2008 Fiat 500 Cabrio

vanMould · October 11th, 2006, 11:32 PM

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/images/front_picture_library_UK/dir_418/car_photo_209103_5.jpg

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/images/front_picture_library_UK/dir_418/car_photo_209102_5.jpg

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/images/front_picture_library_UK/dir_418/car_photo_209101_5.jpg

Quote:

Fiat 500 blows top!
Bella! There's no better way to describe Fiat's latest baby - it's just beautiful

New cabrio is flagship of 500 range, and will be offered with a wide range of options, so buyers can personalise their cars. Under skin, model uses identical underpinnings to the next Ford Ka.

The compact dimensions of the standard 500 mean designers have ruled out a complex electric folding metal roof, engineering the convertible with a manual fabric top from day one

This is the new 500 Cabriolet, a model that promises to have style-conscious buyers reaching for their cheque books when it goes on sale in 2008.

Drawing on Fiat's rich history of great small cars, the upcoming model is set to introduce a whole new group of young buyers to the brand - as well as appealing to fans of the original.

With the eagerly awaited 500 due for launch late in 2007, and talk of an Abarth performance version following, the new drop-top will complete the line-up. As with the hatch, it will mix affordable pricing with head-turning looks.

As you can see from our pictures, the Cabriolet faithfully updates the cheeky original, keeping all its trademark styling cues and using a hood that maintains the cute, curvy profile.

The compact dimensions of the standard 500 mean designers have ruled out a complex electric folding metal roof, engineering the convertible with a manual fabric top from day one.

Based on the platform of Ford's Ka replacement and built at the same factory in Poland, the new Cabriolet shares much of its engineering and production costs with the blue oval.

The Fiat is a strict two-seater, so there will be room behind the cockpit for the folding roof and a useful luggage area. Up front, expect a metal-coloured dash with a large central speedo and leather trim on top-of-the-range models, while buyers will be able to personalise their interior from the range of different colour and equipment options on offer.

With Ford's hand in much of the development, the 500 Cabriolet is set to offer agile handling. As for engine options, power will come from 1.1-litre and 1.2-litre petrol units, as well as the impressive 1.3-litre Multijet diesel.

However, a new range of motors, including a 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol with upwards of 120bhp and a new 1.6-litre turbodiesel, is likely to arrive in 2009. Manual and automatic transmissions will also be available.

While Fiat has yet to confirm the 500 Cabriolet will make production, bosses have privately admitted it has always been in the pipeline. And they are also believed to be considering other open-top concepts, including a car featuring removable roof panels and a model with a full-length canvas sunroof.

Source:
http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/au...blows_top.html

Blind_Io · October 11th, 2006, 11:40 PM

Not exactly my kind of car, but I can certainly see the appeal of one in crowded cities.

-Cpt. J.- · October 12th, 2006, 12:12 AM

2points for not looking as gay as the Nissan Micra... still wouldnt buy it with my own money no matter how crowded my city was. Never. But like the Micra this is a chix car so my opinion doesnt matter. images/smilies/smile.gif

hanasand · October 12th, 2006, 12:22 AM

I want it!

Black with white OZ-racing rims 18".

Would be sure to make you the utter female-magnet and it's not gay at all, it's just
small and cool. Meaning that you have to have a big manhood* to own one.

watto · October 12th, 2006, 12:27 AM

That's really really cool! I love the whole retro look of it images/smilies/thumbsup.gif

bartboy9891 · October 12th, 2006, 03:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by watto

That's really really cool! I love the whole retro look of it images/smilies/thumbsup.gif

i would say thats the best "retro" car ive seen to date. even better than the Mini

BerserkerCatSplat · October 12th, 2006, 05:09 AM

vanMould: You have the strangest avatar on FinalGear, congratulations! I love anime as much as the next guy, but that's kinda fucked.

SL65 · October 12th, 2006, 07:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by -Cpt. J.-

2points for not looking as gay as the Nissan Micra...

Still very gay though.

vanMould · October 12th, 2006, 10:26 AM

I never add my own comments when reporting news. Just to preserve the purity and innocence of the first post images/smilies/tongue.gif

I quite like this car. Rear could have been better, but as a whole, it's not a bad design. If I would, for some reason, need a car of this kind at some point in this future, I'd definately consider the Fiat 500. I wonder how it stacks up against the Daihatsu Copen though.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BerserkerCatSplat

vanMould: You have the strangest avatar on FinalGear, congratulations! I love anime as much as the next guy, but that's kinda fucked.

Oh thank you. Being reasonably strange and disturbing was my intention when picking that picture, and it seems I've succeeded. I've got worse laying around, but most of them would probably push the rules a bit too far.

FATMOUSE · October 12th, 2006, 03:09 PM

So that's a cat...eating mice? images/smilies/wacko.gif

vanMould · October 12th, 2006, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FATMOUSE

So that's a cat...eating mice? images/smilies/wacko.gif

Makes perfect sense, doesn't it? Don't take it offensive images/smilies/wink.gif

I've got this picture of some industrial mermaid-fishing which I also was considering. It's kind of beautiful in my wicked opinion, but it wouldn't work as well as an avatar.

hanasand · October 12th, 2006, 05:59 PM

You sick anime fetishists...

-Cpt. J.- · October 12th, 2006, 09:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hanasand

You sick anime fetishists...

x2

mautzel · October 12th, 2006, 09:32 PM

Back to the car: like the front, don't like the back. Why can't designers do a proper job once and design the whole car - you'll see these more often in front of you than in your backview mirror after all!

triumph · October 12th, 2006, 10:06 PM

not even close good looking as the original
I know that the current trend is retro cars but this one isn't really nice
the front reminds me of the daihastu copen images/smilies/wacko.gif

No comment for the rear.

October 11th, 2006, 11:40 PM	#2
Blind_Io Dispenses buckshot medication for all undead patients. Joined: Apr 5th, 2006 Last Online: January 3rd, 2009 Location: Richmond, California, USA Age: 28 Posts: 9,074 Car: 2004 Honda Civic Coupe 2000 VFR800 Interceptor Rep Power: 121	Not exactly my kind of car, but I can certainly see the appeal of one in crowded cities. __________________ War is Peace, Freedom is Slavery, Ignorance is Strength

October 12th, 2006, 12:22 AM	#4
hanasand Despot Joined: Sep 27th, 2004 Last Online: December 15th, 2008 Location: Stavanger, Norway Age: 22 Posts: 1,300 Rep Power: 0	I want it! Black with white OZ-racing rims 18". Would be sure to make you the utter female-magnet and it's not gay at all, it's just small and cool. Meaning that you have to have a big manhood* to own one. __________________ "Maybe, maybe not. Maybe fuck yourself. http://www.majestet.com

October 12th, 2006, 05:09 AM	#7
BerserkerCatSplat Hormone Induced Joined: Jun 21st, 2005 Last Online: 08:01 PM Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada Posts: 5,906 Car: Pimpmobile Rep Power: 73	vanMould: You have the strangest avatar on FinalGear, congratulations! I love anime as much as the next guy, but that's kinda fucked. __________________ OSPhoto

October 12th, 2006, 03:09 PM	#10
FATMOUSE Joined: Jun 30th, 2005 Last Online: 08:11 PM Location: NYC Posts: 3,081 Rep Power: 34	So that's a cat...eating mice? __________________ woohoo someone changed my sig

October 12th, 2006, 05:59 PM	#12
hanasand Despot Joined: Sep 27th, 2004 Last Online: December 15th, 2008 Location: Stavanger, Norway Age: 22 Posts: 1,300 Rep Power: 0	You sick anime fetishists... __________________ "Maybe, maybe not. Maybe fuck yourself. http://www.majestet.com

October 12th, 2006, 12:12 AM	#3
-Cpt. J.- Joined: Aug 3rd, 2006 Last Online: 07:56 PM Location: Bar stool Age: 24 Posts: 1,004 Car: Drunken Pedestrian Rep Power: 12	2points for not looking as gay as the Nissan Micra... still wouldnt buy it with my own money no matter how crowded my city was. Never. But like the Micra this is a chix car so my opinion doesnt matter.

October 12th, 2006, 12:27 AM	#5
watto Unloved and lacking a title Joined: Jun 13th, 2005 Last Online: December 27th, 2008 Location: Melbourne, Australia Age: 23 Posts: 5,412 Car: 1997 VW Golf MkIII CL, Giant OCR 3 Rep Power: 58	That's really really cool! I love the whole retro look of it

October 12th, 2006, 09:32 PM	#14
mautzel Joined: Jan 28th, 2005 Last Online: Yesterday Location: Frankfurt/M, Deutschland Age: 28 Posts: 2,456 Car: Golf IV TDI Rep Power: 21	Back to the car: like the front, don't like the back. Why can't designers do a proper job once and design the whole car - you'll see these more often in front of you than in your backview mirror after all!

October 12th, 2006, 10:06 PM	#15
triumph Joined: Apr 6th, 2006 Last Online: November 14th, 2008 Location: Germany (Tübingen near Stuttgart!!!) Posts: 466 Car: fiat barchetta Rep Power: 0	not even close good looking as the original I know that the current trend is retro cars but this one isn't really nice the front reminds me of the daihastu copen No comment for the rear. __________________ There are two ways a truly civilised and advanced nation can be defined. One, it has a fleet of nuclear submarines, and two, it does not have the death penalty. That leaves you with France and Britain. And that’s about right. J. Clarkson My Perfect car would have 1 the italian beauty,2 the british style,3 the french originality 4 the japanese reliability 5 the german technology and 6 the price of a chinese car

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