By: Henrie Geyser

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One thing's for sure - the new Fiat 500 is smart, sophisticated, cute and cocky and in an entirely different league than the unsophisticated, underpowered and rather basic baby Fiat which was very much an icon of fifties motoring.

And whereas the Fiat of those days was a cheap and rather cramped commuter car that became popular because it could park on a postage stamp and run for a week on the smell of an oil rag, the reincarnated 500's appeal lies largely in its trendy, designer-style image.

Yes, nostalgia might also have something to do with it, but not as much as I think Fiat might be hoping for, because oldies who have fond memories of the original Fiat 500 are now more interested in their retirement investments than driving around in a zooty little car with a small boot and a big price tag.

Nor are they likely to be impressed with the fact that they can customise the new 500 in 500,000 different ways with a choice of two engines, three model choices, 12 body colours, a huge variety of alloy wheels in both 15-inch and 16-inch choices, chrome-plated add-ons such as wing mirrors, bonnet trims and a nudge bar on the front bumper and a wide choice of stickers with graphics of flags, barcodes and even racing stripes to paste on the bonnet, sides or roof of their car.

But that is precisely what will appeal to city-sexy, stylish trendheads - and they are the ones who will ultimately be buying this little bambina.

We know other carmakers have tried the nostalgia trip and failed. The reborn Volksie beetle just never caught on, the PT Cruiser doesn't have the power and the street cred, the X-Type Jaguar looked retro cool but that was not enough to stand up to the better value-for-money German cars and the MINI is really just a small BMW in another shape, although it's doing the best of the new-look oldies.

What does count hugely in favour of the Fiat 500 is the fact that it has already been voted International Car of The Year - and that's not an accolade that's lightly earned.

Fiat says the new 500 is a “car for the people of our times; one that ticks all the right boxes…” and that might well be the way the market will look at it: something that's off-the-wall, spunky, exciting and different to anything else on the road, rather than just another throw-back to fifties nostalgia.

It certainly presses the right buttons when it comes to looks. Nicely rounded, it is a mere 355cm long, 163cm wide and 149cm tall. Kinda cuddly cute, but with a 230cm wide wheelbase which deserves a little respect when it comes to roadholding.

I like its pop-eyed headlights, the “whiskers and logo” up front and the generous splashings of chrome at the front, sides and back.

I drove the new baby Fiat from Stellenbosch to Hout Bay and back when it was unveiled to the local motoring media recently and one of the first things that struck all of us is the amount of space inside the cabin.

Even my long-legged co-driver found it easy to find a comfortable driving position. There is also ample space at the back, as long as the journey is not too long and the rear-seat travellers are not too tall or too broad.

The instrument panel lay-out is logical and the gauges are well-positioned (already a huge plus, because most Italian cars tend to be a bit unconventional when it comes to knobs and buttons) and the gear-lever is perfectly positioned for easy cog-swopping.

Some journalists found the engine noise a little intrusive, but I loved its cheeky growl. It is quite responsive for such a small mill, but then we drove most of the way with the Sport button clicked on which does improve the overall response and feel of the car.

I found the steering a little weird in a vague, wooly sort of way and quite a few of my colleagues agreed.

The suspension is taut (perhaps even a little too firm for local conditions) but I much prefer that to the bouncy ride one comes across in so many small cars.

The little 500 is quite sure-footed in the corners and even when pushed quite hard it never once felt skittish.

Two engine-versions will be available locally - a 51kW 1.2-litre and a 73,5kW 1.4-litre with either a five- or six-speed gearbox. (We drove only the model fitted with a six-speed but I think a five-speed would probably be better suited to our local conditions).

Fiat brags with the car's class-beating safety features and rightly so. The brakes certainly are impressively armed with ABS and EBD (electronic brake distribution) and they feel good, even after a number of stomp-down stops.

To make sure things remain upright even at pace the 500 has ESP (electronic stability program), ASR (anti-slip regulation or traction control), Hill Holder to help the driver on hill starts and HBA (hydraulic brake assistance) which steps in for emergency stops.

All models come standard with seven airbags (two at the front, two curtain-bags, two side-bags and one to protect the knees) which is a record for this vehicle class.

Other nice-to-haves include a ‘fragrance diffuser', with a choice of three fragrances, a jacket hanger on the head-restraint, a mobile phone holder or iPod player, USB and 12V sockets, aluminium pedals, the 500 logo on the kick panel of the door, and three types of leather upholstery for the gear lever knob to match the steering wheel, a luggage rack that fits on the rear window and a convenient storage unit that lets you pack away items of various sizes in the loading floor.

On the long list of novelties and accessories you will find daytime running lights, a large glass sunroof and Blue&Me (incorporates a hands-free function with Bluetooth interface and evolved voice recognition, USB port, MP3 reader and text message interpreter) which is standard on the 1.4 Lounge and Sport.

Options are too numerous to list but worthy of mention is the sophisticated Hi-Fi system known as ‘Interscope Sound System'. This system was designed and developed for the Fiat 500 and is combined with a radio incorporating a CD and MP3 player. The novelty of the Interscope Sound System is the simultaneous use of three different methods to process the signal, which make for unique enjoyment of the sound on board the car.

In addition to a conventional heater and a manual climate system, the Fiat 500 is also available with the option of a sophisticated climate system that incorporates an electronic control unit, which automatically controls the temperature, air flow, air distribution, compressor engagement and air recirculation.

The new Fiat 500 will be available in South Africa from 5 July 2008 and although there apparently is a two to three-month waiting list, you might be lucky to find a model on the floor which suits your tastes.

The delivery time of customised 500's will vary depending on what the specifications are, but Fiat reckons prospective buyers won't mind waiting for a boutique car of their own design. The hopes are to sell about 500 of the new 500's in the first year.

Most motoring scribes have been quite positive and enthusiastic about the reborn Fiat, but most felt that the car was much too expensive. In fact, one local motoring magazine said that the 1.4 models were over-priced by R50,000.

It will be interesting to see how heavy fashion and style weigh in the local market and whether the Fiat 500 will be deemed better than the likes of the Renault Megane, Volkswagen Polo, or my personal preference, the Fiat Bravo 1.4-litre Jet Active, which is about the same price as the Fiat 500.

The models available locally are: Fiat 500 1.2 Pop (R149,000), Fiat 500 1.4 Lounge (R179,000) and Fiat 500 1.4 Sport (R179,000). They all come with a three-year/100,000km warranty, a five-year/90,000km service plan and 24-hour AA Fleetcare roadside assistance for 12 months.

[27 Jun 2008 17:27]

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