by James Tennant

Created on: February 16, 2010

Fiat, one of the biggest names in the car manufacturing business have just gotten bigger and are now preparing for an invasion of America. Since acquiring a controlling stake in “Chrysler”, Fiat plan to release a selection of their European line-up abroad, along with cutting down a few of the less popular Chrysler models. How will Fiat stack up against their more established rivals in the USA? Let’s take a look at the current Fiat line up and see which cars could make an impact across the Atlantic.

The Fiat 500 has been a successful car for Fiat in recent years. The decision to bring this classic 50’s city car back into production was inspired and has done Fiat no harm whatsoever. It has received critical acclaim from many car magazines and reviewers with its great driving experience and the modern/retro styling being the biggest highlights.

The Fiat 500 and 500C could possibly be the cutest supermini ever created. Its size, round “eye-like” headlamps and rounded chassis make it a very attractive car. The cute look of the car could make it a bigger hit with women than with men, with the latter usually preferring more angles. The 500C is the newer version of the Fiat 500 and it adds the choice to make this little beauty a convertible.

The small car’s benefits are obvious. Fuel economy is usually fantastic, low taxes to pay on it, a small carbon footprint and the ability to park anywhere are making these types of cars more and more popular every year, especially with those living in cities.

The interior of the Fiat 500 and 500C is a treat.  The rounded features found on the exterior have made their way inside as well creating a perfect symmetry in design between outside and in. The dashboard has a modern, but also slightly retro feel to it. Despite the size of the car the interior does feel quite spacious, which is due to the uncluttered dashboard and the positioning of the central console.

Under the hood of the basic Fiat 500 sits a 1.2 litre, four-cylinder, engine which can produce around 69bhp. This, combined with the light weight and size of the 500 should allow it to reach around 100mph, which is impressive. A 1.3 litre and 1.4 litre engine are also available, both are four cylinders, with the latter producing around 100bhp and reaching a top speed of around 115mph. This makes the tiny 500 a nippy little vehicle for sure, but nothing to shout about.

The handling of the Fiat 500 and 500C is one of the main highlights of the car. Its ability to steer and its responsiveness are top class and makes driving one a truly enjoyable experience. The safety features of the Fiat 500 are also very good, with the car gaining a five star NCAP safety rating in addition to it having the usual assortment of airbags.

The Fiat 500 is a great little car. The pricing, which starts at around 12,000 pounds, can go up to around 15,000 pounds for the higher end 500C model, making it quite reasonable, if not a little more expensive than its rivals. However, you are getting a car with so much more charm than any of its rivals and one that provides not just a great driving experience but one that will turn plenty of heads as you go by.

How it will translate on American shores is debatable. It is tough to gauge just how successful a small, not particularly powerful and rather “cute” vehicle will be received, but, if the success it has enjoyed in Europe is anything to go by, it should do just fine.

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