News April 26 2007

First official pictures of new Fiat 500

Fiat has released the first official pictures of the new Fiat 500, which will launch exactly 50 years after the original car in July, before arriving in Australia at the Sydney motor show in October prior to a local launch in early 2008.

On July 4, 1957, in Turin, Fiat presented the Nuova Fiat 500, a car which became one of the icons of the car industry, and with which Fiat concluded a revival that had begun straight after the Second World War. On July 4, 2007, exactly 50 years later, again in Turin, Fiat will present the new Fiat 500 which will go on sale in Europe immediately after the launch. The new car comes at an equally important cycle of revival and renewal for Fiat Automobiles SpA.

Developed by the Fiat Style Centre and manufactured in the Polish Tychy factory, the new 500 is a very compact 3-door model , measuring just 355 cm long, 165 cm wide, 149 cm tall with a wheelbase of 230 cm. The car will launch with three engines: a 75 bhp 1.3 16v Multijet turbo diesel unit and two petrol engines, the 69 bhp 1.2 8v and the 100 bhp 1.4 16v, all of which are available with five or six speed mechanical gearboxes.

Fiat are claiming the new model represents a substantial leap forward in terms of comfort and safety, technology and equipment for its segment, not to mention impeccable environmental credentials. We can’t wait to see it in the flesh!

© italiancar.net 26/4/07