Monday 16th February 2009

Official Pics: Fiat 500C

Ragtop version of 500 on the way for summer

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Fiat has released photos of an open top version of the new Fiat 500, called the 500C.

Rather than trying to make a full cabriolet along the lines of the MINI convertible, Fiat has reverted to the style of the original 1957 500 Nuova.

Like the very first Fiat 500, the new 500C has a soft roof that glides back on rails to create an open cabin - though this time the action will be electric. The carmaker has used what it calsl a 'clever parallelogram hinge device' to ensure that having the roof down will not mean losing out on boot-space.

Another neat feature of the soft roof is the third brakelight, cleverly positioned within a colour-matched spoiler so that with the roof up it acts as a high-level brakelight, remaining visible with the roof down, sitting on top of the bootlid. The roof will be available in red, ivory or black and will dictate the colour scheme of other bits of trim around the car.

500C styled on original 500 Nuova

Fiat is also making their 'Start&Stop' feature standard on all 500Cs, meaning that when the stationary car is put into neutral the engine will switch off, automatically kicking back in when the car is put back into gear.

Engine choices will remain the same as the standard car, with 1.2-litre and 1.4-litre petrol engines and a 1.3-litre turbodiesel. There is no mention of a convertible version of the 135bhp Abarth 500 just yet.

The car will be revealed officially at the Geneva motorshow in March, and sales are expected to begin later in the year.

 

[gumball3K]

Nice.

[mat205125]

I'm not a massive fan of the whole retro thing.

The 500 siloette is nearly identical to a Micra, which is of course the most hateful car on the road today (more due to the way it is driven by its target market).

I'm not a fan of convertible cars generally.

Yet for some reason, the Fiat 500 is a cool little car IMO, and that cab/targa/rollback version is also cool. Don't know why, I just like it.

[Lawrence5]

Not sure about that..... like the tintop better - it's a bit......

[dpbird90]

I like it, but would prefer to have seen a 2 seater completely roofless Abarth'd version

[stephen300o]

Looks good, glad they made it a targa to keep the roof profile. Also love the spokeish wheels.

[jon-]

Fiat said:

The carmaker has used what it calsl a 'clever parallelogram hinge device' to ensure that having the roof down will not mean losing out on boot-space.

What? Don't they mean they've just left the roof on the outside?!

[bobberz]

I'd quite fancy one of these, though my fat, 6'2 American body might look a tad bit silly driving one. Do hope Fiat will get here soon, though!

[dinkel]

Waiting for this one:

[BlueCello]

I love it, think it's really cool. Will be a hit amongst young, hot girls this summer I'm guessing

[va1o]

Definetely a womans car.. does look quite nice tho

[ZesPak]

dinkel said:

Waiting for this one:

If it's better than the clubman...

[bencollins]

Almost nice but FFS you cant see out of the back window.
Who signs off this ste?
Once again, the only child of the lord became lacrymose.

[beasto]

mat205125 said:

I'm not a massive fan of the whole retro thing.

The 500 siloette is nearly identical to a Micra, which is of course the most hateful car on the road today (more due to the way it is driven by its target market).

I'm not a fan of convertible cars generally.

Yet for some reason, the Fiat 500 is a cool little car IMO, and that cab/targa/rollback version is also cool. Don't know why, I just like it.

Ahem! Provided you keep your foot down, the previous model Micra goes like the clappers, rides smooth and is not so bad round corners either. MIt does need that enthusiasm though, if only to keep snobbo drivers away from its backside. Noddy looks though...

As for the current model, I dunno – its looks are a tad amphibian for me.

[chickensoup]

Looks like an old webasto

Hope wing mirrors are good, as rear view wont be doing much

[LuS1fer]

The original 500 was tiny so you could see out of the back and as has been pointed out, it has no rearward visibility with the roof down. Cue a lot of young girls (not sexist, blokes wouldn't be seen dead in one) saying "Sorry, I didn't see you" as they back out.

Why does it take so much "cleverness" to design a car they designed better 45 years ago?

[dickyt]

jon- said:

Fiat said:

The carmaker has used what it calsl a 'clever parallelogram hinge device' to ensure that having the roof down will not mean losing out on boot-space.

What? Don't they mean they've just left the roof on the outside?!

Totally agree, it looks like something that Clarkson, Hammond , and May would knock up out of a few pieces of old coat hangers & a scrap bit of canvas in one of their "Challenges". They should have put a big Key at the side of it, so that it could be peeled back like a can of sardines - would fit in more with the retro feel!.

Seriously, I don't get it - either have a sunroof, or an open / drop top. This appears to be something in-between, but as someone else has mentioned - it will appeal to the Girlies so who am I to question?

[varsas]

I can see why some people would like this, kind of like a big sunroof. The current (older) mini cab looks awful, I'd rather have one of these.

[190E Matt]

I quite like it! and yet I am someone who normally likes enormous million horsepower Mercs and BMWs

I know people would snigger, but I still feel quite drawn to it.

[infradig]

Looks like a Citroen Pluriel without the stupid removable arch things to me.
In the last few days I've seen 4 or 5 transporter loads of Abarth's,they look realy tasty.

Edited by infradig on Monday 16th February 16:34

[Lead]

This design actually goes back pre WW2, I think, with the Fiat Topolino.