There is nothing Mickey Mouse about the all-new Fiat 500. Despite its retro looks, the latest version of a car once nicknamed Topolino (Mickey Mouse) no longer identifies with the big-eared, squeaky-voiced, twitchy-nosed anthropomorphism.
True, it is small, has twinkly little headlights and smoothly pert styling, but it is a car of style and substance, with four seats, strong performance, lots of safety systems and surprisingly fine build quality. So it is hardly the stuff of the original Fiat Cinquecento “Topolino” of 1936, which popped on to the scene as the world’s smallest mass-production car, with a cosy cabin for two, only 50kg of luggage capacity and a top speed of 53mph.
The 2007 500 was officially born in Turin, Italy’s motown, to the sounds of a fireworks display that would have made an artilleryman swell with pride and that bathed half of the city in a lurid, cascading spangle of multi-coloured light to the accompaniment of Holst’s Jupiter – a barrage of decibels pounding a huge grandstand on the bank of the Po River that held a few thousand special guests, including Romano Prodi, the Italian Prime Minister, and eight Cabinet ministers. Thousands more jammed streets that were closed to traffic.
Meanwhile, on a computer somewhere in the heart of Fiat’s accounts department, the cost of the whole jamboree – including an extraordinary waterborne carnival procession watched by about 1,000 journalists flown in from across the world – clicked up to a cool €8 million (about £5.4 million). It could only happen in Italy.
Although it is 71 years since grandfather Topolino’s big entrance, Fiat timed the arrival of the new car to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the Nuova 500, of which almost four million were sold.
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The latest 500 is a delight to drive. Suspension strikes an excellent balance between comfort and handling, the car feels superbly well built, steering is just right and the gear-change light. It is a great town car. Seats are comfortable (there is room in the back for six-footers) and the car’s 1950s-style dashboard integrates well.
The original Topolino was available with a huge, folding roof and the 1957 model had a fabric sunroof. A big glass sunroof is an option on the new car and makes it look and feel extra special. Luggage space is modest, but the rear seats fold for extra capacity.
The 500 is based on the mechanical elements of the Fiat Panda but it has been extensively modified. Although its looks are a vital part of its attractiveness, so is its safety potential: seven airbags, including a kneebag, and the likelihood that it will be the first 3.5metre long car to be given five-star status by EuroNCAP, the car safety assessment programme.
Extra incentives to buy the car include a financial package that comes with a five-year, 310,000-mile – yes, really – warranty and collection of the car from its owner’s home when servicing is due.
The 500’s equipment level allows, in theory, 546,936 permutations and there are 100 accessories from which to choose, including lots of stickers.
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There are two types of Petrol engine – 68bhp 1.2litre and 99bhp 1.4litre, plus a 74bhp 1.3litre Multijet diesel (67mpg; CO2 emissions, 111g/km). The 1.4litre engine suits the car very well, although it must be revved hard for real performance and the vehicle feels too highly geared, even with six speeds.
Sadly, the new 500 will not be available in the UK until January and Fiat is being secretive about likely prices and specification. In Italy, prices start at €10,500, with different trim levels: Naked, Pop, Sport and Lounge. In the UK it will probably be upwards of about £9,000.
Built at Fiat’s plant in Tychy, Poland, (Ford’s successor to the Ka will also be produced there next year), the new 500 is a classless, practical, highly enjoyable fun car that is in a market sector of its own. It looks set to be a huge success, further boosting Fiat’s strengthening revival – and it should, like another well known mouse story, run and run.
Specification
Car Fiat 500
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Engine 99bhp 1.4litre petrol, 131 Nm of torque
Transmission Six-speed
Performance 0-62mph in 10.5sec, top speed 113mph
Fuel consumption combined 45mpg
CO2 emissions 149 g/km
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Price To be confirmed
On sale January 2008
Competitors Mini Quality, reliability, image, not the best packaging
Smart Fortwo Only two seats, off-beat aesthetically, mechanically efficient, fun
Ford Ka Keenly priced, ageing but still a good drive