TwinAir engined Fiat 500 replaces 1.2 and 1.4
FIAT has relaunched its 500 micro-hatch with a mild facelift inside and out, but under the hood there’s been a major engine rationalisation. And by rationalisation, we mean two of the previous model’s four cylinders have been chopped off.
Gone are the previous 500’s naturally-aspirated 1.2 and 1.4 petrols, and in is a new 875cc two-cylinder turbo. Yes, two cylinders! This new TwinAir engine, as it’s called, comes with two power output choices – either 63kW or 77kW, both with 145Nm of torque. The lesser of the two is good for a claimed 0100km/h figure of 11 seconds but more importantly a claimed petrol consumption of just 3.8 litres per 100km; while the slightly gutsier option gets respective figures of 10 seconds and 4.2l/100km.
It’ll take a keen eye to spot aesthetic updates on this Cinquecento, but Fiat fanatics will notice new headlights, rear light clusters, two new wheel designs and a broader chrome ‘whiskers’ grille. Also new is an option to give your 500 a coloured graphic wrap, or ‘second skin’ as Fiat prefers. This option includes tartan, comic book-style pop art, camouflage and nautical themed decals which come in various sizes and styles.
The new 500 also gets a minor interior upgrade with a vintage-style dashboard in either ivory or black, housing more modern 5-inch entertainment system displays. In lower spec models it’s a basic LCD radio display, but in upper versions this space houses a colour touchscreen multimedia and navigation hub (top models only).
There are three spec levels – Pop, Pop Star and Lounge, differentiated by things like wheel size, cloth and leather upholstery choices, panoramic sunroofs, climate control systems and bi-xenon headlights among many others. Two body styles include normal hatch and convertibles, while gearbox choices include five- or six-speed manuals, and five-speed robotised automatics.
Prices range from R179 900 to R268 400 and all new 500s come with a three-year/100 000km warranty and a three-year/100 000km maintenance plan.