NF500 / fiat 500 convertible

More photographs of the forthcoming Fiat 500 Convertible have hit the web, Globalmotors.net can claim the plaudits this time around for bringing them to the public’s attention first.

Further to that, information sent to Fiat dealerships in the UK has revealed that the Fiat 500 Convertible will go on sale in the UK from April 2009. The same document also reveals Fiat have set the soft top 500 a tough target of an 18% share of Fiat 500 sales in the UK.

Still no official press images or news on the fold back 500, but we’ll let you know anything official as soon as we do!

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.

Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne has been quoted by Forbes as confirming orders for the new Fiat 500 have exceeded 204,000 vehicles. He also is quoted as saying there are no plans to further increase production beyond the current 190,000 vehicles per year output, or to introduce a second production site.

As an aside, Mr Marchionne also reaffirmed that the convertible Fiat 500 is heading for production in 2009.

…and it’s going to be a soft top too!

That’s according to a report published today in Just-Auto.com.

Roberto Giolito, styling director for the Fiat brand, reportedly informed a just-auto reporter that the convertible variant of the new Fiat 500 was definitely going to be produced and that the design would be simple, affordable and “aimed at bringing maximum customer enjoyment”.

The Fiat 500 Convertible will sport a traditional fabric roof, as opposed to joining the hordes of overly fussy and in our opinion downright ugly “coupe convertibles” which seem to have flooded the convertible market over the past few years.

Fiat are confident that progresses in the technology of fabric roofs means a space-saving fabric folding roof can offer excellent insulation against the elements and exterior noise. We certainly welcome this decision and cant wait to see what the designers come up with.