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Price |
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-- |
Production |
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Engine |
1.4
liter inline-4 |
Weight |
-- |
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Aspiration |
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Torque |
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HP |
100
hp |
HP/Weight |
-- |
|
HP/Liter |
71.4
hp per liter |
1/4 mile |
-- |
|
0-62 mph |
-- |
Top Speed |
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(from Fiat Press
Release) Fiat 500C: much more than a "window to the sky"
Unveiled to the world
for the first time at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show, the new Fiat 500C
pays homage to the original 1957 Fiat 500 and its fabric roof, but
also offers innovative solutions in terms of mechanical design,
engines and comfort. All this in line with the most authentic Fiat
tradition of giving people access to segment firsts in content and
technology.
In Italy, the public
will be able to take it for a test drive from July 4th, the birthday
of the Fiat 500 and exactly two years after the launch of the model
that really raised the bar in terms of comfort, safety, technology
and features.
Using a typical
open-source approach (i.e. continually evolving a successful product
on the basis of input from its users), the Centro Stile Fiat design
centre created the 500C by interacting with the many communities of
Cinquecento enthusiasts - notably the 500 Wants You website - and
reinforcing the position of the model as "a car for the people, by
the people"..
Starting from the saloon
version, the introduction of the soft top does not change the
winning characteristics of the model such as its four comfortable
seats and boot capacity, but it does add new functions that heighten
enjoyment. These include easier access to the boot even when the
soft top is fully open, thanks to a clever system of parallelogram
hinges.
Another strong point of
the original cabriolet version is its exceptional climate and
acoustic comfort. Thorough aerodynamic research means that the
turbulence experienced with the roof open has been reduced to a
minimum, allowing full enjoyment of the fresh air and the company of
fellow passengers.
The decision to re-interpret the original design in modern key, with
an electric sliding roof but a stylistic design that retains the
shape of the classic car makes the Fiat 500C less of a seasonal
product and one that can be enjoyed the whole year round. In short,
all these features make this new vehicle one of the most successful
convertibles in the modern city-car segment.
A true object of design,
the soft top of the Fiat 500C stands out for its elegant
electrically controlled movements and its impressively finished and
carefully selected technical features, from the glass rear window to
the third brake light built into the soft top itself. Available in
three colours (ivory, red and black), the clever soft top is matched
with various paint finishes including three ad-hoc creations: a
pearlescent Ragamuffin Red, a Tech House Grey so typical of sporty
super cars, and Goth-Metal Blue (the latter available for the whole
range).
The Fiat 500C has an
exclusive feel to its interior, which is embellished with top
quality and highly desirable fabrics, including Frau leather
upholstery, and a long list of market-dependent standard and
optional features: from automatic climate control to the innovative
Interscope HiFi System, from the Blue&Me Map portable navigation
unit to the smart wind-stop, and from the Start&Stop system to the
new collection of customisable options.
A free and emotive
expression of the automobile, the Fiat 500C retains the same
dimensions as the base model (355 cm long, 165 cm wide and 149 cm
high) and shares all three of its power units: the 75 HP 1.3-litre
MultiJet turbodiesel engine combined with a five-speed manual
gearbox and the two 69 HP 1.2 litre and 100 HP 1.4 litre petrol
engines, both available with manual or Dualogic robotised gearbox.
Each engine offers different qualities, but all three are defined by
generosity and a lively temperament, as well as high performance and
sophisticated technology. Among their common qualities are great
reliability and respect for the environment (all are
Euro5-approved). To confirm Fiat Automobiles' commitment to
environmental protection and sustainable mobility, the 500C includes
the innovative “Start&Stop” system, which controls the temporary
cutting out of the engine and its subsequent restarting. When the
vehicle stops, putting the gear lever in neutral and releasing the
clutch will switch off the engine; to restart, simply put the car
back into gear.
With the commercial
launch of its latest convertible, the Fiat 500 continues to be
talked about and confirms its status as a real Italian style icon,
able to win over the public and critics worldwide. The best evidence
of its success are the 30 awards it has won across the globe, the 11
million internet users that have visited its website (viewing a
total of 200 million pages) and the more than 360,000 orders so far
received across the 59 markets in which it is being sold.
This is all the more
impressive when you consider that more than half the sales have been
recorded outside Italy (50% elsewhere in Europe and 8% in the rest
of the world). In each country where it has been launched, the Fiat
500 has generated enormous interest: in Japan, for example, there
have been more than 5,000 orders. It should also be highlighted that
80% of Fiat 500 clients select the most expensive features and 90%
ask for the Blue& Me system.
In short, as an
expression of Italy's finest automotive design, the 500 is not
merely a super-compact city car, but a real platform upon which Fiat
Automobiles is building a whole family of cars with advanced
technology and high attention to detail. The new 500C represents
another step forward in this direction.
