EUROPEAN car of the year winners don’t come more evocative than the Nuova Cinquecento. Visually, Fiat’s reborn 500 is stunningly faithful to the original, which is an amazing feat in itself considering how much larger, safer and more accommodating the modern version had to be. Plus, while the Fiat feels more akin to the BMW Mini than the VW New Beetle for quality and detail, the Italians have priced the base models considerably below either of these, thus allowing more people access to such a charming little car. But, as the top-of-the-line Lounge 1.4 reveals, it isn’t all Marcello Mastroianni and gelati on a hot summer’s night by the Trevi Fountain, with a few significant flaws undermining what is still unquestionably a worthy addition to our roads.