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.Comments
2 Responses to “First Drive: 2012 Fiat 500 Sport”
February 14th, 2011 @ 11:10 am
[…] Canada sold about 4,500 Minis last year; the new 2012 Fiat 500’s closest true rival. And although the Mini has a nine-year head start, the 500’s […]
February 20th, 2011 @ 11:32 am
If I was a MINI dealer, the 500 would have me very worried.