World Cars Motor Show

So cute you could give it a hug, it??™s no wonder so many people have embraced the Fiat 500 and made the little Italian hatchback a huge sales success??”only a couple years after many wondered if then-struggling Fiat would even be around long enough to attend another Geneva auto show.

Riding a wave of recent success, Fiat is bringing two new versions of the 500 to this year??™s show. The sport-themed version represents the next step in the Italian manufacturer??™s resurrection of its legendary Abarth performance brand. Last year??™s Grande Punto Abarth became the first modern Fiat to dust off the long-dormant badge.

The 500 Abarth goes on sale in July with a 135-hp, 1.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine under its stumpy hood. In normal mode, peak torque is set at 132 pound-feet at 2500 rpm. But with the push of a dash-mounted button, the engine switches to sport mode and torque climbs to 152 pound-feet at 3000 rpm. A torque transfer control system promises improved traction and sharper handling.

A lowered suspension, bigger wheels, and aggressive front and rear bumpers prove this is not your average cutesy Fiat 500. And if the options list of the regular 500 is anything to go by, we expect that Abarth customers will be able to choose from a raft of special trim, decals, and paint jobs.
Aria: The Gentler Version

Alongside the rip-snorting Abarth version, the Fiat 500 Aria concept looks a little tame. Forget boy-racer racing stripes and snarling engines. The 500 Aria is fitted with a Euro5-emissions-compliant 1.3-liter Multijet four-cylinder diesel engine. Paired with Fiat??™s Dualogic transmission and stop-and-start system, which turns off the engine to save gas when the car is stopped, the Aria??™s fuel consumption is said to be 10 percent better than that of the standard 500.

Considering that the 500 Abarth reuses an old performance nameplate, it makes sense that the interior of the Aria concept also employs plenty of recycled material??”albeit of the rubber and plastic variety. Even the seats have a green theme and are covered in a material made of recycled leather. Rounding out the Aria??™s ecofriendly credentials are auxiliary systems that use less power, lightweight components, and low-drag tires.

For now the Aria is only a concept. However, we wouldn’t be surprised if many of its fuel-saving features started appearing on the regular 500.

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Driving
Fiat’s reborn 500 is a great city car. The turning circle is tight, steering can be lightened via the City button, all-round visibility is good and dimensions are compact. But it isn??™t so eager at higher speeds. The motorway ride isn’t perfect, and can be patchy on urban roads too. As a result, the 500 can be tiring to drive over long distances. If you are after the perfect hot hatch handling you will be disappointed, too. It’s a decent drive, but the Fiat falls behind its MINI rival on twisty roads. The 1.2-litre petrol engine is sweeter than the 1.4-litre, but not nearly as smooth, refined or flexible as a MINI??™s 1.4-litre. The 1.3-litre diesel is torquey, if clattery. All this, however, fails to detract from the feelgood factor of being behind the wheel of such a cute city slicker.

Marketplace
What??™s not to love with the 500? It??™s so cute, it makes a MINI look bulky. The design is a triumph, with chrome detailing striking the perfect balance between retro charm and modern chic. Based on the Panda, safety is the key and the 500 is unique in this class in having seven airbags as standard. This helps it to achieve a five-star Euro NCAP crash test score. There are three base engines ??“ 1.2, 1.4 and 1.3 diesel ??“ and three trims, labelled Pop, Lounge and Sport. But the array of options is huge, including 12 paint colours, seven alloy wheels designs, two wheel trims, eight sticker kits, 10 different badges??¦ Fiat counts nearly 550,000 combinations in all! The Fiat??™s most obvious rival is the MINI, but the Toyota Aygo, Peugeot 107, Citroen C1 and Ford Ka are also competitors.

Owning
While the Panda is far more spacious, the 500 is still practical. The 185-litre boot is fairly practical and there??™s lots of floor space, while the rear seat is fair, too. Up front, good seats are welcome, albeit set a little high, but it??™s the dash that grabs your attention ??“ the 500 has retro design features throughout. There??™s a lustrous finish to the body-coloured fascia, which gives a solid, classy appearance. It all has real charm and character, so we??™re prepared to forgive a few weaknesses ??“ such as the steering wheel??™s lack of reach adjustment, and a lack of material quality that dents the 500??™s well-engineered feel. But it??™s Fiat’s dealer network that is one of the 500’s biggest challenges. Our maintenance checks proved the situation is currently confused, with huge disparities in quotes for routine maintenance jobs. At least fuel economy, on paper, looks strong. Retained values aren??™t bad either ??“ if not as quite as good as a MINI.

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