July 27, 2009. Copyright 2009, Graphic News. All rights reserved

Fiat adds convertible to the 500 range
By Neil Winton

LONDON, July 27, Graphic News:  Fiat's retro-looking little 500 city car has been a big hit across Europe and the Italian manufacturer has been quick to cash in by launching a souped-up version, the Abarth, and now the new convertible.

When car manufacturers make convertible versions of their saloons, it is usually a complicated and expensive process. The basic car is built at the main factory, but the designated ragtops are often delivered to a separate company which rips off the roof and side bits, and strengthens the under-body to make up for the rigidity lost when the roof was removed.

The Fiat 500C (for convertible) avoids that complicated and expensive process by leaving more of the original structure intact, and adding what amounts to an extended canvas sunroof. This allows it to be produced on the same production line as the saloon. The 500 convertible looks even more like the original 1950s car, which also had an extended open top. It will remind those of a certain age of the movie Roman Holiday, in which Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn whizzed around the Eternal City on a scooter, narrowly missing many Fiat 500s.

To open the roof, you either press a button next to the interior roof light, or use the car's remote control key fob. You can open or close the roof at speeds up to 37mph (60km/h). Press the button for at least half a second and the roof peels back to the top of the rear window. From the side this makes the car look as if it has a spoiler at the back.

If you think this car looks cute from the outside, the interior will impress you too. One version has a white steering wheel, a white surrounded dial binnacle, and white facing to the audio and air conditioning controls. The basic facia was in red metal. Or you could choose aluminium.

Buyers of the 500C can choose a 1.2 litre 69 bhp, 1.4 litre 100 bhp petrol engine, or a 1.3 litre 75 bhp diesel, with a 5- or 6-speed manual gearbox. There's a semi-automatic gearbox choice for the petrol motors.

For a car this small, any meeting with a larger vehicle won't have pleasant consequences, but Fiat does all it can to mitigate accidents with seven standard airbags, and there's ABS, EBD, and ESP, plus a hill holder system and assistance for braking in emergencies.

Prices aren't cheap, starting at 13,100 euros (£11,300), for a small car which is really only a two-seater.

The Fiat 500 is made at a factory in Poland in a joint venture with Ford. Ford's Ka is produced on the same production line using common components, although you'd never guess that from the outward appearance of the two cars. The Fiat Panda, a cheaper, less stylish, more practical version of the 500, also rolls down the same line.

Fiat won't confirm the reports but it may eventually produce a small SUV and station wagon version of the 500.
/ENDS





Fiat 500C Lounge
Engine – 1.3 litre 4-cylinder MultiJet diesel 
Power – 75 bhp @ 4,000
Torque – 145 Nm @ 1,500
Drive – front wheels
Gearbox – 5-speed manual
Acceleration – 0-62mph-100km/h 12.5 seconds
Top speed – 103mph-165km/h
Fuel consumption – claimed combined – 67.3mpg-4.2 l/100kms
C02 – 110g/km 
Suspension – MacPherson/torsion beam
Length – 3,546mm
Width – 1,627mm
Height – 1,488mm
Wheel-base – 2,300mm
Boot capacity – 182 litres
For – cute, trendy
Against – pricey 
Price £14,100-€16,300