Fiat 500 Flips Its Lid

Robert Farago
by Robert Farago

The new retro-styled Fiat 500 economy car is a major score for the storied Italian automaker, whose turnaround was funded by GM CEO Rick Wagoner's not-so-finest hour (a $2b+ payment to not buy the carmaker). Auto Express reports that Fiat will extend and defend the 500's position as the cutest of city cars when it unveils a drop-top version at the Geneva Auto Show. "The newcomer will use a full-length fabric roof that slides back to store on top of the parcel shelf. It will retain a glass rear window, plus full-frame doors and the hatch’s roofline." Fiat will also unleash the 500 Abarth SS hot hatch motorvated by a 1.4-litre turbo four good for 155bhp. That's got to piss-off Brazilian Ferrari F1 driver Felipe Massa, who just took delivery of a "special" turbo 500– with only 120-horses. Well, at least until he gets the new new car.

Robert Farago
Robert Farago

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  • Quasimondo Quasimondo on Jan 25, 2008

    I dunno about you, but my seat time behind the wheel of a Toyota Echo is what spawned my claustophobia of teeny tiny wheels.

  • Mirko Reinhardt Mirko Reinhardt on Jan 25, 2008

    @Pahaska "Limited in the sense that I would NEVER drive one on the expressways in this city without a death wish." Umm... 5-star Euro-NCAP safety ratin in every test?

  • KixStart KixStart on Jan 25, 2008

    Maybe this is why Nick2NY is selling his Smart?

  • Timoted Timoted on Jan 25, 2008

    Looks like a fat ladybug. No style to its design what-so-ever. I agree it's a inner-city car. Tell me if you were going down the highway at 65 mph and a tractor-trailer pulled along side you, it wouldn't make you a little bit nervous.

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