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Feel up to date in this funky motor

Thursday, 26 November 2009

The Fiat 500 is built on the same platform as the Fiat Panda and the Ford Ka. But even some of my own family confused the 500 with my daughter’s Nissan Micra. Yes, externally it’s similar to the Micra, but inside it’s much more attractive. Volkswagen was the first motor manufacturer to go for the retro look with their Beetle, then came the Mini and now Fiat. The 500 was introduced to Ireland late last year, 50 years after the original Cinquecento and is only 3.5 metres long. But it can be deceptive and while I’m not a big fan of two-door cars, there is plenty of room for two adults in the front and room in the back for two children or maybe two small adults. However, the leg room in the back is tight. Naturally the boot is also fairly small and you don’t get a spare wheel, just a repair kit. The 500 was voted European Car of the Year last year, but as we all know in Ireland we tend not to follow everything the rest of Europe does and last year the 500 was beaten by the Ford Fiesta for the Irish Small Car of the Year award. Last year I drove a bright yellow petrol model. This time in partnership with Italian clothing company Diesel, Fiat has produced a special edition 1.3 litre multijet diesel version, which they are calling an ‘Urban Survival Vehicle.’ Together these two iconic Italian brands have produced a very attractive motor. I drove a military green coloured model with heads of Indians adorning the paintwork and hub caps. I bet the Indians never thought they would be featured on hub caps. Inside there is bespoke upholstery by Diesel in denim fabric with yellow stitching. You also get the Diesel logo on the gear lever, which is incorporated into a console on the dash. The radio controls are a bit on the small side and I found myself using the slave controls on the steering wheel a lot. There is very attractive large speedometer, similar to the one in the Mini. So basically this is a car for young people, male and female. Or it could be attractive to young mothers as a city run around. I suppose you don’t have to be wearing diesel jeans, but they could go well with the car. Either way you will feel right up to date in the fashion stakes with this funky-looking motor, which has Bluetooth and a digital audio file player with USB port. The rear windows are darkened, but a sunroof, which does not open, really brightens up the interior It’s not the fastest car around - zero to 100 km/h in 12.5 seconds - but it handles and corners very well. And of course with a diesel engine you won’t have to make too many pit stops. Prices start at e13,995 for the petrol model, but all that style in the diesel version brings the price up to e20,350. Co2 emissions for the diesel are low at 110g/km, which equates to e104 per annum. The 500 has definitely raised the Italian company’s profile in mainland Europe and in Ireland. Have a test drive, you won’t be disappointed.