The Fiat 500 is an iconic little car. It has always managed to combine a glamourous European charm with a diminutive size ideal for city streets and price tag equally as easy on the eye. The new hatchback reflects much of the original’s style but the convertible has always been the most seductive of the range.
Confirmation now reaches us that a cabriolet will soon b e added to the range. The Fiat 500 Convertible will retain its roof rails and door frames, with a roll-back canvas roof replacing the hard top – just like the Nuova 500 first built in 1957.
The same three powerplants: the 1.3 liter 75 HP Multijet Turbodiesel coupled to a 5-speed manual transmission and the two 1.2 liter 69 HP and 1.4 liter 100 HP gasoline engines, available with either manual or robotized Dualogic transmission.
The new 500C incorporates the innovative “Start&Stop” system, a device controlling momentary engine shutdown and subsequent reignition. To this end, at every stop when shifting to neutral and releasing the clutch, the engine is switched off and then restarted simply by selecting a gear.
The price tag is yet to be announced but we hope it will be suitably recession friendly. After all a budget price just adds to the charm of this little because it boasts all that sophistication without the vulgarity of a financial statement.
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