With their ever-increasing financial stake in Chrysler Corporation, the timing has never been more right for the return of Fiat to North America.
And what better way to make a splash than by introducing one of the cutest cars ever seen on these shores. The 2012 Fiat 500c Cabriolet, also known in its native Italian as the Cinquecento, is fresh from its regional debut at the 2011 New York show and poised to take the streets of Manhattan.
The only problem is, on this day, New York City finds itself in the midst of a week of torrential downpours.
So much for topless driving.
Top-down, with a twist
Long an Italian icon, the new 500c is the successor to the legendary 500 model that was first introduced in Italy in 1957. Our new model pays homage to that first “little mouse” that took Europe by storm. This is officially the second Fiat model to be introduced in the States since the resurgence, the first being the hardtop version of the very same car.
At the moment, Fiat North America has set their competitive bull’s-eye squarely on the hood of the MINI Cooper, a fair assessment since there aren’t many other itty-bitty droptops in this market.
Reinvigorating a classic
Well, we’ve always considered Italian design innovative so, we’ll give it that. A new dual–ply fabric top manages to keep intrusive noises at bay, and along the way scores kudos for sound suppression at 45 and 70 mph. Add to that a relatively quiet powertrain and perfect sizing for urban encounters of the vehicular kind, and it becomes quite clear these Italians are on to something.
With the expressive headlights, and Fiat logo front and center Salvador Dali–esque mustache strakes, the Fiat 500c has all the makings of an instant cult classic. Then there is the folding canvas top that runs on tracks and is able to be opened and closed within 15 seconds. It manages to stay out of the way of the rear-opening hatch for cargo loading, and can still be activated while the vehicle is moving at up to 60 mph.
The top leading edge of the windshield is a larger than normal piece owing to the fact that the cross member is reinforced to aid in rigidity of the unibody. It apparently works, as we saw while driving on New York state’s less-than-stellar roadways with nary a groan or creak audible into the cabin.
Finally, little Italianesque details, like tiny fog lamps, chrome accents, multiple wheel choices, and 14 exterior colors and additional customizing accessories combine to make what Fiat claims to be over 500,000 different build combinations.
All aboard
Even though its more-than-50-year-old sibling stylistically inspired this neo-Cinquecento, it still manages to look good, with some minor quibbles. The good includes a tilt (but non-telescoping) steering wheel, an armrest for the driver’s chair, decent bolstering on the bucket seats and soft touch materials on the door armrest area.
A large central gauge occupies the business side of the dashboard. In it are the speedometer, tachometer, fuel and water temperature meters that are all located in a round gauge binnacle. Additionally, an LCD display shows route directions from the available TomTom navigation system. To the right of that in the center console, are the radio, simple climate controls, Blue&Me Bluetooth controls and, finally, the transmission shift lever.
There are numerous cubbyholes and change pockets located around the interior, but the floor mounted cupholders come up a tad short as they are apparently designed for Super Big Gulp cups rather than a standard Coca-Cola can.
The interior of the 500c is a combination of what’s right and wrong in the car industry today. We love the two-tone seats, which in the case of our model were red with black uppers. Ditto the body color panel on the dashboard. What we didn’t like were no one-touch window buttons, the use of hard plastic on the top of the dash that harkens back to the cheap quality plastic that Chrysler products used to carry and a headliner that reminded us of lower quality T-shirt material.
Nearly everyone else has proven that a cheap car needn’t feel like a cheap car.
You gotta have heart
At the heart of this matter is an all-new 1.4-liter 16–valve MultiAir engine. The MultiAir system replaces the traditional overhead camshaft with fast-responding electronic solenoids, which in turn help to deliver instant air–fuel adjustment for improved efficiency. Although offered with either five-speed manual transmission, our test model was equipped with the six-speed automatic option. We enjoyed the sport mode, which is engaged by the dashboard-mounted button. Press it and the engine changes over for faster gear changes, a throttle re-map and gear-holding function that allows the engine to be held closer to redline.
Fiat claims this engine, which produces 101 horsepower and 98 lb-ft. of torque, to be the quietest in the segment. They also say to expect 30 mpg city, and up to 38 mpg highway from this little four-banger. We observed a 32 miles-per-gallon average as a result of really putting our collective feet into it while on New York’s highways.
The 500c’s suspension is comprised of MacPherson struts and a stabilizer bar in the front while the rear gets a twist beam with coil spring arrangement. We found the ride enjoyable but generally not as crisp and controlled as what we have experienced in the Mini Cooper.
The tight turning radius on 15-inch all–weather radials was a Godsend with all the diversions and overshooting of our drive route in the pouring rains. So, too, the progressive rate power-assisted steering that was soft and overly boosted during parking and other slow-speed maneuvers while in the city, but became stiffer and more firm while at speed. Just as it should be.
The brakes were just a touch grabby even when gentle application was applied. Our goat was finally got, by the European-style convex outside mirror, that while included for the elimination of blind spots, caused a blind spot of its own with the built-in mirror frame. We hope to try a production piece again soon to see if the system gets a tweak or not.
If they build it, hopefully buyers will come. For those power users, there’s talk of a Fiat/Abarth sports version of the 500c in the future.
Leftlane’s bottom line
It’s good to see another Italian brand back on the continent. Though not perfect, the Fiat 500c Cabriolet will surely find footing in the “New Country” and continue down the road towards la Dolce Vita.
It’s not perfect, but it’ll save you some cash compared to the larger MINI Cooper droptop. Whether that’s money well spent is a decision you’ll have to make on your own.
2012 Fiat 500c Cabriolet base price range, $19,500 to $23,500.
Words and photos by Mark Elias.
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