500

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Here comes the 500
A legend is back – but with a new twist! Here’s our verdict on the most important small car since the MINI
By Dan Strong

04th July 2007
Fiat 500


On the road, the Panda-derived chassis delivers precise handling and an impressively refined ride for a car that’s so short
Is Fiat’s stunning new 500 the best small car of the millennium? You had better read on if you want to find out!

Auto Express was first behind the wheel of the newcomer – and our early access means we can bring you a comprehensive verdict on every model in the range ahead of our rivals.

But before we start, it’s important to get the 500’s arrival into perspective. New model launches don’t come much bigger than this – 7,000 invited guests will be present at this week’s debut for the car, and every one is fighting to get a chance to drive the machine that’s described as the most important Italian vehicle ever introduced. This is symbolic not only of Fiat’s pedigree as a master builder of small cars, but also of the industrial giant’s miraculous financial recovery.

The launch has been timed to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the introduction of the first 500, so emotion is running high – but what should UK drivers look forward to when the Fiat hits forecourts early next year?

With a three-strong engine line-up – all of which comply with strict Euro V emissions regulations – and more than half-a-million possible trim com*binations, potential buyers will certainly have no shortage of choice.

But for many, a big part of the Fiat’s appeal lies in its sensational styling. Not since the launch of the MINI has a car managed to capture the magic of an original so successfully. Cute yet purposeful, the bubble-shaped body is given real road presence by the wheel-at-each-corner stance. The 500 measures 3,546mm in length, and has a wheelbase of 2,300mm, while the 1,414mm track provides a squat look which also hints at nimble handling.

Chrome detailing adds an air of quality, and even the entry-level Pop models are well finished. Lounge and Sport trims add drama, with pearlescent paint and panoramic sunroofs (see our spec panel, opposite).

Inside, the first-class safety package includes seven airbags. Front seats are comfortable, and while the rear is a bit cramped, children will easily fit in. Boot space is limited, but more than large enough for the weekly shop.

A split-fold rear seat arrangement means the versatile load area can expand to offer up to 500 litres of luggage space. We tried a base 1.2-litre Pop version first. Its new 1,242cc engine delivers 69bhp, returns 55mpg economy and emits 119g/km of CO2. The 0-60mph sprint takes 12.9 seconds, while top speed is 100mph.
Don’t let that fool you into thinking the 500 feels somehow slug*gish or unresponsive. Admittedly, the eight-valve powerplant can be a bit breath*less at high revs, but further down the range, the Fiat is a much more rewarding car to drive.

The unit is mated to a five-speed gearbox, and performance is strongest in the lower gears. From a standstill, the model is surprisingly potent, sprinting purposefully from 0-40mph. Gearchanges are slick, and the clutch feels light. Excellent forward visibility enhances the car’s city credentials, as do light steering and a tight turning circle. Comparatively small windows at the rear mean vision isn’t brilliant, but it’s still good for the class.

On the road, the Panda-derived chassis delivers precise handling and an impressively refined ride for a car that’s so short. Steering is accurate, and although it feels a little numb, it does prove responsive.

Through corners, the chassis provides masses of grip, helped by the 175/65-section tyres. Driven fast, the 500 turns in to bends sharply and will change direction readily.

Lifting off the throttle mid-corner merely tightens the line, rather than unsettling the rear. The brakes offer consistent stopping power, with discs at the front and drums at the back, and the car gets traction control as standard. Long distance cruising is cer-
tainly possible, although the 1.2-litre engine may not be the best partner.

In fact, if you are buying a 500 for use as a regular commuter vehicle, the 100bhp 1.4-litre petrol or ultra-frugal 1.3-litre Multijet will be better bets.

We tried both, with the 1.4-litre in Sport trim and the oil-burner in more upmarket Lounge specification. With a more sporting exhaust note, a six-speed gearbox and a special dash-mounted sport button, the 1.4 version offers meatier steering than the 1.2, and feels more responsive.

The spacing of the gear ratios is virtually identical, however, with sixth only a little longer than fifth in the base 500. The taller ratio means more relaxed cruising, but its bulky mechan*icals reduce steering lock and increase the car’s turning circle.

Nevertheless, the driving experience remains undiminished, and the wider 185/55-section tyres help sharpen the steering and improve the handling.

The 0-60mph time is shorter than in the smaller-capacity model – the 1.4 completes the sprint in 10.5 seconds – while top speed is 114mph. To make the most of the extra pace, this variant gets bigger, ventilated disc brakes all-round, and the traction control system is backed up by stability control.

But the extra power hasn’t ruined the car’s green credentials – the flagship returns 44.8mpg economy, while CO2 emissions are 149g/km.

However, if fuel efficiency is top of your list of priorities, look no further than the oil-burning 1.3 Multijet. We tried a top-spec Lounge version. It offers 67.3mpg on the combined cycle and open road returns of up to 90mpg, along with CO2 emissions of 111g/km.
Yet the diesel combines this great economy with stronger performance than the entry-level 500. It delivers 75bhp and 145Nm of torque through a five-speed transmission, and sprints from 0-60mph in only 12.5 seconds.

Whether it’s being driven around town or on faster A-roads, the engine is responsive. At idle, it could be more refined, but on the move, it’s muted.

As with the two petrol cars, handling is genuinely rewarding, and the 500 appears unaffected by the extra bulk of the diesel engine. Only the brakes feel a little hard pressed by this model’s performance and the weight added by its more generous standard equipment tally; they lose some of their bite when used hard.

But this is a minor criticism, and there’s no doubt that, after 50 years, the 500 is back with a vengeance. Is there a better small car on sale? After our test drive, we seriously doubt it.

First opinion
All three 500s offer appeal in subtly different areas. But which one would we put our money on? While the 500 will cost more than the Panda, Fiat has yet to announce prices for the newcomer, so it’s difficult to make a definitive call. However, the charms of the entry-level 1.2-litre model are perhaps the hardest to ignore. Fun to drive, economical and perhaps the most efficiently equipped, it’s a car that looks set to put the fun back into driving in the city. Discuss here

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/au.../fiat_500.html

[Alitalia Fan]

ODDIO MA È UNO SPETTACOLO!!!!

Splendida la manifestazuione sul Po

[Airbus]

per chi dice chegià 10 mila sono troppi per un'auto moderna



ma l'avete mai visto un listino????

meno di quella cifra non c'è niente.... non pensate alle pubblicità che dice "da 8 mila euro" lì sono inclusi incentivi rottamazione etc...e sono versioni base senza su niente...... una panda costa minimo 13 mila se accessoriata decentemente (e mi fa pure schifo come macchina)


la 500 per forza sarà sui 12 (come del resto aygo e C1) magari con qualche personalizzazione anche di più, cmq sempre meno della mini che è una vera ladrata, considerando che i diesel che ha montato hanno sempre fatto schifo (anche l'ultimo il 1600 da 110 cv troppo sottodimensionato...ci voelva almeno un 130-140 cv)


cmq non vedo l'ora di vederle le 500

[italicoroma]

Si parla di gas serra di idrogeno fonti rinnavabili e di tecnologia e la Fiat (che per anni ha mangiato nei nostri piatti gratis) lancia questa nuova macchina chiamandola 500 .
Ricordo che la vecchia 500 aveva il seguente motore nel lontanto luglio del 1957

Posteriore a sbalzo, 2 cilindri verticali in linea, 4 tempi, ciclo Otto
Cilindrata 479 cc
Rapporto di compressione 6,55:1
Potenza massima 13,5 CV a 4000 rpm
Distribuzione ad aste e bilanceri con albero a camme nel basamento comandato a catena, valvole in testa
Accensione comandata con bobina e spinterogeno a spazzola rotante e puntine platinate
Alimentazione a benzina normale con carburatore invertito Weber 26IMB
Lubrificazione forzata con pompa a ingranaggi, filtro dell'olio centrifugo
Raffreddamento ad aria forzata con ventilatore, valvola termostatica
Impianto elettrico a 12V, dinamo per la ricarica della batteria, batteria da 12V 32Ah

La nuova non mi sembra tutta questa evoluzione tecnologica... siamo nel 2007 e in 50 anni la fiat non ha compreso pienamente i nuovi valori tecnologici che la gente si aspetta.
Alcuni esempi, brucia benzina , inquina (poco ma non è a 0 emissioni)

Motore 1.2 8v Fire 1.4 16v Fire 1.3 16v Multijet
N. cilindri, disposizione 4, in linea, 4, in linea, 4, in linea,
Cilindrata (cm3) 1242 1368 1248
Rapporto di compressione 11,1 : 1 10,8 : 1 17,6 : 1
Potenza max CEE CV (kW) 69 (51) 100 (73,5) 75 (55)
a giri/min 5500 6000 4000

punterie meccaniche punterie idrauliche bilanciere a dito

N. valvole/cilindro 2 4 4




costa tanto e da poco

leggo dall'Ansa
"Obiettivo vendite a 120 mila unità all'anno e prezzi in Italia variabili tra i 10.500 e i 14.500 euro: sono i numeri che caratterizzano il lancio della nuova Fiat 500 presentata a Torino alla stampa mondiale. Lo ha detto Luca De Meo, ad di Fiat Automobiles. "In alcuni Paesi - ha precisato - costerà anche 9.500 euro con diverse configurazione, ma non arriveranno in Italia"."

trovo su http://www.infomotori.com/a_872_IT_20054_1.html il seguente sondaggio

Ecco il 'prezzo giusto' della nuova Fiat 500, secondo i lettori di Infomotori.com

8.500 42%

9.000 20%

9.500 9%

9.900 9%

10.200 7%

10.600 3%

Oltre 11.000 7% Partecipanti: 1718

E' chiaro ed evidente che il prezzo di 10.500 /14.500 dato da Fiat delude le attese di molti.
Un peccato...

Forse per guardare il cartellino del prezzo in un concessionario fiat ci offriranno un prezioso paio di occhiali in carbonio

vedremo...