NF500 / fiat bravo

At least that is according to the “Auto più Bella del Mondo 2008” search for the most beautiful car in the world, where the Fiat 500 not only won the small hatchback and city car segment, but scored the most points overall to achieve the top award.

Fiat must feel they’re sitting pretty after the Grand Jury of the Auto più Bella del Mondo, consisting of artists, architects and designers lead by author and designer Bruno Alfieri, placed the Fiat Bravo in third place overall and winner of the medium hatchback category.

The Fiat has been voted “Auto Europa 2008″ by the Italian Union of Automotive Journalists (Uiga). This is the most important accolade awarded by the Italian specialised press.

Established in 1987, the prize is awarded to the car built and sold in Europe that offers the best combination of technology, pricing and style for the final consumer. The vote, which took place last weekend in Riccione, attributed 640 points to the new super-compact from Fiat, placing it ahead of the Kia Ceèd (408) and the Peugeot 308 (325).

The official prize-giving ceremony will be held next Spring during the annual Uiga meeting. This is the tenth car from Fiat Group Automobiles to receive the title of “Auto Europa”. Previous winners have been the Alfa 164 (1988), Fiat Tipo (1989), Fiat Cinquecento (1993), Fiat Punto (1995), Fiat Bravo/Brava (1996), Alfa Romeo 156 (1998), Alfa Romeo 166 (1999), Fiat Panda (2004) and the Fiat Grande Punto (2007).

This award adds to the already impressive array of prizes under the Fiat 500’s belt, namely: “Car of the Year 2008″, “EuroCarBody 2007” and “World’s Most Beautiful Car”. The COTY award was secured with a total of 385 points attributed by a panel of 58 specialist journalists representing 22 European countries. This is only the second time that an A-segment model has won this award – the first being the Fiat Panda in 2004. The title of “EuroCarBody 2007”, the most important prize worldwide for car bodies, is attributed by a total of approximately 600 specialists from 15 international carmakers, all of them experts in bodywork engineering, materials, processes and production. Lastly, the “World’s most Beautiful Car” award was given to the Fiat 500 by an international panel of design and visual arts experts. With the maximum score possible of 18 points, the Fiat 500 won the “City cars and small cars” category for expressing “a return to the sculptural values of the golden age of car design”. The same prize was also awarded to the Fiat Bravo, in the “medium saloon” category.

These prestigious accolades for the Fiat 500 join two other important prizes recently awarded by the international press to the Fiat Grande Punto and Scudo. Just a few months after its Latin American launch, the Grande Punto was voted “Auto Interamericana 2008” by the Interamerican Federation of Automotive Periodicals (FIPA), consisting of 63 journalists from 19 American nations, including Brazil and the US. Similarly, the Scudo has also been enjoying an extraordinary success, and has been voted “International Van of the Year 2008” – with 108 out of a possible 140 points – by a panel of journalists from 20 European nations specialised in light commercial vehicles.

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.