Reborn after 50 years: the Fiat 500 - Inside the cabin

Externally the Fiat 500 is almost indistinguishable from the Trepiuno concept car that Fiat unveiled in 2004, although the interior is certainly more conventional in its construction.

The Trepiuno had a dashboard with a section that could be folded away to allow the front passenger seat be slid forward, creating enough room in the back for a third adult.

The production 500 has a fixed dashboard, so judging by how seating was juggled in the concept car, you might find space in the rear a little cramped. Still, despite its pint-sized proportions, the 500 is a shade longer than the Panda, so our final verdict on the accommodation will have to wait until we get our hands on the car.

The interior is just as stylish as the exterior, however, with circular head restraints, chrome-ringed air vents, bold colour combinations and attractive Bakelite-style switchgear like that found in the Nissan Micra.

The fascia panel will be available in the same colour as the exterior, creating a direct link to the original 1957 car, which had a metal dashboard.

A large, circular display is mounted in front of the driver, instead of to the side as in the Mini, and shows all relevant information.