Showing posts with label style. Show all posts
Showing posts with label style. Show all posts

Saturday, 21 August 2021

 Fiat 500 gets Cult status

Some 64 years after its birth in Turin, Italy the iconic Fiat 500 is only in its third generation and the new one looks set to continue the tradition established with the original version. 

The original version, beloved of the love generation of the ‘60s, is now transformed into a Fiat 500 Cult that rather aptly describes the emotions that surround the little car, owners and its global fan base. 

Running on 14-inch steel wheels with hubcaps and black exterior mirrors, Cult models feature LED day-time running lamps as standard, with halogen headlights.


 

The interior is highlighted by blue fabric seats with Fiat Monogram and body colour dashboard. A new option for Cult is a Techno Blue Matt dashboard and the standard list of comfort features remains high. UconnectTM five-inch radio with DAB, USB ports and manual air-conditioning are all standard, as is a speed limiter.

 


Adding onto the Cult standard specification, Connect models are identified by 15-inch alloy wheels and specific side skirts, rear spoiler and bumpers, including fog lights. 

New seats, which are height adjustable, enhance the interior along with a multi-function steering wheel with eight buttons. The dashboard can be ordered in Matt Silver. Cooler than ever, other interior upgrades include cruise control, Uconnect seven-inch infotainment with CarPlay and Android Auto, and two additional rear speakers. 

For the more avant-garde, Dolcevita models epitomise Italian style and flair with bespoke badging and chrome accents on the two-tone paintwork. With 16-inch alloy wheels, the Dolcevita also gets the Techno-leather multi-function steering wheel, glass roof, Matelassé fabric seats with techno leather details, and a 50/50 split rear seat. 

More sporty-minded customers will be attracted to the Sport upgrades that include 16-inch alloy wheels, Sport badging, and specific side skirts, bumpers and rear spoiler. The new Cloud Grey colour looks particularly good against the new ‘arrow electro’ seats and Titanium dashboard with red 500 logo. The TFT seven-inch digital cluster accompanies automatic air conditioning.


 

Fiat 500 is powered by Fiat’s TwinAir two-cylinder turbo-charged petrol engine. While this engine incorporates state-of-the-art technology and efficiency, it also pays homage to the original two-cylinder engine from the 1960s concept. 

The advanced 875 cc engine is a high-performance unit designed with major innovations developed by Fiat for petrol engines. The ‘downsizing’ technology reduces the engine power, the number of cylinder and the size of the engine, resulting in a drastic reduction in fuel consumption and emissions levels (up to 30%) but, as it is matched with the turbo-charger, its power and performance remain the same. 

It delivers 62,5 kW at 5 500 r/min and 145 Nm of torque at 1 900 r/min, offering combined cycle fuel consumption of 4,0 l/100 km while still accelerating around town in very respectable times (0-100 km/h in 11 seconds). 

Particularly useful in the A-segment is the fact that Fiat 500 is available in manual and automatic. The five-speed manual MTA transmission allows the convenience and comfort of two-pedal motoring while remaining affordable and reliable when it comes to maintenance and running costs.


 

All four trim levels of the Fiat 500 are available in hatchback guise, while the cabriolet 500C is reserved for Dolcevita and Sport derivatives. Manual transmission is available in Cult, Connect, and Sport hatchbacks, as well as the 500C Sport, while MTA is reserved for 500 and 500C Dolcevita models. 

With seven crash bags as standard, the Fiat 500 set the benchmark for safety in the segment. Anti-lock braking is standard across the range, as is Electronic Stability Control, hill holder and speed limiter. 

Onboard infotainment systems include the Uconnect seven-inch HD touchscreen with ‘tablet effect’ and HD display that includes a range of function, including a hands-free system, Bluetooth technology, and voice recognition. Available with Apple CarPlay and Android AutoTM compatibility, the system has a user-friendly interface that will allow you to easily manage maps, music, contacts, and more. 

MODEL

TRANSMISSION

RETAIL PRICE

Cult 0.9L

FWD 5MT

R 219 900

Connect 0.9L

FWD 5MT

R 260 900

Sport - 0.9L

FWD 5MT

R 269 900

Dolcevita 0.9L

FWD 5AT

R 274 900

Sport Cabriolet 0.9L

FWD 5MT

R 319 900

Dolcevita Cabriolet 0.9L

FWD 5AT

R 324 900