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The New Fiat 500 (Cinquecento) will be launced on March 20. It shares its platform with the new Ford Ka.

Fiat is following VW and MINI by offering a vehicle that looks back to the most iconic and loved model in the company's past. It will compete in the ultra-compact market

The original FIAT Cinquecento from the 1950s

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I wonder if this will have the same success as Mini and is it trying to compete with Smart? If it is, bye bye Smart...

Do you think bum-man. I mean firstly, it's hideous, and secondly, it's made in Italy ......so there won't be much left in about 6 months once the rust has taken hold of it.

Well, if it's based of the Ford Ka's platform it can't be too bad, it's not like its both Italian built and Italian designed. So it can only be half as bad as what it could have potentially been.
Besides, I quite like the design and am under the impression that the previous 500 design took a long hiatous much like the Mini, which makes the retro theme acceptable for me. The Fortwo doesn't do much for me especially in the interior department, looks like something that was designed by Playskool.

Small cars are something Fiat has traditionally done well, and many of their more recent models have been well liked by the motoring press (including Evo!). Fiat still has quality issues but they're nowhere near as bad as they used to be. I believe that as long as the price is right, this thing will be a common sight throughout most of Europe.

I think it's a stylish alternative to the Japanese and Korean cars which occupy this segment.

Yeah, I was not being totally serious as I'm sure you knew. It is quite cute really ...and Fiat have improved. But the funny thing is, (sorry bum-man, I don't know how old you are but..) do you remember in the 1980s how many Fiat Unos, Pandas, and Tipos were around ......where the hell did they all go?
I mean I still see 1980s Mercs, BMWs, Audis, etc..

These are the first official images of Fiat’s cute 500, the Italian rival to popular minicars such as the MINI Cooper and Nissan Micra. The 500 was originally planned to hit the market in September but it’s now scheduled to be released on the 4th of July, and unlike the original “cinquecento” models of the 1950s, the new 500 will be positioned as a premium model. Fiat will be offering customers multiple customization options to add to the car’s life-style appeal and up-market cachet.

Prices should start at close to the €10,000 mark, putting the new 500 above the larger five-door Panda in terms of price. Fiat is expected to sell up to 58,000 units by the end of the year, with this figure likely to jump to around 120,000 cars per year thereafter. Fiat will build the 500 in Tychy, Poland, alongside the upcoming second generation Ford Ka, with which it shares its platform.

The new 500 gets double projector headlights at each side, with a chrome ornament on the front bumper sporting the new Fiat logo. The 500 will only be offered in a three-door configuration and is limited to carrying four passengers. Power should come from a two-cylinder motor displacing just 0.9L. Thanks to a turbocharger, output should be in excess of 110bhp, while a high-performance 1.4L unit with 150hp is likely to debut in a sporty Abarth version.

Rival manufacturers are rushing to release their own minicars including premium versions from the likes of Volkswagen and Audi as well as more budget-based models from GM and Toyota. But none of these new models will have the cult-status of the new 500, its popularity garnered by the wholesome appeal of the original. It’s clear that Fiat’s marketing strategy for this model is heavily influenced by BMW’s revived Mini Cooper and we’re sure the new 500 will steal some of its limelight.

Great ...I have waited for over a year to see what the final production version would be like ...and it's not too bad.

Do I want one? ...ahh ..No

I see how this would work as a city runabout in a place like NYC or London. Parking space is a premium, and this would work just fine. I heard that people at NYC have to wake up very early in the morning in winter to shift their cars to the opposite side of the road because of snow clearances - and if they don't shift their cars in time, they'll never ever find a parking space!

A very likeable little car. I'd take this over a Smart.

M