Photo: CarPix
The cash-strapped Fiat brand has a number of important projects planned for 2015 and 2016, including the launch of three new compact models, the Bravo, Linea and MultiWagon. Money also needs to be dumped into the successor for the Punto, so the little 500, which is still very popular, is only getting minor cosmetic updates.
Our spies stationed in Sweden have just locked lenses with a cream-colored prototype at the beginning of its winter testing phase. Camouflage covers both the front and the rear sections of the car, which is where cosmetic tweaks will be made, probably in line with the design of the 500X crossover.
We expect the bumpers, headlights and fog lights to be changed. New wheel designs and more color combinations will give it a fresh look without too much money being invested.
The small Fiat is among the oldest models in its segment, but also the most successful. Between 2007 and now, over 1.5 million units have been sold worldwide, while its main rivals struggle to sell even 100,000 per year. Still, it's an old model and the platform will need strengthening in order to successfully cope with more severe crash tests carried out by Euro NCAP and the IIHS.
In 2007, Rihanna was on top of the Billboard charts with "Shut Up and Drive" and "Umbrella". She's still popular, but a lot has changed in the city car segment since then. Smart just launched a rear-wheel drive Forfour, the new Toyota Aygo looks like it's jumped out of the pages of a comic and Citroen's C1 is sexier than ever.
Still, there's nothing particularly wrong with the Fiat 500. The base model with a 1.2-liter engine weights only 865 kilograms (dry), so it's actually just as light as newer competitors, lighter in some cases. We think this prototype has been equipped with City Emergency Braking, so a suite of safety systems is on its way. Small improvements in fuel economy will also be made, but we don't foresee any brand new engines being introduced.
We expect the bumpers, headlights and fog lights to be changed. New wheel designs and more color combinations will give it a fresh look without too much money being invested.
The small Fiat is among the oldest models in its segment, but also the most successful. Between 2007 and now, over 1.5 million units have been sold worldwide, while its main rivals struggle to sell even 100,000 per year. Still, it's an old model and the platform will need strengthening in order to successfully cope with more severe crash tests carried out by Euro NCAP and the IIHS.
In 2007, Rihanna was on top of the Billboard charts with "Shut Up and Drive" and "Umbrella". She's still popular, but a lot has changed in the city car segment since then. Smart just launched a rear-wheel drive Forfour, the new Toyota Aygo looks like it's jumped out of the pages of a comic and Citroen's C1 is sexier than ever.
Still, there's nothing particularly wrong with the Fiat 500. The base model with a 1.2-liter engine weights only 865 kilograms (dry), so it's actually just as light as newer competitors, lighter in some cases. We think this prototype has been equipped with City Emergency Braking, so a suite of safety systems is on its way. Small improvements in fuel economy will also be made, but we don't foresee any brand new engines being introduced.
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