New Fiat 500 to use two-cylinder turbo engine
Following the moves of other car manufacturers that have revived classics (e.g.: the MINI and the New Beetle), Fiat is bringing back it’s old adorable Fiat 500, the town car with a boxer two-cylinder engine that came in either 479cc, 499cc, or 594cc displacements. There were even estate and convertible versions.
Fiat’s new Fiat 500 is set to be a 2007 release model based on the Fiat Panda platform, and word is that the two-cylinder configuration is coming back, now in turbocharged form! The engine is set to be a two-pot 0.9 liter engine making between 90hp to 110hp and 120Nm of torque, which is likely to kick in pretty low in the torque band considering the usual turbocharged torque curve patterns. The photo above is a computer generated rendering of how the new Fiat 500 could potentially look like, but expect the production version to retain all the retro looks of it’s predecessor.
More powerful variants will use the new Fire 1.4 liter engine that will also be put into the new Fiat Bravo. It makes about 150hp, doesn’t look as nice on paper as the 1.4 TSI from Volkswagen but still commendable.
Will the modern interpretation of the Fiat 500 enjoy the same runaway success that BMW has had with the New MINI Cooper? In case you don’t know how the original Fiat 500 looked like, a photo of a 1973 variant is available after the jump.
November 16, 2006 @ 12:38 pm
Classic style might attract buyers to buy one. I think they wanna to follow the MINI and Beater.
Good move BTW!
November 16, 2006 @ 12:43 pm
Great job, bring back the legend and the classical taste.
Not a car with much attractive look, but I still like it!!!
November 16, 2006 @ 1:05 pm
Hahaha.. nice.. very classic…
November 16, 2006 @ 1:26 pm
Excellent. Why can’t people make cars like this!? IMHO the Ford GT was a worthy successor to the GT40, the new Mustang is also OK. ‘New Beetle’ - rubbish, New MINI … so-so but just a pale copy of the real Mini. Someone should copy the iconic EF-Generation Honda CRX.
November 16, 2006 @ 1:29 pm
I want one!! (if the price is right)
November 16, 2006 @ 1:36 pm
I want the original in Abarth 695SS specs.
Yummy!!
November 16, 2006 @ 1:47 pm
I cant wait for Toyota to come out with their retro-look Celica… I just love the first Gen celica look… killa…
November 16, 2006 @ 1:59 pm
Another looser, didn’t even care on launching new, good cars; but rather, cash in on previous legacies and heritage which virtually had nothing to do with their current status.
November 16, 2006 @ 2:05 pm
seems there is a market for retro products. would be great if there is a re-born mk2 escort sport or saab 900 turbo… of course updated for today lah.
November 16, 2006 @ 2:14 pm
The Fiat 500 is a classic piece of car history. It was as popular as the Volkswagen Beetle back in the day. One of those cars people just had to buy because it was so desirable.
I never thought there would be a smaller displacement engine than the Mira Daihatsu engine. The horsepower figures are eeriely similar to a turbocharged 1 liter Kelisa engine
November 16, 2006 @ 4:53 pm
muaks! hope its cheap n affordable n value 4 money as well so tat i can achieve my italian dream!
very nice!!
November 16, 2006 @ 6:18 pm
no problem if parked next to F430
November 16, 2006 @ 10:14 pm
Huh the “mickey” have a new model~
November 16, 2006 @ 11:34 pm
Interesting, I’ve always liked the original, would really like to see how the new version looks like.
November 17, 2006 @ 3:01 am
You might say it’s not original, but i think it looks and MAY perform better than the Cherry QQ (Yucks). If ppl can buy the Spark, y not this car?>
November 18, 2006 @ 12:04 am
Ya, certainly better than the QQ…..
November 18, 2006 @ 8:46 pm
not sure I like this new facelift, maybe they need to try harder
November 20, 2006 @ 7:51 am
Hi everybody,
So cute! Luigi is making a comeback!
Fiat 500 in Disney’s “Cars”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhcvSLTouuc
February 1, 2007 @ 7:40 pm
it’s impossible not to adore this lovely car…u will hit the streets with this…now we have only to wait untill the 15th september, when it’ll be out..while waiting go to the official website fiat500.com is very funny..
March 7, 2007 @ 5:56 pm
Dear Paul,
I have a Fiat 500L, year 1967( ? ) I need someone to repair the engine / gearbox as it is very slow ( no power ) and the gearbox is crushy. Or maybe you can tell me where to get a used engine / gearbox for it? I read that the Fiat 126 engine / gearbox will fit ?
Thanks