Reborn after 50 years: the Fiat 500 - The background

The new 500 will be unveiled on July 4 in Fiat's home town of Turin, exactly 50 years after the original Cinquecento was first presented.

This first 500 was far more of a cheap entry-point into motoring and was immensely popular until it was discontinued nearly 20 years later in 1975.

The cool, modern 500 is a far cry from its utilitarian forebear, then, but we can't see any reason why this kind of reinterpretation shouldn't work as well for Fiat as it has for Mini.

Fiat has also tied in with Ford produce the car, so its chassis will also become the basis for the new Ford Ka next year. Fiat will both put both cars together at its factory in Poland where the Panda is also manufactured.