Fiat has announced its return to the North American market at the Los Angeles international Auto Show. Leading this return is the new Fiat 500, the quintessentially Italian heir to a model that became legendary as a veritable motoring icon.
“The Fiat 500 has always been the right car at the right time,” says Laura Soave, manager of the Fiat brand in North America. “With the new Fiat 500, a truly exclusive car in one of the most rapidly growing segments in North America is being introduced. It offers prestigious Italian design, value and efficiency, all smartly calibrated for our market.
“The Fiat 500 satisfies the new generations of Americans who want a captivating, customised, ecologically sustainable and technologically advanced vehicle that reflects their image. Like its historic predecessor, the new Fiat 500 redefines the concept of transportation and gives a new sense to expression and individual opportunities.
“At a time when America is returning to simplicity with renewed attention focused on the environment, our new car identifies with the current minimalist bent and offers an advanced and eco-sustainable technology enveloped by an aura of top quality, precision and style.”
Produced in Mexico and with a starting price of $15,500 (£9,750), this alluring segment A four seater ensures a driving experience and sensations that are unparalleled owing to its ideal size for the city, thrilling driving dynamics, brand-new 1.4 litre MultiAir engine, innovative Blue&Me hands-free communication system and seven airbags supplied as standard (two in front, two window-bags, two side bags and one for protecting the knees), not to mention the reactive head restraints that activate in case of shunting accidents. This package is further perfected with high quality characteristics calibrated for the U.S. market, including a brand-new six-speed automatic transmission.
Comprehensive adaptation for the North American market
Comprehensively adapted for the roads of North America, the Fiat 500 boasts contemporary design, excellent finish, and ideal proportions for moving about town. Specifically, some of the major adaptations for the USA are:
- body structure redesigned to increase crash resistance;
- suspension modified for the USA market to simultaneously maintain the Fiat 500′s agility and ensure that its passenger compartment is comfortable and quiet during long journeys;
- more than 20 specific modifications/additions to the body components to reduce noise, vibrations and harshness (NVH);
- new anti-lock braking system (ABS) with front brake callipers redesigned for optimum performance;
- fuel tank increased to 10.5 gallons;
- heating and cooling system redesigned for climate extremes;
- driver and front passenger seats redesigned with a new armrest and new cushions to improve comfort over long distances;
- new front seats fitted with the Easy Entry system;
- new steering wheel controls and steering effort calibration optimised to increase directional stability at highway speeds;
- new high quality BOSE® Energy Efficient Series audio system with six speakers and subwoofer.
An innovative power unit with a view to sustainable mobility
Adapted to the needs of American customers, the Fiat 500 is equipped with a new four cylinder in- line 1.4-litre engine boasting innovative MultiAir technology developed and patented by FPT − Fiat Powertrain Technologies − that assures excellent performance in terms of power, fuel consumption, quality and precision.
MultiAir technology reduces fuel consumption and increases power efficiency, both by 10%, and at the same time guarantees 10% less CO2 emissions compared to similar engines that do not have this system. This technology won the Best of What’s New in 2010 prize awarded by Popular Science magazine. This honour acknowledges advanced products and technologies that represent a significant leap forward in their
categories. The engine is perfectly calibrated to the Fiat 500, supplying 101 HP (75 kW) at 6500 rpm and torque of 133 Nm at 4000 rpm.
The 1.4 MultiAir can be combined with a choice of two sturdy, reliable and sophisticated transmissions for the North American market. They have been designed exclusively to offer greater efficiency and more enjoyable driving. In particular, a new six-speed automatic transmission ensures fluid gear shifts and considerable savings in fuel costs. For a more exciting driving style, the Auto Stick function allows the gears to be shifted manually. When selecting the Sport mode by pressing a button on the instrument panel, the transmission gear shift programme and steering response are automatically re-calibrated to achieve even sportier driving dynamics.
The second gearbox – a five-speed manual − is fitted with new transmission ratios for the American market, offering lower fuel consumption and increased acceleration. This transmission offers, as standard equipment, a new self-adjusting hydraulic clutch that makes it possible to always exert the same force on the pedal for the entire useful life of the clutch, thus guaranteeing virtually maintenance-free operation. When the Sport mode is selected with the manual gearbox, the throttle and steering response is re-calibrated to achieve sportier driving dynamics.
