NF500 / 2008 / September

What’s that, you’ve not seen enough “limited edition” Fiat 500s being dreamt up lately? Have no fear Fiat have done it again, this time limited to 12 cars only, the “F1TM Limited Edition” will be hitting the track at Singapore this coming weekend. Full Fiat release follows..

On 28 September, Singapore will host the first ever night-time Grand Prix event in the history of Formula 1. As a taster to the exceptional event, a “500 Drive” will take place on 27 September, before the GP qualifying rounds. This will involve 12 Fiat 500 “F1TM Limited Edition” cars being driven round the same track by celebrities.

The drivers on board the special cars will complete a few laps of the brand-new circuit, a 5.067km stretch along the floodlit roads of Singapore.

Lorenzo Sistino, Managing Director of Fiat Automobiles had this to say:

The Fiat 500 is now sold in 57 countries and has won more than 250,000 orders since its launch last year. Not to mention the fact that 50% of its customers chose it without considering other models.

In recent months, we finished launching the Fiat 500 also in Australia, Hong Kong and Japan, where we picked up more than a thousand advance orders and the car has become a veritable craze. Now it is about to hit Singapore as well

We marked the occasion by building 12 unique cars in a Fiat 500 “F1TM Limited Edition that have been pre-booked by selected customers from Singapore. These cars offer special custom features and are enhanced by chrome motifs in addition to the exclusive “F1TM Limited Edition” livery. The cars are equipped with the same lively 1.4 16v engine available on the rest of the range, that develops a maximum power of 100 bhp (73.5 Kw) at 6000 rpm and a maximum torque of 131 Nm (13.4 Kgm) at 4250 rpm. Its performance figures are outstanding: the car can reach a top speed of 182 km/h and accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 10.5 seconds.

Fiat are to display their new range of low consumption, low emissions vehicles at the Paris motorshow in October, the following press release offers the full lowdown on the PUR-O2 ethos, and in particular interest, of course, the Fiat 500 PUR-O2, coming to a dealer near you soon.

PUR-O2: the new environmental protection line from FIAT

The Paris show hosts the world premiere of the new PUR-O2 line that will be available on the 500, Croma and Bravo from November. This select group of versions is at the cutting edge of the international automotive scenario due to their high-tech content, low fuel consumption and low CO2 emission levels. The result has been achieved by the introduction of special systems and devices such as the innovative Eco Drive, the new ‘Start&Stop’ device developed by Bosch and special Eco Packs that include green tyres, low-viscosity fluids, aerodynamic packages and gearboxes with modified ratios.

The new PUR-O2 line confirms Fiat’s wish to develop more and more new products as part of its quest for innovative solutions to contain polluting emissions and CO2 levels. Fiat is incidentally one of the motoring brands providing the best response to the need to limit the impact of transport on the environment. The company JATO – world leader in automotive research and consulting, set up in 1984 and present in more than 40 countries – recently announced that, out of the ten biggest selling automobile brands in Europe, Fiat Automobiles is the brand that achieved the lowest average CO2 emissions value for the cars it sold in 2007, i.e 134.6 g/km. And more, again in 2007, the CO2 emissions of no fewer than 23% of the cars sold by Fiat were lower than 120 g/km and 67% of Fiat cars achieved a level of less than or equal to 140 g/km.

Heartened by this result and irrespective of what will be decided in Europe, Fiat Automobiles is aiming to achieve the lowest average adjusted level of CO2 emissions for its cars by 2012. Fiat intends to pursue its goal by introducing a targeted campaign on its engines, transmission and cars and also the structural use of the Start&Stop system.

The Stop&Start system was developed in conjunction with FPT – Fiat Powertrain Technologies and includes a special reinforced starter motor produced by Bosch in addition to a particularly advanced control strategy that analyses a host of engine, gearbox and climate control parameters to reduce fuel consumption and emissions while upholding the Fiat 500’s high handling and reliability standards.

Fiat 500 PUR-O2

The PUR-O2 version, built on the basis of a Fiat 500 Lounge, is fitted with the tried and tested 1.2 petrol engine and equipped with the Start&Stop system, a device that turns the engine off temporarily and restarts it during periods when the engine would be idling with the car at a standstill. In these situations, typical of congested traffic in urban areas and while waiting at traffic lights, and when control strategies permit it, the system automatically turns off the engine to allow a significant saving in fuel (more than 10% reduction in fuel consumption over an urban cycle). As soon as the brake pedal is released or a gear engaged, the system then quickly restarts the engine to ensure the user an immediate response to controls. The Start&Stop also offers further advantages in terms of passenger compartment comfort due to the lack of vibrations and noise. The system therefore represents a high-tech and smart solution to the requirement for low environmental impact cars with good fuel economy.

The PUR-O2 version of the 500 can boast the lowest emissions in the petrol range (CO2 emissions: 115 g/km), and is also equipped with the Eco Drive system.

From January 2009, it will also be possible to combine the system with a Dualogic gearbox that allows optimum management of gear shifts and offers high mechanical efficiency. In detail, the automated transmission offers a basis for smart management of engine on/off status, shaving even more off fuel consumption figures and guaranteeing CO2 emission levels even lower than 115 g/km. By controlling the clutch, the system can disengage the engine from the transmission whenever drive is not required and the engine can be turned off.

The official Italian Abarth website has treated us to a graphic display of intent ahead of next week’s Paris motorshow, with official images of the Fiat 500 Abarth Essesse and Assetto Corse.

The new images show in full the exterior design of both upgraded trim levels, and a sneak preview of what’s inside the Essesse upgrade package. More details are sure to follow next week, but for now, feat your eyes on this small sample before heading to the official site for the full lowdown.

The photos below show the latest limited edition version of the Fiat 500. Based, as it often the case, on the Fiat 500 Sport trim, the 500 by DIESEL will, confusingly to some, be available with the full range of engines.

Of course, the DIESEL in question here is the fashion company, rather than the fuel, and this collaboration between Fiat design and DIESEL will be limited to a production run of 10,000 vehicles over a two year period, with orders being taken in some European markets from the 22nd September 2008.

The Fiat “500 by DIESEL” retails from €15,000 for the 1.2 litre petrol engine, the 1.4 litre petrol and 1.3 multijet diesel versions will set you back an additional €2,000 premium.

So what stylish modifications have Roberto Giolito and Lars Schwartz’s teams managed to come up with for this special Fiat 500? Well, they’ve branded this design an “Urban Survival Vehicle”, which could explain the exterior paint options of “green DIESEL”, black and “brown DIESEL”.

The Fiat 500 by DIESEL also features unique 16″ alloy wheels, and the 1.4 petrol car is treated to yellow brake callipers. There are also a variety of small style statements, including satin chrome finishes on some metalwork and a DIESEL logo design on the rear envisaged as a nod to the original Fiat 500’s engine compartment grilles.

As they say, a picture speaks a thousand words, so here’s 8,000 of the easiest words I’ve written in a while…

This impressive limited edition, custom Fiat 500 is the product of a collaboration between Alfredo Stola’s Studiotorino and Mycrom, under the watchful eye of Diabolik publisher, Astorina.

The striking comic creation you see below was produced as a tribute on wheels to the cult Italian comic ‘Diabolik’, the limited edition Fiat 500 Diabolika, based on a Fiat 500 Sport model, will be restricted to a run of only 50 vehicles.

Customised and carefully crafted inside and out, the Fiat 500 Diabolika is given a mean and moody look thanks to a matte black paint finish with red painted “tail fins” towards the hatch. The BORRANI multi spoke alloy wheels are shod with hand cut, special edition Pirelli tires, with tread carved with the Diabolik eyes logo.

The interior is equally impressive, with many parts wrapped in high quality dark leather with contrasting red stitching. The seats are quite stunning, bearing digitally printed comic images from Diabolik. The comic strip illustration carries over onto the sunshade, the visors, even the key fob and ashtray have been treated to a graphic make-over.

As with all limited editions worth their salt, each of the 50 Fiat 500 Diabolika models will feature an individually numbered plaque.

We reported a couple of days back on GlobalMotors.net having some decent spy shots of the upcoming soft top version of the Fiat 500, we’ll they’ve been at it again, and have since published not one, but two further articles on the roll back roofed Fiat 500, including some much clearer spy shots.

Check out all the details and photographs over at GlobalMotors.net

GlobalMotors.net have published a series of spy shots of the upcoming Fiat 500 Cabrio.

In true espionage style these photos appear to have been taken under cover by either an employee or visitor to the Fiat 500 plant in Tychy, or possibly a test site, and published online in a rather teasing “through the gaps” fashion.

The pictures don’t reveal too much due to heavy cladding, but take a look at the full GlobalMotors.net article for big versions and decide for yourself what could be lurking under those disguises.