First Drive: 2012 Fiat 500 Sport

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Promise Fulfilled

The first Fiat in Canada after 27 years finally arrives By John LeBlanc SAN DIEGO, Calif. - Since Fiat took over the duty of managing Chrysler, fans of Italian-bred cars have been left with many questions. The arrival of the 2012 Fiat 500, the first car from the Italian automaker to go on sale in Canada in 27 years, provides many answers. One year after its Canadian debut at the 2010 Toronto auto show, the subcompact, two-door hatchback 500 - or what Italophiles will endearingly call Cinquecento - will go on sale in Canada next month, the first fulfillment of a promise from Fiat to start selling its small cars here. So far, Fiat has 67 dealers across Canada signed up, 40 per cent of which are from Quebec and most are in the process of building specific, Fiat-branded additions to their existing Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep dealerships. Reid Bigland, Chrysler Canada's president and CEO, said that while not all of the Fiat franchises will be up and running by the time the first 500s arrive from Chrysler's Toluca, Mexico plant, which also makes the Dodge Journey, most should be ready by the fall. Though it's new to North America, the 500 has been on sale in Europe since 2007. On principle, it draws from the same page as the Mini Cooper - a modern take on a motoring icon. The car on which today's 500 is modeled on (pictured) was launched in 1957 as an inexpensive city runabout, the Italian counterpart to the Volkswagen Beetle in Germany, Citroën 2CV in France and Austin Mini in England. The tiny car put Italy on wheels during the '50s and '60s and there are still plenty scooting around the world today. Although the original 1957-1975 iteration had a sub-500 cc, two-cylinder engine mounted in the rear, the new 500 is a modern front-engine, front-wheel drive, four-seat hatchback which shares its underpinnings with the award-winning Fiat Panda. Initially, the 500 will come as a two-door hatchback, with a Cabrio (it's more of a giant cloth sunroof than a traditional convertible) following in May. A high-performance Abarth model will arrive on showroom floors a year from now to challenge the likes of the Mini Cooper S. Despite having a premium image, distinctive styling, and zesty driving dynamics, the 500 is priced in the heart of the growing subcompact market. The base 500 Pop starts at $15,995, with fairly generous levels of standard equipment. Keyless entry, power windows, and heated mirrors are all included, as are seven airbags, stability control and four-wheel discs with ABS brakes. The only "essential" you'll need to buck-up for is air conditioning. Alloys, cruise, Bluetooth and a sunroof are optional. The next-rung-up $18,500 Sport adds unique exterior styling and interior trim, cruise control, and Bluetooth, among other items. The topline $19,500 Lounge - the most luxurious 500 you can buy - gets leather throughout the interior, automatic climate control, a panoramic glass roof, plus an upgraded sound system with satellite radio. Heated seats and navigation are available as well. Like the Mini, personal customization will be a big part of the Fiat's sales process. At the start, the Cinquecento will be available in 14 exterior colours and 11 seat colour and material combinations. Like the Mini, the 500 casts a small shadow. In fact, the Fiat is about 90 mm taller, yet 130 mm shorter, than the British hatch. Front occupants are well treated in the Fiat with a comfortable and upright seating position, but the rounded rear hatch limits rear headroom. Unlike the Mini, though, those above the age of 10 will find sufficient legroom in the back. Trunk space with rear seats upright is enough for a pair of overnight bags. While the Mini's interior has been criticized as cartoonish, the Fiat's interior design is more restrained with conventional ergonomics. There are flourishes of colour, with a dash surround that matches the car's exterior paint. Bucking expectations, the Fiat also feels better built than the Mini; it may lack soft-touch plastics, but it felt solid, was rattle-free, and its doors shut with a comforting thunk that defied its size. Compared to the Italian-spec 500 I drove in Italy in 2009, Fiat has made substantial changes for its North American customers. Included in the revisions are a redesigned suspension setup, upgraded brakes, a larger fuel tank, upgraded climate control system, widened front seats, and a revised steering system to increase highway stability. More than 20 changes were made to reduce noise, vibration and harshness. All in all, the revisions to the North American version sit on the positive side of the ledger. The 2012 500 Sport model I drove in and around San Diego for a morning felt more robust and quiet than the European model. Initially, all 500s will be powered by a 1.4-litre four-cylinder engine rated at 101 hp and 98 lb.-ft. of torque. You can match the little mill to a five-speed manual transmission with hill start assist, or an optional six-speed automatic. The 500 Sport may have less juice than a Mini Cooper, and while it doesn't necessarily feel much slower, on paper it's a half-second behind to 100 km/h than the Cooper when equipped with the stick-shift. But at least you'll be having a blast, as the 1.4 lives to be wrung out - it's happiest spinning away in the 4,500 to 5,000 rpm range. While the optional automatic packs six gears, it's slow, and selecting it will raise fuel consumption from 6.7 L/100 km in the city to 7.4 L/100 km, and from 5.1 L/100 km to 5.7 L/100 km on the highway. Don't let the 500's tall shape and short wheelbase scare you into thinking it drives like a shopping cart, or a Smart fortwo. Its steering is fast and linear. And the North American suspension upgrades give is robust, planted-on-the-road feel. Push the round black "Sport" button on the dash, and the throttle becomes livelier, and the steering assist gets meatier. Another plus is the ride quality - it's much more refined than the choppy Cooper without being too roly-poly in the bends. Chrysler's Bigland makes the point that all those Fix-It-Again-Tony jokes concerning unreliable cars from the 1960s and '70s are old news with any modern Fiat. He reminded us of another automaker, Hyundai, which has come a long way from the poor reputation it gained with the Pony. Although the new 500 may seem like a frivolous choice compared to other subcompacts that offer more doors, greater seating capacity or extra cargo room, as a less expensive alternative to a Mini, the 500 has its own dolce vita charm. Having delivered on the product end, the heavy work now rests in the hands of Fiat and Chrysler's marketing and sales departments. And while it's true that the small car market is heating up with all kinds of new and interesting options, a car with as much personality as the 500 is in a favourable position. And based on that, we think this lovable Fiat will have no problems finding homes in Canada. 2012 Fiat 500 Sport WHAT I LIKED: Cute-as-a-button styling; premium feel, mainstream pricing; cheerful and well-built interior. WHAT I DIDN'T: Tight cargo room; rivals offer seating for five; unproven reliability and durability. Base price (Pop/Sport/Lounge): $15,995/$18,500/$19,500 Type of vehicle: FWD, subcompact hatchback Engine: 1.4-litre, 16-valve, DOHC I-4 Power/Torque: 101 hp/98 lb.-ft. Transmissions: Five-speed manual (Opt. six-speed automatic) Fuel Economy (city/hwy; manual): 6.7 / 5.1 L/100 km (auto: 7.4 / 5.7 L/100 km) Competition: Chevrolet Sonic, Ford Fiesta, Honda Fit, Mazda2, Mini Cooper, Toyota Yaris

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