Fiat 500: Chic and cheerful - What's it like inside?

Much like Mini, Fiat has gone to great lengths to maintain the charm of the original car. With a simple, elegant dash dominated by a large speedometer, flush-fitting switches and a colour-coded cream steering wheel, the ambience of the 500 is of an altogether more innocent era.

Not that your choice of decor restricts you to retro chic. With the aid of a special website, you'll be able to experiment with all manner of different trim and colour combinations before placing your order for Fiat's new baby.

Fiat has done a great job of re-inventing a design classic, but much has changed in the process. For a start, the engine is now up front rather than, as with the original, at the rear.

Also, to retain the short overhangs and bottle-nosed look, a whole new approach to crash protection was required. Substantial extra bracing at the front and the fitting of seven airbags were deemed essential.

Additional challenges lay in maintaining the curving roofline and pyramid-like profile of the original while also supplying enough cabin space for four and decent luggage room.

The solutions included widening the axles and hiding a less curvy side profile beneath a rear roof spoiler. The results are wholly successful.