NF500 / 2007 / October

This time it’s Auto Express who have a collection of images of the forthcoming Fiat 500 Abarth, under disguise and in testing.

The photos show front, side and back profiles.  Through the heavy black cladding it is possible to make out panel modifications and intakes that may or may not make the final production version of the hot 500.

In the article Auto Express claim the vehicle in the photos to be the 500 Abarth SS and that we can expect “at least 180 hp” from the 1.4 litre engine.  We’ll have to wait and see on that front.  You can see all the photos and read the full article over at the Auto Express website.

The new FIAT 500 has won the EuroCarBody 2007 award, the world’s most prestigious prize for car bodies. The ninth edition of the Forum organised by Automotive Circle International was held in Bad Nauheim/Frankfurt from October 16 to 18, attended by about 600 experts in the development of the design, materials, processes and manufacture of car bodies.

The 600 specialists, from 15 international carmakers, gave the award to the Fiat 500, assigning it 38.33 points out of a possible 50. This enabled the “small” Fiat – the only segment A model present – to defeat the other 11 candidates from Japan, the United States, Europe and Russia.

The experts particularly appreciated the contribution made by the innovative bodyshell to the car’s NCAP 5-star rating (with a total score of 35 points), and class 11 “Insurer Impact” assessment: this is a record that puts the Fiat 500 at the top of its class in the safety field, and is even more extraordinary if we remember that it has been achieved by a car that is only 3.5 metres long.

The Fiat 500 is a car designed to reach the highest quality and safety standards, as the EuroCarBody 2007 award underlines; it is an important award that highlights the mixture of “creativity and skill” that is necessary to develop an innovative, winning bodyshell. Nor must we forget that the final competition is part of a vaster programme, that sees Automotive Circle International organising numerous congresses every year for the exchange of information and experience in the field of automotive manufacturing processes.

All international carmakers can compete, with a maximum of two cars per brand. The indispensable requirement is that they must be standard production cars, manufactured within 12 months of the official launch. For the final voting, the bodyshells must be displayed so that they can be analysed during presentations and in depth debate, and judged on the basis of 23 evaluation criteria grouped in 5 macro areas: development and application of innovative materials; innovative solutions for development and design; innovative concepts applied to the industrial manufacturing process; values that are significant for the customer, such as safety, ergonomics, acoustic comfort and quality, and, finally, the comprehensiveness and quality of the presentation of the required technical/technological content.

Fiat SpA CEO Sergio Marchionne has been quoted as saying the company will be able to increase production capacity for the new Fiat 500 model to 190,000 units from January 1st 2009, in light of of ‘incredible demand’ for for the new car.

Following Fifth Gear’s rather gushing report on the new Fiat 500, it will come as no surprise to many to learn the dimunitive car has been awarded as the the Channel 5 show’s “Best Small Car of the Year”. Which is even more impressive considering the show comes from the UK, where the car is several months from release.

Accepting the award at Fiat’s UK headquarters in Slough, Berkshire, Giulio Salomone, Managing Director of Fiat Group Automobiles UK said:

We are absolutely delighted with this great honour.

Clearly the British public like what they see in our new 500 – already more than 5,000 have expressed an interest in ordering one – and it’s fantastic to see that motoring experts such as those working on Fifth Gear agree.

The new 500 scooped one of only three category awards given in Fifth Gear’s annual honours, the others being Best Family Car and Best Fast Car. It was praised by the show’s presenters and production team for its style, handling, performance and build quality.

Special mention was also made of the new 500’s recent Euro NCAP five star crash safety rating (35 points) which puts it among the safest cars available in Europe today.

The Best Small Car is arguably the most important award Fifth Gear gives out as more small cars are sold in the UK than any other sector,

says James Woodroffe, Producer, Fifth Gear.

Consumers want a supermini that doesn’t feel like it’s built to a budget, but is styled with flair, and comes with the maximum five star Euro NCAP safety rating.
The Fiat 500 fits the bill better than anything else we’ve driven this year and was a unanimous choice.

The 500 has already gone on sale in many mainland European countries, including Italy, France, Germany and Spain and will be launched in the UK early in 2008. Available with a choice of three engines, built to comply with the latest and toughest Euro 5 exhaust emissions regulations, and either five or six-speed gearboxes. A Dualogic sequential robotised 5-speed gearbox will become available next year for the petrol engines.

The engine range comprises the 69 bhp 1.2 and the 100 bhp 1.4 petrol units from the FIRE family that boasts a total output of over 10 million engines to date, plus the widely acclaimed 75 bhp 1.3 16v MultiJet turbodiesel with DPF, of which over two million have been built to date.

The first of four new Fiat 500 cars illustrated by renowned English artist Tracey Emin has been sold at auction for £42,000.

The work, entitled ‘I Told You Not To’, is one of four specially designed and painted examples of the supermini, which have taken the art world by storm. Described as taking Emin’s work “quite literally out of the gallery and on to the street”, the cars have created the first moving exhibition of its kind.

The 500 went under the hammer for $85,000 last Saturday (13 October) during the Contemporary Art Auction at the Phillips de Pury & Company saleroom in London.

Proceeds from the sale will go to the artist’s chosen charity PEAS, which is raising funds for a school library in Uganda. Additional funds will also help establish future Fiat art projects in London.

The three other 500s with Emin designs will also be offered at auction, one before the end of the year and two in 2008.

I really enjoyed working on the Fiat 500, which I refer to as the ‘mouse car’,

said Tracey Emin.

The Fiat 500 range goes on sale throughout the UK with a choice of petrol and diesel engines and three trim levels, in January 2008.

According to reports which originate back to Auto Express, the Fiat 500 Abarth, due to be unveiled at the Tokyo Motor Show later this October will not be taking a bow in Japan after all. The official public début has reportedly been put back to the Geneva Motor Show, which will be held in March 2008.

The reason being cited is the incredible sales figures Fiat have experienced for the new 500, the demands of which they are struggling to meet, which has left bosses feeling they could not cope, nor do they require, any further clamour for orders for the hot Abarth versions of the vehicle at this stage in the products life cycle.

A new book entitled “500 - by the people for the people”, which we expect may be of interest to all Fiat 500 aficionados, has recently been published.

The book offers a brief overview of the history of the original Fiat 500, before focusing heavily on the design and development of the new 500. Apparently unprecedented access was granted to Fiat’s inner sanctum during the creation of the book so it should offer an interesting insight into how the new bambina came into being.

The book, which includes English and Italian text, costs euro 22 and is available for worldwide shipping direct from the publishers website.