NF500 / rivals

The Canadian Globe and Mail released a feature on the new Fiat 500 Today that is full of praise for the new Fiat 500.  Full of praise, yet tinged with lament.  Why the lament?  Simple really, the Fiat 500 is not planned for release to the Canadian market.  So as much as they loved the car, they simply can’t have one.

The review, brimming with superlatives and excitement, is the second article by Eric Reguly we’ve mentioned on NF500, this time round he delivers such classic quotes as

I know this car would obliterate machines like the (smaller) Mercedes Smart and the (larger) Toyota Yaris in the Canadian and American markets.

And surmises

It’s a pity the new 500 is not available in Canada. In terms of fun, driveability and space, it kills the Smart car. In terms of price, it kills the MINI. In terms of style, it kills the Yaris and rivals like the Honda Fit.

If Ford, GM and Chrysler were smart, they would build a city car like this. Fiat has made the smallest cars desirable again.

You can read the full article on the Globe and Mail website.

The reviews the new Fiat 500 has been receiving lately have been most impressive, British broadsheets The Independent and The Times have very positive driving reports, both highlighting not only the “cuteness” and design quirks of the new 500, but also stating it has substance to go with the good looks.  Excellent road manners and a surprisingly quiet cabin (for such a small car) are both highlighted as plus points.

It certainly seems the new Fiat 500 is what the World is waiting for just now.  But with sales going so well in Italy, it could be a longer wait than expected for some global markets.

Auto Express are rather sensationally claiming to have the inside line on the forthcoming Fiat 500 Abarth.  Or rather Fiat 500 Abarths.

For they claim not only are Fiat working on 135 hp 500 Abarth and 150 hp 500 Abarth S versions of their new baby, they’re also planning on unleashing a genuinely hot 200 bhp Super Sport version, relaunching the traditional 595 SS moniker.

According to the publication, Fiat are also promising to match the output of the hot new 500 range with a sports chassis, wider wheels and track.

We’ve no idea how much weight to lend to this story, but if Fiat did ever launch a 200 hp Abarth it would certainly take the car to a whole new level, and put the power and performance up their with many bigger “hot hatch” rivals.