 2012 Fiat 500. Click image to enlarge |
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2012 Fiat 500
San Diego, California – Pop quiz: in what year did Fiat introduce its last Canadian new model, and what was that model? Answer: The year was 1980 and the model was the Fiat Strada, of which only a handful were sold before Fiat left Canada for a very long time.
This year, Fiat returns with an homage to its past dressed up in modern sheetmetal, and driven by the latest technologies. But even though we’re effectively seeing a new automotive brand come to Canada, the 2012 Fiat 500 is generating interest far beyond its diminutive size as it is SOOO CUTE!
At least, that’s what just about everyone gushes upon first seeing Fiat’s engaging little blast from the past.
But here at Autos, we are not so easily convinced. We want to know, does it have enough power? How does it handle? Can you fit actual people in this tiny conveyance? Is it for real?
 2012 Fiat 500. Click image to enlarge |
First of all, the reason we’re seeing any Fiats at all in North America is because Fiat is now the putative owner of Chrysler (along with the Canadian and U.S. governments, as part of a complex deal that we won’t go into here). Suffice to say that the association with Chrysler has generated new and improved Chrysler Group vehicles, and an opportunity for Fiat to return here with a yet-to-be announced array of Fiat vehicles, with new dealer showrooms and all.
The first of these vehicles is the subcompact Fiat 500, built in Mexico at the former Chrysler PT Cruiser (now Dodge Journey) plant, powered by Fiat engines assembled in Dundee, Michigan.
The car, as you may know, is a reinvention of the Fiat 500 model first introduced in 1957. The name “500” refers to the displacement of the original rear-mounted, two-cylinder, air-cooled engine (that would be 500 cc’s, not 500 ci’s…). The modern version of this car was introduced in Europe in 2007 and subsequently named European Car of the Year in 2008. So the 2012 version is not an all-new vehicle that will be de-bugged in North America; it’s a well-sorted car with three years production under its belt.
   2012 Fiat 500. Click image to enlarge |
Just to be clear, the engine is no longer in the back. It’s a conventionally front-mounted, liquid-cooled, 1.4-litre, four-cylinder “MultiAir” powerplant that makes 102 horsepower at 6,500 rpm and 98 pound-feet of torque at 4,000 rpm (MultiAir is a Fiat engine technology that maximizes engine performance and fuel economy while minimizing emissions). It’s mated to a five-speed manual transmission or an optional six-speed automatic sourced from Japanese maker Aisin (the same automatic transmission used in the Mini Cooper).
Brakes are four-wheel discs and fuel consumption from the manual transmission 500 is a miserly 6.7/5.1 L/100 km, city/highway, and 7.4/5.7 L/100 km, city/highway, for the automatic.
Three trim levels will be offered, each with the same drive-train. The $15,995 “Pop” arrives with power windows, power locks with remote keyless entry, power and heated mirrors, chrome door handles, 15-inch wheels with wheel covers, six-speaker audio, cloth seats with driver seat height adjustment, vehicle information centre, tilt steering and the full package of safety features including anti-lock brakes, stability control, traction control, seven airbags and the useful hill-start assist.
For $18,500, the “Sport” features 16-inch alloy wheels, red brake calipers, a sport suspension, unique front and rear fascias, fog lamps, rear spoiler, side sill treatment, air conditioning, leather-wrapped sport steering wheel, cruise control, sport seats, chrome shift knob, hands-free communication and a passenger grab handle.
The top model is the “Lounge” at $19,500. It includes leather interior, automatic temperature control, 15-inch cast aluminum wheels, panoramic glass roof, chrome mirrors, Sirius satellite radio, hands-free communication, auto-dimming rear-view mirror, cruise, aspheric driver exterior mirror, chrome exhaust tip and exterior graphics.
 2012 Fiat 500. Click image to enlarge |
The Fiat 500 is all about personalization. Customers can select from 14 exterior colours (two of them at extra cost), and 11 unique seat colour and material combinations. Some of the colours have a distinctively “retro” appearance; others are very modern. Whatever the choice, the Fiat 500 is very much a style statement; an aesthetic alternative to subcompacts like the Honda Fit, Ford Fiesta, Hyundai Accent and Chevrolet Sonic. Perhaps the closest vehicle in conception would be the Mini Cooper — itself a modern version of a classic vehicle — although the upcoming Toyota iQ should also be a contender.
On the road the Fiat 500 is nothing if not nimble. The high-revving engine is peppy and the steering is quick, although the engine can be noisy under hard acceleration. There’s not much torque from standstill or when climbing hills, so if you want a spirited response from the accelerator, you’ll need to keep the engine speed up. The manual transmission is precise and the clutch is light, and the six-speed automatic intelligently holds gears in corners and going down hills. The engine hovers at around 3,000 rpm on the highway, where the 500’s tall body and narrow track can produce a rather lively ride. Despite the high-revving engine, the car is quiet inside at legal speeds.
 2012 Fiat 500. Click image to enlarge |
The Fiat 500 is very much at home in an urban environment. Its subcompact dimensions get you into small spaces and around obstacles that would obstruct other vehicles. Parking lot manoeuvres are a breeze, and fuel consumption is very low, making the car perfect for zipping around town, knocking off errands and commuting to work. On the weekend, you can make a fashion statement at your local bistro.
Inside, the design is very appealing, looking both retro and modern at the same time. The front seats are comfortable and supportive (wider than the European models for North American posteriors, apparently), although you sit rather high in the car. Headroom is therefore limited for front seat passengers (even with seat height adjustment) and accommodations are challenging for adult rear-seat passengers. Foot room for the front-seat passenger is also limited, and space for odds-and-ends is at a premium. It’s not necessarily confined in there, but if the 500 was a sweater, it would be form-fitting.
The dashboard and instruments are more expensively rendered than you would expect in a car at this price point. The combination speedometer/tachometer is visually appealing and effective. Really, the entire interior design is clever and cheerful. It certainly isn’t utilitarian.
   2012 Fiat 500. Click image to enlarge |
The rear seat folds down, handily opening up a large area for cargo that would be accessed through the rear hatch. The front seats conveniently fold and slide forward to gain entry to the rear. Fiat says there’s more cargo space in the 500 than in the Mini Cooper, and while you may think that’s putting a spin on its cargo capacity, the fact is, you can fit a surprising amount of gear into a Mini Cooper.
I’m not sure why the passenger grab handle is absent in the Pop version, and I think the driver’s aspheric mirror is a helpful tool that should be standard on both sides of the car. The availability of leather seating surfaces is an unexpected pleasure in a vehicle of this class.
Although the 2012 Fiat 500 is not particularly powerful, its engine is free-revving and entertaining within its limits. Steering is quick and the ride is smooth, and in case you’re worried, the 500 can take a 60 km/h front offset collision without interfering with the operation of the doors, so it’s a tough little car for its size.
The Fiat 500 seems finely crafted and feels solid on the road. Its design is eye-catching and owners will stand out from the crowd in this little car as its retro design speaks to perhaps a more fun and whimsical era, and therefore a less conventional owner. Fiat doesn’t expect to sell huge numbers of these vehicles, however, estimating 100,000 for “The Americas” with about 50,000 for the U.S. and maybe 5,000 for Canada. Even that is perhaps an optimistic number, as it is more than the number of Mini Coopers annually sold here. But the Fiat 500 costs several thousand dollars less than a Mini Cooper, so we’ll see.
Look also for a convertible version later this year, and a sporty Abarth edition in 2012. Fiat 500s are arriving in showrooms in February. For a dealer near you, check FiatCanada.com.
Bottom line? Welcome back Fiat. If your other cars are as cool and fun as the Fiat 500, you should do just fine in Canada.
