Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/753405
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 20 NOVEMBER 2016 IV Motoring CHRIS MANGION THINK Italy. Think style. Think a quirky, nippy and loud character, full of life and look at me gesticulations. THINK retro. Think Fiat - the new FIAT Cinquecento to be exact. In typical Italian character the little revved up car holds nothing back. Crisp and sharp handling, a free revving turbocharged engine with a tuned exhaust system that to- gether with its unique retro looks demands rather than begs attention. Almost 10 years after its re-launch, the FIAT 500 remains mainly unchanged - and why should FIAT change something which has worked all along? The new Fiat 500 comes with new colours and trims, a 7-inch touch screen for audio and navigation with an upgraded infotainment system, body profile lines that sweep up, forward sloping rear lights and headlamps reminiscent of Cadbury but- tons. In summary, it delivers a modern take of the iconic 1957 Cinquecento. From outside the car looks tiny yet the in- side is comfortable and relatively spacious making it an ideal city car particularly for fashion savvy owners. The high driving po- sition and large windows make it extremely easy to see out of and squeeze the little curvy espresso car in the tightest of parking slots. The boot of the FIAT 500 stands at 185-litres but extends to a full 550 litres with the seats down. Comparable to the size of an espresso cup, the FIAT 500 misleads buyers to think that the cabin is claustrophobic and nifty. WRONG. Particularly the new model brings with it added tech upgrades, smooth soft touches and comfortable space yet still adheres to the 1957 retro-style. The dashboard, door handles, trim and wheels carry the same colour, a nice touch again reminiscent of the original charmer. The interior is splashed with materials and design oozing style, and clean easily laid out, eye-catching instrumentation, hinting at its playful eye catching Italian character. The high placed gear-lever makes spaces for cup holders and other useful dash bins and a mobile phone slot. In the middle of the dashboard now sits a 'Uconnect' infotainment touch screen, featuring standard smart phone connectiv- ity, Aux-in and USB slots with the option of voice controls. When it comes to driving one has to keep in mind its Italian demeanour. It likes to be revved to the redline of every gear making the exhaust scream its raspy roar... more of a growl actually. The 500's engine range starts with a 68bhp 1.2-li- tre petrol engine, claiming 0-62mph in 12.9 seconds and a top speed of 99mph. Undoubtedly, the most popular and fun to drive engine is the TwinAir turbo petrol engine. Available in 85 or 105bhp versions the turbo delivers a useful boost in torque teasing a quirkier performance out of the 875cc engine. The standard 1.2-litre petrol claims a combined return of 58.9mpg and emissions at 110g/km of CO2. On the other hand the 875cc TwinAir unit claims combined fuel economy of 74.2mpg for the 85bhp and 67.3mpg for the 105bhp variant. The standard 5-speed manual gearbox effortlessly shifts with precision through the gear options; At par with the also smooth 6-speed automatic transmission. Take it hard at the corner and the nippy FIAT 500 feels friskier than a go-kart, however the electric power steering and stiff suspensions quickly make the vehicle gathers its composure. The new Fiat 500 scored the maximum five-star rating in the Euro NCAP crash tests. Safety features include driver, passenger, side curtain and driver's knee airbags as standard, ABS brakes and Isofix child seat mountings. Under heavy braking the hazard lights come on to warn traffic coming up behind you. The new 500 comes in three guises - the Pop, the Sport and the Lounge. The entry level Pop comes with a 5-speed manual transmission, 15-inch wheels, air conditioning, CD player, power windows, locks and mirrors, and also features cruise control. One step up, the Sport adds a turbocharged engine option, 16-inch wheels, glass roof, and sports suspension and seats. At the top of this iconic pyramid sits the Lounge. This version adopts smaller 15-inch wheels, a 6-speed automatic transmission, upgraded speakers and leather. If you want to take your options the extra mile you can also go for the Abarth hot-rod. We tried the FIAT 500 possibly in the stormiest day of November yet it came across as the car with the brightest and most cheerful character on the rain soaked roads. Easy and fun to drive, quirky yet stable, the mostly unchanged Italian icon could prove to be the perfect vehicle to nip and tuck through the island's traffic clogged streets. Nip and tuck Italian style but extends to a full 550 litres with the Comparable to the size of an espresso cup, the FIAT 500 misleads buyers to is the TwinAir turbo petrol engine. Available in 85 or 105bhp versions the turbo delivers a useful boost in torque teasing a quirkier performance out of the