Fiat 500: A special series to say goodbye
July 4, 1957 was not only the Independence Day of the USA, Italy also celebrated a kind of Independence Day, because on this day, the "Nuova Cinquecento" or Fiat 500 was launched, a car that made automotive mobility tangible for the average Italian. The original 500 was powered - a first for the manufacturer - by an air-cooled two-cylinder engine in the rear, which developed 13 hp (10 kW) and accelerated the almost three-meter-long four-seater to a maximum speed of 85 km/h. A folding roof that extended to the rear turned the small car into a convertible saloon when the sun was shining and brought a touch of exclusivity to the world of small cars.
50 years later, the new edition of the "Cinquecento" was presented at the Geneva Motor Show and was greeted enthusiastically by the public. To date, more than 3.2 million models have been sold in Europe and a good 350,000 have been put on the road in Germany. However, the technical data had changed significantly. The front-mounted four-cylinder engine produced between 69 hp (51 kW) and 100 hp (74 kW) and accelerated the new 500 to between 160 km/h and 182 km/h. The Abarth version, which was added later, produced 145 hp (107 kW) to 180 hp (132 kW). Together with the Fiat Panda, the 500 is the market leader among city cars in Europe.
But now the career of the nostalgic small car is coming to an end, and Fiat is celebrating this with the special "Collezione 1957" model, which commemorates the year of the model's premiere. The special edition is being offered in selected markets - including Germany - exclusively as a convertible with an electrically operated soft top in a run of 1957 units, thus recalling the original model from 1957 and with the best prerequisites for becoming a coveted collector's item.
The distinctive feature of the Fiat 500 Collezione 1957 is the two-tone paintwork in "Gelato White" and "Tau Green". The standard equipment includes 16-inch alloy wheels with a diamond finish in white, chrome-plated mirror flaps and the silhouette of the 500 printed in the rear window. Daytime running lights and fog lights round off the appearance. In the interior, the creative team gave the model ivory-colored seats with leather inserts from the luxury leather manufacturer Poltrona Frau and the embossed "One of 1957" logo as a farewell gift. The dashboard is clad in wood and a plaque on the center tunnel bears the designation "ONE of 1957". The central, seven-inch (17.8 centimeter) TFT display is standard. The connectivity functions have been expanded to include the Mopar Connect Box services, which support the daily management of the vehicle.
The Fiat 500 Collezione 1957 is offered in Germany exclusively with the environmentally friendly mild hybrid drive. The 70 hp (51 kW) three-cylinder engine is supported by an electric motor, which Fiat promises will reduce fuel consumption to 5.3 liters and CO2 emissions to 120 grams per kilometer. The special model costs 26,490 euros.
According to the price list, the Fiat 500 Hybrid sedan with the same engine costs exactly 9,000 euros less. In general, it is worthwhile for interested parties to visit a Fiat dealer or take a look at the Internet: In addition to the Collezione version, there are currently other variants of the Fiat 500 - including convertibles. The standard features of the 500 Hybrid include painted exterior mirrors, a radio and the electronic helpers Siri and Google Assistant, which are activated via the smartphone, as well as an analog instrument cluster and four loudspeakers. The smartphone can be charged via a USB port.
However, the end of the 500 Hybrid does not mean the complete end of the series. "We have no intention of removing the Fiat 500 from our model range. When it comes to the Fiat 500, which was launched in 2007, we may have to hurry a little, but the all-electric Fiat 500 Elektro, which was launched in 2020, still has many years ahead of it and will continue to develop. The 500 belongs to Fiat and the 500 belongs to Fiat - and has done for 70 years," explains Marketing Manager Fabio Sangermano. (aum/ww)
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Fiat 500, special model "Collezione 1957".
Photo: Autoren-Union Mobilität/Stellantis
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Fiat 500, special model "Collezione 1957".
Photo: Autoren-Union Mobilität/Stellantis
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Fiat 500, special model "Collezione 1957".
Photo: Autoren-Union Mobilität/Stellantis
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Fiat 500, special model "Collezione 1957".
Photo: Autoren-Union Mobilität/Stellantis
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Fiat 500, special model "Collezione 1957".
Photo: Autoren-Union Mobilität/Stellantis
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Fiat 500, special model "Collezione 1957".
Photo: Autoren-Union Mobilität/Stellantis
Download:
Fiat 500, special model "Collezione 1957".
Photo: Autoren-Union Mobilität/Stellantis
Download:
Fiat 500, special model "Collezione 1957".
Photo: Autoren-Union Mobilität/Stellantis
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Photo: Autoren-Union Mobilität/Stellantis
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Fiat 500, special model "Collezione 1957".
Photo: Autoren-Union Mobilität/Stellantis
Download:
Fiat 500, special model "Collezione 1957",
Photo: Autoren-Union Mobilität/Stellantis
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Fiat 500, special model "Collezione 1957",
Photo: Autoren-Union Mobilität/Stellantis
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