A Twingo and a prayer - Big competition in tiny cars

If Mini is worried about the impact the Twingo might have in the UK, it ought to be petrified by the Fiat 500, due early next year. Polls make the 500 one of the most desirable new cars of 2007, regardless of size or price.

It’s a double-edge sword, too, for the 500 will also form the basis of the next Ford Ka, also due next year. Fiat will also build the new Ka for Ford at its Polish factory.

Fiat has deliberately gone for a retro look with the 500 – it’s even being launched in Turin on July 4, 50 years to the day the original 500 broke cover.
The style is a modern interpretation of the ’57 car, right down to the outward bulge in the nose. It’s based on the Trepiuno show car of 2004, but is less watered down than the production version of the Twingo.

Like Renault, Fiat will ignore low-cost versions of the 500 as far as the UK is concerned and dive straight in with top-end models ready to tackle the Mini face-to-face. There’ll be three engines – a 70bhp 1.2 and a 100bhp 1.4 that pitch the 500 into direct competition with the Twingo – but unlike Renault, Fiat will also offer a turbodiesel. It’s the acclaimed 75bhp 1.3. In time there’ll be a 120bhp Abarth model, too.

The new 500 is based on the Panda, but is longer and wider and has a unique interior that again echoes the 1957 car. Body-colour metal sections and the option of ivory controls in genuine Bakelite recreate something of the feel of the Fifties, while the instrument cowl contains speedo, rev counter and gauges in concentric circles. Expect plenty of luxury options, while Fiat is also confident of making the 500 the first five-star city car for crash safety.