Can The Scorpion's Sting Save Fiat's Flopping 500?
Fiat’s 500 may be flopping early in the game, but then, what do you expect from a car with barely 100 horsepower? Though I’m sure the Cinquecento is better with a stick shift, my brief time in an autobox version left me feeling that Fiat’s italophile morsel could use considerably more brio. Well, consider the problem solved, as the 160 HP Abarth version has finally been shown in US-market spec, and sales should start sometime early next year. And based on European reactions to the Abarth, it should be a little firecracker. So, enthusiasm solved… now Fiat just needs to do something about its high prices, uninspiring fuel economy and wretched marketing. Then everything will be just fine… although I still wouldn’t hold my breath for 50k units per year.
More by Edward Niedermeyer
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The 500 sure seems to be selling well in Seattle judging from how many I've seen recently. But then we have two dealers in the area already with a third to open pretty soon and we have a population with a penchant for efficient and odd cars (Seattle used to be one of the top markets for Peugeot back in the '80s). I'd give them more time before we declare them a failure, the 500 is selling as well as the Kia Rio and not that much less than the Honda Fit (with a much smaller dealer network I'll point out) and no one calls either of them failures.
After viewing the preview of a sexy Abarth commercial, I can tell you with certainty that FIAT has ramped up its marketing strategy, and that the little Abarth will generate some serious excitement! To really appreciate a 500, one really needs the standard shift car and don't be timid about revving the engine. My Prima Edizione loves to be pushed, and that's how to wring the performance out of the 101 horsepower engine. Forget that I am averaging 37.2 MPGs in city driving right now. Adding so much more power to the wee curve-hugger in the Abarth package will surely impress any skeptic who test-drives it.