When the new Fiat 500 goes on sale in the UK on 21 January 2008, it will be exactly 500 hours after the start of the New Year.
Designed by Fiat Centro Stile, the new car's chic styling boasts visual cues from the past, but it is far from a simple, nostalgic interpretation of Dante Giacosa's iconic Fiat 500 of July 1957.
Taking a quantum leap forward in terms of safety, technology, comfort and equipment for this segment, it represents a company blueprint for a future which embraces a modern approach, new brand strategies, radical innovations in customer relations and a lasting process of expansion.
Significantly, the highly innovative Fiat 500 brings several unprecedented attributes to this segment for the first time: The new Fiat has been awarded a maximum 5-star rating in the gruelling Euro NCAP crash test safety programme, placing it at the very top of its category in terms of passive, active and preventive safety. This is the first time that a car of such compact dimensions, (3.5 metres in length), has achieved a maximum rating, and the first time that a car of its type has been equipped with seven airbags as standard across the entire range.
The new Fiat 500 is also the first car to be launched with a full range of frugal, low emissions engines that are not only Euro 4 compliant, but also meet emissions limits which are expected to be set by forthcoming Euro 5 standards, more than two years before the legislative deadline.
These and other attributes have already been recognised and rewarded with prestigious international awards, including Car of the Year 2008, which is bestowed by 58 specialist journalists from 22 European countries.
Nine versions of the new 500, priced from £7900-£10,700 on-the-road, go on sale in the UK at launch, embracing three trim levels - Pop, Lounge and Sport. The new Fiat offers levels of equipment more usually associated with cars of a far higher segment, with ABS anti-lock braking, remote central locking, seven airbags, electric front windows and door mirrors, an MP3-compatible CD player and Dualdrive electric power steering fitted as standard even on entry level models.
The new Fiat 500's comprehensive standard equipment package is further enhanced by a range of innovative, safety and comfort-enhancing options such as automatic climate control, a SkyDome sunroof, parking sensors, an anti-glare electro-chromatic rear mirror, an Interscope Sound System Hi-Fi and Blue&Me mobile phone and MP3 player connectivity with steering wheel controls.
Moreover, the Fiat 500 personalisation programme offers an additional range of over 100 bespoke accessories which, generating more than 500,000 possible trim, colour and option combinations, gives owners the opportunity to personalise the new Fiat to levels unprecedented in this segment.
The new Fiat 500 goes on sale with a choice of three powerplants; the latest 75 bhp derivation of Fiat Group Automobiles' widely acclaimed, state-of-the-art 1.3 litre 16-valve MultiJet turbodiesel, and two refined and economical FIRE petrol engines - a 1.2 litre 8-valve 69 bhp unit, and a spirited 100 bhp version of the 1.4 litre 16-valve powerplant.
Both 1.2 litre petrol engine and 1.3 litre turbodiesel come with 5-speed manual gearboxes, while the 1.4 litre petrol unit is mated to a 6-speed manual transmission. Dualogic - a clutchless, 5-speed sequential manual shift with a selectable fully automatic mode - is offered as an optional transmission on all petrol-engined Fiat 500 models.
With a 5-star Euro NCAP safety rating to its name, the new Fiat 500 builds on an already impressive safety portfolio with the full range of braking, traction control and stability systems available on the market today: ABS anti-lock brakes, complete with electronic brakeforce distribution, ASR to limit wheel spin during acceleration, MSR to modulate brake torque while changing down, and a sophisticated ESP to control stability through bends. Vehicles fitted with ESP - standard equipment on 1.4 litre versions - also benefit from hydraulic brake assistance and a unique Hill Holder function to facilitate smooth hill starts.
Building on Fiat's unrivalled reputation as the world's pre-eminent small car specialists, the new Fiat 500 was created in just 18 months from completed production specification to launch.
To achieve this remarkable development time, Fiat Group Automobiles employed new, groundbreaking, state-of-the-art Computer Aided Design (CAD) and Computer Aided Engineering (CAE) systems of unprecedented power and complexity. So sophisticated is the computer software involved, that not only could Fiat's engineers simulate every aspect of the new 500's structural, dynamic, NVH and accommodation characteristics to a level of unprecedented detail, but they were also able to create a virtual production-line to ensure consistently outstanding component and build quality.
The benefits of these all-encompassing developments in virtual design and engineering are clearly evident in every aspect of the new Fiat 500, from unprecedented build quality and capacious passenger accommodation, to superior driving dynamics, minimal NVH levels and, of course, outstanding safety. In recognition of its high quality construction, the new Fiat 500 recently won the world's most prestigious prize for car bodies.
Designed by Fiat Centro Stile and built at the company's Tychy plant in Poland, the new Fiat 500 has a significance far greater than that of simple, nostalgic interpretation. While respecting the iconic original's concept in shape, functional simplicity, reliability and economy, Fiat's fundamental goal has not been to design a car that 'looks like' a 500 but, rather, one that 'could be' a 500 again.
Dante Giacosa's outstandingly successful 500 - a masterpiece of industrial design of which exactly 3,893,294 examples were built between 1957 and 1975 - was launched on 4 July 1957 as a period of post-war regeneration was closing and radical renewal to the company's product range was also coming to an end, presaging a cycle of successes in the coming decade which hallmark it as one of the brightest periods in the brand's 108-year history.
Although parallels with the new Fiat 500 are obvious, the latter has been developed in close collusion with potential customers through a communications project known as '500 wants you'.
Derived from Fiat Centro Stile's widely applauded Trepiuno concept car first shown at the 2004 Geneva Motorshow, the 3-door Fiat 500's very short bonnet and minimal front and rear overhangs create an exceptionally compact bodyshell, measuring just 3546mm in length, 1627 mm in width and 1488 mm in height.
The front of the new 500 is designed to combine styling cues of the latest models in the Fiat family with the most distinctive elements of the original 500, the strongest references to the latter being a combination of circular upper headlights, separate, lower, full beam lamp housings and the trademark 'whisker and logo' badging derived from the name of the very first Fiat 500, the 1936 Topolino - 'little mouse'.
The short bonnet and steeply raked, 'cab forward' A pillar location belie the 500's highly compact, front engine FWD format, while the resultant aerodynamic efficiency awards the new Fiat a drag coefficient of just Cd 0.325, promoting exceptional high-speed stability, a marked reduction in wind noise intrusion to the interior, and enhanced fuel economy. Safety has also been an important design consideration, and despite the highly compact nature of the design, the tapered bumper structure and rounded front profile award the new Fiat a high standard of pedestrian protection.
In profile, muscular front and rear wheel arches and crisp door sill detailing highlight the new Fiat's wide track and reinforce the car's exceptional dynamic abilities. Aerodynamic, door-mounted mirrors not only further reduce interior wind noise levels, but also emphasise the 500's tapering waistline, which, allied to a blacked out B pillar and seamless roofline, reinforces the smoothly integrated look of the design.
At the rear, a large, chrome plated tailgate handle recalls the 'bicycle saddle' motif of the original 500's registration plate light holder. Large, high visibility tail light clusters flank a practical, top-hinged tailgate - with an integral roof spoiler and third stop light - which offers full-width access to the loadspace across a low-silled aperture. The new Fiat's broad, purposeful rear stance is further strengthened by an integral lower bumper housing a full width nudge bar.
Augmented by a range of seven alloy wheel and two wheel trim designs; a choice of eight sticker kits which combined with body colours yield 19 possible personalisations; and 10 different badges combining to offer a wide variety of custom finishes themed on the chequered flag, monochrome stripes, a barcode, and even the Italian flag, the new Fiat 500 will be available in a range of 12 body colours, (eight pastel, three metallic, plus the exclusive pearl-effect Funk White), many of which have been inspired by the original shades of the first 500.
Despite its compact overall dimensions, the new Fiat 500's 2300 mm wheelbase affords it a capacious, flexible interior with seating for four adults. Painstaking detailing of the seat bases and tailgate hinges has created surprisingly commodious rear seat accommodation.
The combination of a height adjustable seat, rake adjustable steering wheel, tapering A pillar and generous glazing offer the Fiat 500 driver a comfortable, highly adaptable driving position with excellent all-round visibility. Unrivalled driver ergonomics have been achieved through painstaking detailing and the careful placement of switchgear.
Complementing a clear, functional driver's instrument binnacle which houses both rev counter and speedometer within a single, double-bezelled dial, the high quality centre console raises the gear lever to within the closest practical proximity of the steering wheel, allowing for quick, accurate changes with minimal physical effort. Careful consideration has gone into the placement of all other console-based functions, with the stereo CD/radio placed at the highest level to offer ease of access with minimal driver distraction.
The steering wheel, together with the central dashboard area which houses ventilation/air conditioning controls, may be specified in a choice of finishes, black or ivory, whilst the main fascia panel has a paint finish to match the exterior bodywork colour. Extensive cabin storage includes two large dashboard compartments, a bin under the front passenger seat cushion, generous door pockets, small and medium sized drawers, centre console cup holders and a removable rear parcel shelf.
Via a top hinged tailgate and low loading threshold, the luggage compartment offers 185 litres of storage, and a maximum of 550 litres with the rear seat back folded.
Fiat is widely considered to be among the 'greenest' car manufacturers in the world, and its cars boast some of the most impressive CO2 figures available.
Fiat Group has led the way in responding effectively to the need to limit the impact that transport has on the environment. And to achieve this important goal, Fiat continues to propose concrete solutions that are within everyone's reach and are on the market today. For example, Fiat is European leader in the production of compact cars - by definition, among the most environment-friendly. And the launch of the new Fiat 500, which introduces Euro 5-ready engines, (petrol and diesel), is two years ahead of the legislative deadline.
Additionally, Fiat's commitment to environmental concerns has resulted in the decision to introduce Euro 5 engines on the majority of its range by the end of 2009.
Protection of the environment is an essential aspect of the development of all Fiat Group Automobiles models, and this constant commitment has won the company acknowledgement as the best European brand for the reduction in CO2 emissions. That recognition came in 2005, from an independent source (European Federation for Transport and Environment - EFTE), and in 2006 the Group achieved an 18 per cent reduction on 1995. That same year, 55 per cent of all the cars sold by Fiat had CO2 emissions below 140 g/km - an industry voluntary target - while 13 per cent were below 120 g/km.
For 2007, the company again leads the way with regard to low CO2 emissions, and continues to make improvements in terms of average emissions (g/km), according to the latest report from the EFTE. Its figures show that Fiat's average CO2 output was 144 g/km for 2006, down from 145 g/km - a change of -0.5 per cent. This puts it in second place among all the major manufacturers included in the research.
The carbon dioxide benchmark figures for an entire fleet average, form the basis of a car maker's environmental, or 'green', credentials, and future European Union regulations are likely to be based upon them.
But, regardless of any decisions taken by the EU, Fiat is committed to reaching the lowest average level for CO2 emissions for its cars by 2012. Of course, it helps that a high proportion of Fiat sales are small cars, but the company will continue to strive for improvements through a programme targeting its engines, transmissions and vehicle design.
Stop&Start, which reduces fuel consumption by up to 10 per cent around town, the Multiair electronic inlet valve control system, and a new modular two-cylinder petrol engine all feature among Fiat's environmentally-friendly developments.
With a major objective to develop and apply innovative technologies for improving powerplant performance while cutting fuel consumption and engine emissions, the major thrust of Fiat's research is towards integrating mechanical and hydraulic drive systems with electronic regulation schemes in order to control the combustion process and exhaust gas treatment.
With safety and the environment top of Fiat's agenda, nowhere is this attention more evident than in the research and real-world application made in several key areas. These include:
reducing emissions of pollutants and greenhouse gases
reducing fuel consumption and dependency
developing emissions-curbing systems such as diesel particulate filters
extending the range of vehicles that are powered by alternative fuels
continuing work on diesel engines equipped with the MultiJet system
Additionally, Fiat has teamed up with software giant Microsoft to help teach motorists to drive their cars more economically and to reduce emissions. Using a system called EcoDrive, owners will be able to download information about their fuel consumption, driving conditions, emissions and how the car has been driven after every journey, and replay it on their personal computers.
The system will encourage drivers to set themselves challenges such as CO2 reduction targets for each journey or over a set period of time. In a business community, several drivers could be encouraged to come together to achieve joint targets to make a bigger, collective impact.
Finally, all the vehicles in the Fiat range are already 95 per cent recoverable, anticipating the homologation deadline imposed by Directive 2005/64/CE, which will become obligatory for newly homologated models in December 2008 and for new registrations from July 2010.
At the same time, to improve the environmental impact of its cars at the end of their life-span, Fiat has reduced the use of PVC and thermo-setting polymers, and has considerably increased the quantity of recyclable materials - thus making a significant contribution to the re-use of materials from scrapped cars.
A first for vehicles in this segment, the new Fiat 500 has been awarded a maximum 5-star safety rating in the gruelling Euro NCAP crash test programme, placing it at the very top of its category in terms of passive, active and preventive safety.
This is an important accolade which, together with similar safety ratings already achieved by the Grande Punto and new Bravo, is further confirmation of Fiat's commitment to all aspects of driver and occupant protection.
To achieve this outstanding result, several thousand hours of computations were carried out, along with innumerable crash tests, simulations with the HyGe sled and tests on components and subsystems, encompassing every possible type of accident: head-on and lateral collisions, rollovers, rear-end collisions and fire. Other factors taken into consideration included the different speeds at which accidents occur, obstacles, pedestrian protection, and the protection of occupants with widely differing physical attributes.
The new Fiat 500 meets preventive safety needs with an adjustable cockpit that adapts to drivers of any size. The combination of a height adjustable driver's seat and rake adjustable steering, allied to an extensive glazed area, allows the best possible view of the road ahead. User-friendly ergonomics allow drivers to operate all instruments and controls without taking their eyes off the road, and the headlamps incorporate a switchable Daylight Running facility controlled via the vehicle's on-board computer.
State-of-the-art passive safety is provided by a chassis/platform designed to provide maximum torsional stiffness yet absorb impact with maximum efficiency. Moreover, the new Fiat 500 is the first car in its class to offer seven airbags fitted as standard throughout the range, while front seat belts with pretensioners and load limiters, three-point rear seat belts, anti-submarining seats, ISOFIX child seat attachments in the rear seats and an FPS Fire Prevention System are also all fitted as standard.
The new Fiat 500 will become available in nine versions at launch, as follows:
1.2 Fire Pop - £7900
1.4 16v Fire Pop - £9300
1.3 16v MultiJet Pop - £9300
1.2 Fire Lounge - £9300
1.2 Fire Sport - £9300
1.4 16v Fire Lounge - £10,700
1.3 16v MultiJet Lounge - £10,700
1.4 16v Fire Sport - £10,700
1.3 16v MultiJet Sport - £10,700
The new Fiat 500 range is available in three trim levels - Pop, Lounge and Sport. A particularly generous equipment specification has been carefully considered to simplify and enhance life on board, with ABS anti-lock braking, remote central locking, seven airbags, electric front windows and door mirrors, an MP3-compatible CD player and Dualdrive electric power steering fitted as standard, even at entry level.
The three specification levels include the following:
Pop:
ABS anti-lock braking with EBD
Remote central locking
Seven airbags
Electric front windows and door mirrors
Height adjustable driver's seat
Seat-back pockets
Radio with MP3-compatible CD player and 6 speakers
Front passenger under-seat stowage
Dualdrive electric power steering
Folding rear seat
Follow Me Home headlights
Trip computer
Lounge:
In addition to the Pop specification, Lounge adds:
Leather steering wheel with Blue&Me controls
Blue&Me
Air conditioning
Luxury interior trim
15" alloy wheels
Body coloured door mirrors
Exterior chrome trim
Glass roof (fixed)
50:50 split/folding rear seat with head restraints
Sport:
In addition to the Pop specification, Sport adds:
Sports leather steering wheel with Blue&Me controls
Blue&Me
Air conditioning
Sports interior trim
15" sports alloy wheels
Body coloured door mirrors
Dark tinted rear windows
Spoiler
Foglights
Weighing just 130 kg, the 1.3 litre 16v MultiJet - a 1248 cc, 4-cylinder in-line unit with a bore of 69.6 mm and a stroke of 82 mm - is the smallest and most advanced second generation Common Rail direct injection turbodiesel in the world. More than two million units have been built to date.
It features twin overhead camshafts, a chain driven timing system, hydraulic tappets, a cast iron crankcase with an aluminium base, a steel crankshaft and an aluminium cylinder head. The cylinder head is equipped with highly efficient directional intake ports to ensure an optimum fuel mix despite the small bore. The 1.3 MultiJet engine is boosted by a Borg-Warner fixed geometry turbocharger with wastegate and intercooler, and possesses an electronically controlled exhaust gas recirculation and cooling system.
The engine offers two highly innovative features: extremely compact dimensions (460 mm long, 500 mm wide and 650 mm high) that enable it to be installed in city cars, and the sophisticated MultiJet technology of second generation JTDs. The latter is the result of groundbreaking and ongoing development work at the Fiat Research Centre in Turin, itself responsible for the introduction of the world's first UniJet Common Rail engine in 1997.
Within a UniJet engine, a pilot injection raises temperature and pressure inside the cylinder to improve combustion at the time of the main stroke. However, by dividing the main injection into a number of smaller injections, a MultiJet engine affords a fuller, more gradual combustion whilst the amount of diesel burnt at each stroke remains the same. This promotes smoother, quieter combustion, reduced emissions and increased performance.
A MultiJet engine differs from its UniJet counterpart in two essential areas: the injectors and the electronic control unit.
To facilitate multi-injection, the new injectors can both reduce the time lag between injections from 1500 to just 150 microseconds, and reduce the minimum quantity of fuel injected from 2 to less than 1 mm3. In tandem, the new control unit modulates injection strategy continually to adjust to changes within three parameters: engine rpm, torque required at any given time by the driver, and coolant temperatures.
Thus, when coolant temperature is less than 60 degrees and torque requirement low, two small and one large injection are performed. As torque demand increases,the number of injections drops to two; one small and one large. Under conditions of high rpm and high torque demand, only one injection is required while, with coolant temperature at over 60 degrees, emissions are minimised with one small, one large, then one small injection in the sequence.
Start-up times and exhaust smoke are significantly reduced; noise levels and vibration are lowered to ensure a quieter drive and improved passenger comfort; fuel consumption is reduced by a further 10 per cent and emission control reduction is greatly enhanced.
The compact, efficient and reliable 75 bhp 1.3 16v MultiJet engine is extremely eco-friendly, thanks to an emissions control system which features an electronically triggered Exhaust Gas Recirculation valve managed directly by the engine control system, a heat exchanger to cool recirculating exhaust gas and a close coupled catalytic converter. Also fitted as standard is a particulate trap (DPF) - a 'for life' system that needs no regenerating additives. This is a mechanical filter, integral with the exhaust system, that physically traps particulates in the diesel engine's exhaust gases. It almost totally eliminates particulates in compliance with current and future legal regulations.
A range of reliable, robust and sophisticated gearboxes has been developed to match the new Fiat 500 engine range; a 5-speed manual gearbox mated to the 1.2 litre FIRE petrol and 1.3 16v MultiJet powerplants, and a 6-speed manual gearbox mated to the 1.4 litre FIRE petrol engine. Dualogic, an innovative, power assisted, semi- or fully-automatic transmission is available with the 5- and 6-speed manual gearboxes of the 1.2 and 1.4 litre FIRE petrol units.
A light, accurate gear change has been effected by the reduced inertia of the driven clutch plate and the introduction of new seals. The gear casings, developed using finite element structural computing methods, are light yet display high noise absorption efficiency. Fifth speed and final drive gear sets are machined to a superfinish after heat treatment, to further reduce noise levels.
Both gearboxes feature a dual cable external control that filters engine vibrations transmitted to a dashboard-mounted gear lever offering outstanding selection manoeuvrability, hydraulic clutches are used to promote ease of use, efficiency and low running noise, and a 'syringe' mechanism is employed to prevent involuntary reverse engagement.
The innovative Dualogic transmission system features a servo automated clutch and gear lever, while retaining all the attributes of a dry clutch and manual gearbox; low weight, strength, reliability and fuel economy.
Two operating modes are selectable; semi-automatic and automatic. In the absence of a clutch pedal, fast, accurate gear changing in semi-automatic mode simply requires the movement of the lever forward to change up and back to change down.
Once the new Fiat 500 has been started, brake pedal pressure allows the selection of either first or reverse gear (second gear may be selected to aid traction in slippery conditions). To ensure safety and prevent unsolicited gear changes, the system automatically engages neutral when the engine is still running and the door is
opened. Dualogic also prevents gear changing errors that risk damage to engine or transmission, reinforced with both visual and aural alarms.
In fully automatic mode, Dualogic offers two options: Normal and Economy. The Normal option offers outstanding driving comfort through the smoothest gearchanges under all conditions. Pressing the Economy button on the gear control panel offers reduced fuel consumption whilst maintaining driving comfort.
The Dualogic system offers the ideal compromise for those who prefer an automatic gearbox for day-to-day use, but do not wish to relinquish the driver involvement and satisfaction of a manual change.
Allied to a bodyshell of exceptional torsional stiffness, the new 500 employs a derivation of the highly acclaimed Fiat Panda's proven suspension set-up within a wheelbase of 2300 mm and with the front track increased by 36 mm and the rear by 40 mm. The combination of an independent MacPherson strut front configuration and a lightweight torsion beam axle at the rear offers a high level of driving precision, roadholding and ride comfort.
The front MacPherson strut suspension layout features transverse lower wishbones anchored to an auxiliary crossbeam, an anti-roll bar connected by rods to the shock absorbers (a first in this category), new design coil springs that increase the absorption of minor surface roughness, and wishbones with both front bushes and new vertical rear bushes of rubber and metal. The new bushes contain an increased percentage of rubber, offering an excellent compromise between vibration suppression and road adhesion.
The rear suspension configuration combines a folded sheet steel torsion beam with double acting telescopic hydraulic dampers located beneath the floor to improve comfort without compromising load space. Single rubber and metal bush attachment of the rear axle to the body further lowers noise and vibration intrusion into the passenger compartment, while promoting greater driving stability under all conditions by generating a wheel toe-in effect during cornering.
The new Fiat 500 is equipped with Dualdrive electric power assisted, rack and pinion steering requiring 2.5 turns lock-to-lock. 1.2 8v FIRE and 1.3 16v MultiJet models have a turning circle of just 9.2 metres, while the 1.4 16v FIRE version has a turning circle of 10.6 metres.
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