Redesigned Fiat 500 subcompact coming in July

By Miles Branman Updated June 11, 2015

Fiat has announced a revised version of its 500 subcompact will debut on July 4. The planned changes are not expected to be significant, as the retro-styled model has stayed true to its original design over the years.

Exterior changes will include restyled front and rear bumpers and refreshed headlights. Inside, the 500 will have new air vents, new trim colors, and an updated infotainment system.

The current generation 500 has been in production since 2007, and besides minor cosmetic tweaks, it has remained unchanged since then. The range of 500’s include the Pop, Sport, Lounge, and Turbo which develop between 101 and 135 horsepower from non-turbocharged and forced-induction versions of a 1.4-liter inline four-cylinder engine. For more grunt, there’s the Fiat 500 Abarth with 160 hp and 170 pound-feet of torque on tap. The subcompacts weigh about 2400 pounds.

By comparison, when the first 500 went on sale in 1957, it weighed a scant 1,034 pounds, but also made do with a tiny two-cylinder motor that was positioned at the rear and rated at 12 horsepower. That translated to about 86 pounds per horsepower. At full bore, the ’57 model could just barely manage 50 mph.

The 500 has always been a combination of styling and fun-to-drive properties, and while it has grown in size since its inception, the current generation still remains a quirky, nimble vehicle that has sold very well here in the U.S.

Fiat will be looking to continue that success with the new version. If you live in the states, you’re welcome to pretend Fiat is celebrating our nation’s birthday with a Fourth of July reveal, but either way, 58 years later, the new 500 is guaranteed to stick to its roots.

Topics

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Miles Branman doesn't need sustenance; he needs cars. While the gearhead gene wasn't strong in his own family, Miles…

Cars

Fiat 500 hatchbacks recalled for issue that could cause a rollaway

review 2013 fiat 500 new left front bottom angle

At just over 70,000 vehicles, the recently announced recall of Fiat 500 cars is small by recent standards, but nevertheless, if you’re one of the owners, it’s a recall you’ll want to know about.

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) said it needs to fix an issue with 72,761 Fiat 500 cars -- 51,788 of them registered in the U.S. -- that could cause the vehicle to roll away while parked. The affected hatchbacks are automatics from the 2012 and 2013 model years.

Cars

Fiat-Chrysler pressured dealers to take extra inventory to boost sales numbers

2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon

Recently Fiat-Chrysler reported 40,000 vehicles backed up in storage lots, which was causing tension with its dealers. Back in 1980 and again in 2009, during its two worst financial crises, Chrysler used a tactic called "sales banks" to inflate their sales numbers. Instead of constantly slowing and speeding production to meet variations in demand, Their factories work at full capacity year-round. Any unsold cars are “banked” in storage lots until demand picks up, and dealers are generally pushed into taking as many of these cars as possible.

Investors and financial analysts frown upon the practice of sales banks because it can look like the company has falsified inventory figures. Dealers across the country do not like the practice because it can pressure them to take on greater numbers of vehicles than they want. Some dealers do see an upside to this practice, since if they need a certain model or trim package in a hurry odds are it will just be sitting there waiting for them, even if the manufacturer may try and use that vehicle as bait to unload more banked inventory.

Cars

Fiat Chrysler and Peugeot Citroen reach an agreement to merge

Peugeot 308 GTi

This morning, Wednesday, October 30, Fiat Chrysler (FCA) and Peugeot Citroen (PSA) announced they were in talks about a possible merger that would create the fourth-largest automaker by volume in the world. Several hours later the story was updated on the Wall Street Journal website with a report that the two sides had come to terms, pending ratification by both corporate boards.

By the terms of the agreement, Peugeot’s CEO Carlos Tavares would become CEO of the merged company, and FCA chairman John Elkann would become chairman. Together they would oversee an entity with $48.4 billion in market share. The Peugeot board was the first to agree in principle with the merger Wednesday morning. Exor, the Agnelli family holding company that controls FCA, later agreed to complete the merger, subject to board approval.