NF500 / alloy wheels

Novitec specialise in tuning and styling products for the Alfa Romeo, Ferrari and Fiat brands, so it should come as no surprise that they have turned their hand to hotting up Fiat’s baby 500.

For the 1.3 litre turbo-diesel unit, a 335€ plug-and-play control module will give your 500 some added pep, taking the performance up to 83 from 70 hp, and reducing the 0-62 mph time to a respectable 11.9 seconds.

If that sounds a little run-of-the-mill, considering Novitec are far from the first to tune the diesel 500, maybe their petrol based shenanigans will raise your heckles a little more. Both the 1.4 and 1.6 petrol engines can both be fitted with a supercharger, this boost the engine output to a maximum 131 hp, and ups torque output from 131 nm to 172 nm. This gives the diminutive Fiat 500 a kick in the pants that can propel it from 0-62 mph in 8.8 seconds, to a top speed of 198 km/h.

If you’re as interested in styling as you are performance, Novitec can also supply stainless steel exhaust systems with one or two exit points, a front apron with spoiler and additional air dams, and 16 or 17 inch multispoke alloy wheels.

Suspension upgrades are also offered in two flavours, either sport springs in combination with the production shock absorbers or a height-adjustable coil-over sport suspension set which can lower the car from 30 mm to 80mm.

The TRC Marangoni Fiat Super 500 will be presented at the 2007 Essen Motor Show in Germany held from 1 to 9 December. The Marangoni Super 5-0-0 is the work of Marangoni’s Car Tire division created in partnership with the Florence-based tuning company TRC Italia.

The TRC Marangoni Fiat Super 5-0-0 features a Carzone Specials aerodynamic kit, a highly-innovative Mariani overboost system, Tarox braking system with 10-pot calipers and 320 mm diameter disks, KW coilover suspension, all-stainless steel exhaust with outlet in the middle of the rear bumper, and Oxigin chrome 7.5 x 17″ alloy wheels.

The TRC Marangoni Fiat Super 5-0-0 is based on the Fiat 500 Sport with the 1400 cc engine.Marangoni considers that the TRC Marangoni Fiat Super 5-0-0 can be viewed as an endorsement of the rebirth of “made in Italy”. The bright red color of the body and the four Marangoni Zeta Linea 205/40 R17 ultra-high performance tires with directional tread pattern, featuring sidewalls decorated in the Italian colors, further reinforce this concept. As well as the tires, the overboost system, the brake calipers, the exhaust and the interior accessories that TRC Italia installed on the Fiat 500 are also Italian. The TRC Marangoni Fiat Super 5-0-0 will be showcased at the main European tuning events throughout 2008.

The Zeta Linea design is available also in the 195/45 R16 size, with which the Fiat 500 Sport is equipped as standard.

Fiat Group Automobiles UK Ltd has just announced prices of the eagerly-awaited new Fiat 500, which goes on sale here in January.

With a starting price of just £7,900 OTR, the new Fiat 500 represents outstanding value for money and positions the car well below its benchmark rivals. At the top end of the range, a highly specified version with a larger engine costs only £10,700 – an OTR price that includes air conditioning and alloy wheels as standard.

Available with a choice of three frugal, ultra-low emissions, Euro 5-ready engines: 69 bhp 1.2-litre and 100 bhp 1.4-litre petrol, or 75 bhp 1.3-litre MultiJet turbodiesel, the new Fiat 500 can be ordered in three different trim levels – Pop, Sport and Lounge.

Standard equipment in the entry-level Pop includes ABS anti-lock brakes with EBD, driver, passenger, side and driver’s knee airbags, radio/CD/MP3 player, power steering, electric mirrors, colour coded bumpers and chrome-plated door handles. The extensive options list includes ESP, glass sunroof, metallic paint and parking sensors.

Sport and Lounge versions start at £9,300, while specifying a larger engine in any trim level adds £1,400. Standard equipment on both Sport and Lounge versions includes the Blue & MeTM hands-free media system, air conditioning and 15” alloy wheels. Sport specification includes a rear roof spoiler, fog lights, sports interior and dark tinted rear windows, while Lounge trim includes a split, folding rear seat and fixed glass roof.

The simple pricing structure means that any combination of car is possible – customers simply start with a 1.2 Pop and add £1,400 for a more powerful engine, £1,400 for a higher trim level, or £2,800 for any combination of both. A huge list of style options – created specifically to offer customers wide-ranging opportunities for personalising the interior and exterior of their vehicles – is also available.

There has been widespread speculation about Fiat 500 prices this year and we’re delighted now to be able to reveal them,

says Elena Bernardelli, marketing director, Fiat Group Automobiles UK.

We wanted to create a classless car for everyone, that was not just about being a well-known badge, and with this pricing structure I believe we have introduced a model to the UK that will be within the reach of a wide range of customers.

The Fiat 500 goes on sale through Fiat’s 162-strong UK dealer network in January 2008.

On-the-road pricing for the range is as follows:

1.2 Pop - £7,900

1.2 Sport - £9,300
1.2 Lounge - £9,300
1.3 MultiJet Pop - £9,300
1.4 Pop - £9,300

1.3 MultiJet Sport - £10,700
1.3 MultiJet Lounge - £10,700
1.4 Sport - £10,700
1.4 Lounge - £10,700