Fifty years after its birth, the car that transformed European city driving has been reincarnated as the Fiat Nuova 500. Fiat released photos today of the reborn icon, whose official renaissance comes on 4 July 2007.
The original Fiat Nuova 500 (aka cinquecento) was small, cheap, and practical — exactly what drivers in the congested cities of postwar Italy were looking for. The tiny car, whose 479cc engine generated a mere 13hp, was hugely popular and became a template for the European city car. Fiat produced six versions of the 500 between 1957 and 1977.
This time around, buyers have three engines to choose from: a 75hp 1.3-liter 16-valve multijet turbodiesel and two gas engines producing 69hp (1.2-liter, 8-valve) and 100hp (1.4-liter, 16-valve) respectively. Each is available with a five-speed or six-speed manual gearbox.
The new Nuova 500 — which will be built at Fiat's plant in Tychy, Poland — will have its formal coming-out party in Turin and first goes on sale in Italy on 15 September. Production targets are 50,000 for 2007 and 120,000 for 2008, and that may not be enough. Looks like Fiat has another hit on its hands.
More pix from Fiat after the flip.
[Source: Fiat]
