NF500 / 2007 / September

Italian company Aznom have released details of three levels of personalisation on offer to the Fiat 500 owner looking for something a little extra, perhaps a little more luxurious, for their new baby Fiat.

Aznom offer three levels of personalisation for your 500, starting with the “Amabile” version, which will mean being without your Fiat for around a month, and will set you back €4500. Still, you could go even further and splash out on the €6500 “Intrigante” version, or really treat yourself and opt for the “Seducente”, costing €8500 and taking around six weeks for the work to be completed. If you do opt for the full works, your money and patience will be rewarded with a complete interior and exterior make over, including full leather interior, an exclusive paint job, and designer wooden dash panel and trim, it even includes matching hand luggage.

Aznom have decked out their demonstration vehicle with the full monty, including striking two tone exterior and interior work, it’s certainly a site to behold. More photos follow below. You can get full specifications and further information from the Fiat 500 section of the Aznom website.

The new Fiat 500 will be making its UK public debut at next week’s Viva Italia exhibition in London. That is, of course, if you exclude the previous outing at London Design Week.

Full press release from Fiat follows below:

It’s fitting that Fiat should support and sponsor this sparkling event – Viva Italia is a celebration of the very best in Italian products, fashion, travel, entertainment and cuisine that go together to make Italy such a fascinating country. The show runs from Friday 5 October to Sunday 7 October at London’s National Hall, Olympia.

As well as two examples of the new Fiat 500, which has received an overwhelmingly positive reception from both the media and public, Fiat’s show stand will also exhibit the company’s successful new Grande Punto supermini, the Panda city car and the sporting new Bravo hatchback, launched here in July.

The sporting Grande Punto became Europe’s best-selling car after its international launch in 2005, and has proved very popular with UK buyers since its introduction here in early 2006. A large model range includes two petrol and two diesel engines, a choice of three or five doors, and eight trim levels. The car on display will feature an advanced new T-Jet 120bhp version, which has just gone on sale in the UK.

Fiat’s evergreen Panda provides a variety of engines and trim levels to offer something for everyone when it comes to town cars. Topped by the responsive 1.4-litre 16-valve 100HP variant, the broad range also includes a 4×4 version and a choice of economical petrol or diesel engines featuring ultra-low exhaust emissions.

Brought from drawing board to production in just 18 months, the mid-size Fiat Bravo hatchback has already created great interest and critical acclaim, and has just become available here with the 120bhp version of Fiat Group Automobiles’ new T-Jet engine, increasing the UK range size to 15 versions.

Viva Italia is the perfect show for all things Italian, and we are delighted and proud to be the main sponsor,

says Elena Bernardelli, Marketing Director, Fiat Group Automobiles UK Ltd.

The exhibition captures brilliantly the magic of Italy – and I believe the Fiat 500, which will be on our stand, captures the magic of modern day motoring.

Car magazine online have some excellent photographs and some interesting thoughts on the new Fiat 500 Abarth SS which was recently caught on camera during testing.

The photographs show quite dramatic modifications to the exterior styling, not only for function, such as the front lower bodywork and grille, but also for style and sound, such as the extremely beefy looking twin rear exit exhausts.

In terms of performance and power, Car are hedging their bets at anywhere between 165 and 180 hp for this true pocket rocket.  The Abarth SS is shaping up to be a real winner in our eyes!

Read more, see all the photos over at Car.

The motor industry’s style icon of the moment – the stunning Fiat 500 – is all set for its first appearance at the London Design Festival in the UK’s capital.

The new 500, which represents Fiat’s manifesto for the future, has already set the motoring world alight, attracting critical acclaim from potential customers, enthusiasts and the media alike. And the London Design Festival, which runs until 25 September, will be a perfect backdrop to display the 500’s amazing poise and style to a new group of interested onlookers.

Designed at the Fiat Style Centre in Turin, a pearl white example of the 500 will be the focal point at ‘Tent London’ – one of the festival’s leading exhibitions, from 23-25 September. Based at the city’s famous Truman Brewery, a reclaimed industrial site in London’s Brick Lane, ‘Tent London’ will display a vast array of work including old and new design, art and architecture by emerging and established designers from around the world.

The 500 will be contained in a specially-built mirrored glass case that, every six seconds, flashes bright light to reveal the car inside. It’s a fitting show for the 500, a vehicle that is among the leading players in terms of automotive design.

Fiat is backing up the Tent London appearance with a sponsorship of the Financial Times Business of Design Breakfasts, running during the festival at the city’s famous Royal Festival Hall. Covering subjects such as design, branding, architecture and retail, the seminars will attract influential opinion-formers from the design and financial worlds. Delegates will learn about the 500 and receive a model of the car as a memento.

The London Design Festival is a wonderful opportunity for us to show our new 500 to even more people,

says Elena Bernardelli, Marketing Director, Fiat Group Automobiles UK Ltd.

The festival is quickly becoming one of the leading design events on the world calendar and we are delighted to be a part of it.

German based aftermarket accessories company H&R have produced a range of goods for those wanting to change the character of their new Fiat 500.

The Lennestadt based company are offering 30-millimetre lowering springs which not only enhances the appearance of your Fiat 500, but also improves the little retro racer’s cornering. The suspension comes come with the assurance of A.B.E. certification, H&R claim it is all completely stress-free, almost like the original equipment.

H&R are also offering TRAK+ wheel spacers which make it possible to create what they call “the perfect profile with the fender edge”, regardless of which wheel/tyre combination is mounted. In this way, the rounded shapes seem to flow better and are no longer broken up by visible gaps.

Those with an Italian sports car passion are also being targets. Their wishes are accommodated by the height/damper adjustable coilover suspension. Whether the 500 is being driven around Monza, the Nürburgring or an urban ring road, the right setup can be found for all eventualities.

Smart rims with a classic spoke design are supplied by the company eMotion Wheels. The 17-inch wheels, called “Desire”, are not only a good match to the design of the 500, they also harmonise perfectly with the lower H&R suspension setting. The 205 tyres add a sporty emphasis.

More at the H&R website.

On show at the IAA Frankfurt this year was a new body kit for the Fiat 500 from MS Design called the Fiat 500 Cup.

Details appear to be scant but here are some photos, hopefully more details will be revealed soon on the MS Design website.

Since we got back from IAA at Frankfurt and added our photos from the motor show to the NF500 Flickr Group, there are now over 500 images of the Fiat 500 for you to enjoy in our gallery slide show here at NF500 and over at Flickr in their full glory!

Hope everyone enjoys the Fiat 500 eye candy, and a huge thank you to everyone who has contributed images to the NF500 Flickr group.