The Fiat 500 has always been a celebration of its iconic predecessor, adopting not only the look but also the character and verve of the 1957 original. But now FIAT is taking that homage to a new level with the new Fiat 500 Vintage ’57 which is set to debut at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show (March 3).
The Vintage ’57 is a contemporary interpretation of the stylistic features that gave the original its distinctive identity. Finished in pastel blue with a contrasting white roof, spoiler, antenna and mirror covers, the most distinctive element of the new Fiat 500 Vintage ’57 is its 16-inch vintage alloy wheels, a nod to those used on the original 500 but updated and refined for contemporary tastes. The wheel centres feature the historical Fiat logos, a subtle touch that’s repeated on the front and rear badges.
The retro theme of the Fiat 500 Vintage ’57 continues inside with the a white dashboard; historic Fiat logo in the steering wheel boss and tan-coloured Poltrona Frau leather seats with ivory leather ‘half-moon’ inserts and “500” embroidery in tan.
There’s nothing retrospective about the Fiat 500 Vintage ‘57’s standard technologies though: air conditioning; Blue&MeTM; seven airbags, Start&Stop system, ESP with ASR/MSR, HBA and Hill Holder. Available in the UK in March, the new Fiat 500 Vintage ’57 will be available with the petrol-powered 69hp 1.2-litre as well as the award-winning 0.9 TwinAir petrol engine in 65hp (51kw) (normally aspirated), 85hp (63kw) (turbo) and 105hp (78kw) (turbo) outputs. The 1.3 MultiJet 95hp (71kw) turbo-diesel engine will also be available.
Produced since 2007 in Poland and since 2010 in Toluca (Mexico), the Fiat 500 is now sold in more than 100 countries world-wide, spearheading the brand’s return to North America. More than 1.5 million have been produced.
Other Fiat vehicles debuting at the Geneva Motor Show include the Fiat 500X with DDCT, a six-speed, dual dry-clutch transmission paired with the front-wheel drive 1.4 MultiAir II 140 HP (105kw) engine that combines the responsiveness and driving satisfaction of a manual with the ease-of-use and economy of a traditional automatic transmission, and the Fiat Doblò Trekking with standard “Traction+” system for improved traction control on slippery surfaces and light off-road conditions. New side mouldings, model-specific diamond-cut 16-inch alloy wheels, new front and rear bumpers as well as a raised chassis and sump guard set the Doblò Trekking apart from its siblings.
