http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JgeAEpy6hRw

Fiat 500
The new Fiat 500 has been launched today, exactly 50 years after the launch of the first edition of Dante Giacosa's 1957 Cinquecento, which was produced until 1975 and became an icon of Italian motoring. The original 500 was marketed as a cheap and practical town car to combat high levels of congestion in Italian cities. Measuring only 2.97 m (9 ft 9 in) long, and originally powered by a tiny 479 cc two-cylinder, air-cooled engine, the 500 redefined the term 'small car' and is considered one of the first city cars.

The new Fiat 500 has a retro-look like the Volkswagen New Beetle and New Mini, but Fiat says it's goal has not been to design a car that 'looks like' a 500, but one that 'could be' the 500 again. The new 500 was previewed by the Trepiuno concept shown at the 2004 Geneva Motor Show.

The new 500 has a 5-star EuroNCAP impact rating, meets the Euro5 emissions standard, has 4 specification levels, 3 engines at the launch, and 12 colours, including 6 vintage colours 'that will bring the 1950s and 1960s to mind'.

Engines:
A 69hp 1.2-liter 8-valve four, a 100hp 1.4-liter 16-valve four, or a 75hp 1.3-liter 16-valve Multijet turbodiesel will be available and can be mated to a choice of five- or six-speed transmissions. That's before any performance-oriented Abarth versions enter the mix. The tiny car measures just 355 cm long, 165 cm wide and 149 cm tall, riding on a 230 cm wheelbase.

 

will this come to US?

 

Ahhhhh la fiat 500 dei vecchi tempi

 

Nah it won't, SonLuan.
Fiat doesn't sell cars here in the US, unfortunatly.

Sucks don't it? Be fun to have one of these 500s.

 

I'd be first in line to put a depo down on the diesel 500...

When will the US get on the tiny-car bandwagon?

 

meh as long as the distances will be so vast and the hummers/SUVs will be here and the parking spots will be huge...not any time soon!

even though you guys are picking up nicely with the scions

 

I've seen them on the delivery trucks in Italy and I must say the 500 is one very nice car. Just sucked that none of the dealers had a car to try out as the little car is on backorder. As far as them selling in the US, right now Alfa Romeo is planning on returning in 2009 and then Fiat will be sold in Alfa dealers by 2010. I don't think I can wait that long, lol, I think I'll just import one.

 

good to see u like italian cars

 

i'd rock the 100hp one

 

Don't 4get the turbocharged 150hp Abarth Edition http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3rAX0J1UOg

O how I love u Fiat 500

 

Wow, I'd love to get one of the diesel ones for my commute. The interior of that car looks amazing!

Damn I wish the automakers here would start concentrating on high quality, well styled and efficient small vehicles. Why does everything have to cater to vanilla loving tasteless blobs of lard? I'd be happy to pay more for a small car if they actually fitted and equipped it like the Fiat (and if it didn't look like boiled ___).

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipq7u...elated&search=

 

I agree the interior looks amazing, I love it. It easily blows away the new mini's interior. I love how it follows the original 500s simplicity but is still modern. The mini's in comparison is overblown, busy and silly looking.

 

I'm pretty certain that Fiat could make a really god go of it with just the 500 in its lineup. I see tons of Minis here where I live and while those seem really nice the 500 really grabs me.

 

I used to have a fiat 126 in my family, that car was awesome! Look it up, coolest car ever made

 

My father had a 128. It may not have been the most reliable car but he had a blast driving it. Like most manufacturers though, Fiat's quality today is not the same as their quality from years past.