Author Topic: New 500 (Read 6889 times)

dajwid · « **on:** May 15, 2006, 08:07:29 PM »

so the new 500 will be built in Poland, not sure if that is good or bad.

So is it really a 500 or just a shrunk Ford Ka?
Fiat Stilo looking rear end.
And Renault Twing looking lights.

Why didn't they remake the original 500 with modern engine and technology? 500i or even a turbo charged for the weekend sir. Track days would never be the same move over Mr Cooper!

PaulB · « **Reply #1 on:** May 16, 2006, 09:32:08 AM »

The similarity to the Ford Ka didn't go unnoticed - Fiat recently signed a deal with Ford to provide them with the Ka's replacement. Its a shame its so formulaic - the similarity with so many other small cars speaks volumes about how conservative people have become in their choices - they want the familiar. Even the Multipla (Fiats only attempt at being original in 20 years) now looks like a shed. Read car reviews from the 60s and it was all about difference. Read car reviews now and its like comparing lightbulbs.

william · « **Reply #2 on:** May 16, 2006, 05:37:17 PM »

it looks more like a mini

gregs656 · « **Reply #3 on:** May 16, 2006, 05:42:38 PM »

it looks like a b******* cross of a fiat stylo and a nissan micra.

dajwid · « **Reply #4 on:** May 16, 2006, 06:40:29 PM »

sad very sad. I honestly think that if they remade the fiat 500 it would have sold well.

gregs656 · « **Reply #5 on:** May 16, 2006, 06:54:24 PM »

its not feasable, not without changing just about everything anyway.

126dave · « **Reply #6 on:** May 16, 2006, 09:20:17 PM »

i agree,what with side impact /front crump zones etc etc etc............no chance to go back to the 500,or even the 126/127/128 etc...............................great cars,but had their time im afraid.........

paul harbinson. · « **Reply #7 on:** May 17, 2006, 08:07:40 AM »

It's all to do with customer tastes and demand.People said you could never fit an air bag system or side impact protection to the original mini but they did because the Japanese could'nt get enough of them (I think 60 or 70% of output went there)and the 126 sold strongly right to the end.I think we are being a bit too hard on the new,new 500.That picture really dos'nt do it justice.There are better pics out there.The Ford connection is interesting.Ford are using the FIAT floorpan for the next ka,so it's a FIAT through and through.The expected price is to start at Ã‚Â£5000,good value.

PaulB · « **Reply #8 on:** May 17, 2006, 01:54:42 PM »

For all its (many) faults, at least Smart tried to develop a new solution to a
new problem (congestion and parking). I don't think cars have to look like they are 30 years old (the new Beetle is daft), but some original thinking would be good. The Trepiuno concept car was very clever. All the ingenuity has been stripped out. Now its a Panda without headroom. I may love it when I see it, but so far it seems disappointing.
I'm not really into new cars trying to be old cars, but it is possible, even if the specs are a bit scary - the bhp is over 10x the original spec:

http://www.prancingmouse.com/

paul harbinson. · « **Reply #9 on:** May 17, 2006, 03:36:51 PM »

My God Paul love the site.I have to see one in the mettle :shock: .Can you put any pics up?

PaulB · « **Reply #10 on:** May 17, 2006, 08:05:14 PM »

I've never seen a pic, but I did read somewhere that the first one is now being assembled.

dajwid · « **Reply #11 on:** May 17, 2006, 08:09:10 PM »

Now why couldn't Fiat have done that?

PaulB · « **Reply #12 on:** May 17, 2006, 08:28:22 PM »

I don't think the price tag fits the market segment they are aiming at....

william · « **Reply #13 on:** May 18, 2006, 05:57:43 PM »

looks like a mini micra!

from williams sister