Fiat updates 500 and Abarth 595
BY TUNG NGUYEN | 1st Jun 2018
FIAT Australia has reworked its diminutive 500 hatchback and convertible range, adding an upgraded 7.0-inch infotainment touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and dropping the 1.4-litre engine versions.
Pricing remains steady however, with the Fiat 500 kicking off at $17,990 before on-roads for the five-speed manual 1.2-litre Pop hatchback and $19,990 for the three-pedal Lounge.
Opting for the brand’s five-speed ‘Dualogic’ automatic transmission adds an additional $1500 to the asking price, while convertible body styleS sit $4000 above their hatchback counterparts.
All versions are now powered exclusively by a 51kW/102Nm 1.2-litre four-cylinder engine, which enables a zero-to-100km/h sprint time of 12.9 seconds and a top speed of 160km/h.
Manual versions return 4.9 litres per 100km of fuel economy, while automatic-equipped 500s sip 4.8L/100km. Both emit 138 grams of CO2 per kilometre.
Aside from the aforementioned upgrade of infotainment screen size from 5.0- to 7.0-inches, the new Fiat 500 Pop retains standard equipment including daytime running lights, 15-inch alloy wheels, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, tyre pressure monitoring and cruise control.
Lounge grades gain a 7.0-inch instrument display, rear parking sensors, premium upholstery, dual-zone climate control, chrome accents and a fixed glass sunroof in hatchback form.
Outgoing 74kW/131Nm 1.4-litre versions were available in Lounge spec only, and with the removal of the higher-displacement variants , Fiat 500 choices drop from 12 to eight.
Earlier this week, rumours swirled that Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) chief operating officer Sergio Marchionne would announce sweeping changes this weekend that would downplay the brands in its name in favour of focusing on Jeep and SUVs.
Meanwhile, the Fiat 500-based Abarth 595 also gains the same upgrade to its infotainment system, and is available from $26,990 in base 107kW/206Nm manual guise for $26,990 or with an automatic for an additional $2000.
Power-hungry buyers can also opt for a 132kW/250Nm tune of the 595’s turbocharged 1.4-litre Competizone for $31,990 in manual and $33,990 in automatic forms.
Drop-top versions of the base Abarth 595 attract a $3000 premium over its fixed-roof siblings, while Competizone are $4000 more expensive.
Since introducing a lower-spec version of its spicy micro car in September, sales in the go-fast brand have increased “by over 300 per cent”, according to Abarth.
Abarth Australia brand director Fulvio Antonelli said the reworked hot hatch range has been a hit with customers.
“The repositioning of the Abarth 595 late last year delivered customer demand that far exceeded our expectations,” he said. “Clearly the revised product specification and sharpened pricing has resonated with hot hatch buyers.
“A bonus of this demand is that we have managed to secure additional production support from the factory which is more closely aligned with the increased enquiry, which should improve customer delivery times.
“In another bonus for customers, we are excited to be in a position to further enhance the 595’s infotainment specification with the addition of a larger touchscreen featuring both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.”
2018 Fiat 500 pricing*
| Pop | $17,990 |
| Pop (a) | $19,490 |
| Lounge | $19,990 |
| Lounge (a) | $21,490 |
| Pop convertible | $21,990 |
| Pop convertible (a) | $23,490 |
| Lounge convertible | $23,990 |
| Lounge convertible (a) | $25,490 |
*Excludes on-road costs
2018 Abarth 595 pricing*
| Hatch | |
| 595 | $26,990 |
| 595 (a) | $28,990 |
| 595 Competizione | $31,990 |
| 595 Competizione (a) | $33,990 |
| Cabriolet | |
| 595 | $29,990 |
| 595 (a) | $31,990 |
| 595 Competizione | $35,990 |
| 595 Competizione (a) | $37,990 |
*Excludes on-road costs