These are the first
official images of
Fiat’s cute 500, the
Italian rival to popular minicars such as the
MINI Cooper and
Nissan Micra. The
Fiat 500 was originally planned to hit the market in September but it’s now scheduled to be released on the 4th of July, and unlike the original “cinquecento” models of the 1950s, the
new 500 will be positioned as a premium model. Fiat will be offering customers multiple customization options to add to the car’s life-style appeal and up-market cachet.
Prices should start at close to the €10,000 mark, putting the
new Fiat 500 above the larger
five-door Panda in terms of price.
Fiat is expected to sell up to 58,000 units by the end of the year, with this figure likely to jump to around 120,000 cars per year thereafter.
Fiat will build the
500 in Tychy, Poland, alongside the upcoming second generation
Ford Ka, with which it shares its platform.
The
new Fiat 500 gets double projector headlights at each side, with a chrome ornament on the front bumper sporting the
new Fiat logo. The
Fiat 500 will only be offered in a three-door configuration and is limited to carrying four passengers. Power should come from a
two-cylinder motor displacing just
0.9L. Thanks to a turbocharger, output should be in excess of 110bhp, while a
high-performance 1.4L unit with 150hp is likely to debut in a
sporty Abarth version.
Rival manufacturers are rushing to release their own minicars including premium versions from the likes of
Volkswagen and
Audi as well as more
budget-based models from
GM and
Toyota. But none of these
new models will have the cult-status of the
new Fiat 500, its popularity garnered by the wholesome appeal of the original. It’s clear that
Fiat’s marketing strategy for this model is heavily influenced by
BMW’s revived
Mini Cooper and we’re sure the
new Fiat 500 will steal some of its limelight.
motorauthority.com
Official details and photos of new five-door 2008 Mini Clubman. The engine base 1.6L naturally-aspirated petrol four-cylinder mill, which develops 120hp and 160Nm of torque. This is followed by the new 1.6L common-rail diesel with 110hp and 240Nm of torque and the turbo 1.6L petrol engine in the range topping Clubman S. Mini's Clubman will be offered with a six-speed manual and an optional six-speed automatic.The final production Mini Clubman version should make a showing at September’s 2007 Frankfurt Auto Show.
