin Gaye" — in both the song's video as well as prominent print advertising.
For 2020 Fiat includes a Mild Hybrid version accompanied by a 1.0 three-cylinder engine with a combined power of 70 hp. All models now have a 7-inch screen along with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, a version called RED was released, with the proceeds going towards ending AIDS and COVID-19.
Pre-facelift styling
Post-facelift styling
Models
In addition to the distinct 500C, Abarth, and 500e models, the 500 is marketed variously around the globe with other trim levels — for example, the Sport and Turbo trim levels in the United States, and the Pop Star trim levels in Europe.500C (since 2009)
The fixed-profile convertible variant of the 500 debuted at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2009 designated the 500C, historically recalling the fixed-profile convertible of the original 1957 Fiat 500, as well as similar fixed-profile convertible such as the Vespa 400, Citroën DS 3, Nissan Figaro, Citroën 2CV and the Nash Rambler Convertible "Landau" Coupe.The 500C features fully stamped body-side panels retaining the hatchback 500's profile to increase structural rigidity, reduce scuttle shake, and retain side and curtain airbags, in exchange for a less open experience than a fully pillarless convertible. Weighing more than its hatchback counterpart, the 500C features a slightly longer windshield than the hatchback, with a concealed and reinforced upper structural cross-member, a stronger front cross-member behind the instrument panel, a rear strut on which the retracted roof folds, reinforced B-pillars, and the rear anti-roll bar setup from the Abarth, high-performance model.
The top itself is a dual-layer, three-position power-retractable cloth top with a glass rear window, electric defroster and an integrated color-matched spoiler with a center high-mounted stop lamp that remains visible with the top in any position. The top retracts in three stages: over the two front passengers, overall four passengers, and fully retracted with its stack folded behind the rear head restraints just above the rear cargo opening. The top is controlled either via the key remote or by open/close buttons at the windshield header adjacent to the interior ceiling light and retracts to the first two stages at speeds up to, to its third stage at up to — and is available in black, tan, or red.
With its 50/50 split-fold rear seats in their upright position, the 500C rear cargo capacity is reduced from to compared to the hatchback, which offers of cargo volume with the 50/50 split-fold rear seats folded. At its rear trunk lid, the 500C features "parallelogram" liftgate hinges. When the rear cargo lid is opened while the top is fully lowered, the top automatically closes partially for greater cargo access. Because of limited rear visibility, 500C models are equipped with an ultrasonic rear park assist system to audibly indicate obstacles when backing.
Abarth 500 (since 2008)
The Abarth 500 is a performance model of the Fiat 500 tuned in-house by FCA's Abarth subsidiary. It was unveiled at the 78th Geneva Motor Show, a year after the rebirth of Abarth brand and company. All models use a turbocharged and intercooled version of the 1.4 L Fire I4 petrol engine.The Abarth 500's 1.4 L engine is equipped with an IHI RHF3-P turbocharger, and is rated at at 5,500 rpm and torque at 3,000 rpm. It includes a five-speed C510 transmission, low ride suspension, electric power steering with sport setting, 6.5 x 16" aluminium alloy rim with 195/45 R16 tyres and four-wheel disc brakes. Interior includes turbo pressure gauge, gear shift indicator, aluminum foot pedals, Blue&Me entertainment system with telemetry and GPS. The car costs £13,600 in the UK. A 5-speed automated manual transmission is available as an alternative to the manual transmission.
Later, in 2016, the facelift version was released, introducing several different variants of the 595, ranging from 140 PS to 180 PS. The lineup was composed by :
- Basic 595
- Turismo
- Pista
- Competizione
- Esseesse
The Abarth version of the 500C was unveiled at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show. Abarth 500C has a top speed of, and it can accelerate from in 8.1 seconds.
Abarth 595
In 2012 the Abarth range was enlarged with the addition of the Abarth 595. Four versions are available, both with either manual or MTA transmission and in hatchback or cabriolet body style: Custom, Turismo, Competizione, Kit Elaborazione.The Abarth 595 Custom is the launch version with 135 hp.
The Abarth 595 Turismo features standard leather upholstery, upgraded dampers, and climate control, Xenon headlights, and Alutex interior details. The sportier Abarth 595 Competizione replaces leather seats with Sabelt cloth sport seats and Alutex with aluminum while adding cross-drilled brakes and the Record Monza dual-mode exhaust.
The Kit Abarth Elaborazione 595 is a powerful kit for the Custom version, with 160 hp engine, BMC Air sport filter, Koni FSD suspensions, Brembo HP1000/1 forward pads, Eibach low springs and new badge 595.