Fiat sprouts limited 500 Collezione Spring Edition

BY TUNG NGUYEN | 16th Oct 2018

FIAT Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) Australia has sprung its latest limited-run 500 micro car, with just 70 examples available of the Collezione Spring Edition priced at $21,990 before on-roads for the manual hatch, $23,490 for the three-door automatic and $27,490 for the self-shifting-only cabriolet.

Broken down with 60 hatchbacks and 10 cabriolets available, the Collezione Spring Edition is based off the 500 Lounge variant but adds “over $3100 of additional design elements” for a $2000 price premium.

From the outside, the unique special-edition 500 is differentiated by its two-tone bianco gelato and lunare grey exterior paintwork, bespoke 16-inch wheels, ‘Collezione’ badging, and grey-coloured soft top (for the convertible), as well as chrome highlights on the bonnet line, mirror caps and bumper inserts.

Inside, buyers are treated to a white dashboard, striped seats with grey accents and embroidered ‘Collezione’ floor mats.

Carryover equipment from the 500 Lounge includes a leather shifter and steering wheel, 7.0-inch UConnect infotainment system with Bluetooth, USB, smartphone and auxiliary connectivity, automatic climate control, 7.0-inch driver display, and rear parking sensors.

Powering all Collezione Spring Edition variants is a naturally 1.2-litre four-cylinder petrol engine producing 51kW of peak power at 5500rpm and 102Nm of maximum torque at 3000rpm.

In five-speed manual guise, the new 500 variant returns a fuel economy figure of 4.9-litres per 100km, while all five-speed ‘Dualogic’ automatic versions are slightly more frugal at 4.8L/100km.

The trio of 500 Collezione Spring Editions share an identical zero to 100km/h time of 12.9 seconds.

The second special-edition Fiat 500 to launch in the last 12 months following the release of the Anniversario in November last year, Fiat Australia brand head Fulvio Antonelli said the Collezione Spring Edition “celebrates the new season with a fresh, fun and unique offering while encapsulating the iconic design of the timeless cinquecento”.

“We’re excited to bring a touch of ‘la dolce vita’ to the local market,” he added.

Combined sales of the Fiat 500 and mechanically related Abarth 595 line-up have reached 589 units in the first nine months of the year, a slight 0.3 per cent dip over the same period in 2017.

The diminutive Italian cars are placed fourth in the shrinking micro car segment behind the Kia Picanto (4180), Mitusbishi Mirage (880) and recently-discontinued Holden Spark (612), while it is also ahead of the Suzuki Celerio (three) and stablemate Panda (one) that have both been axed.

2018 Fiat 500 Collezione Spring Edition*