Fiat 500 bags a gong

By Karl Peskett | November 22nd, 2007

For the second time in a week, Fiat’s retro styled 500 has claimed another award.

Earlier in the week, the 500 pushed aside the new Mazda 2 and Ford Mondeo to claim “Car of the Year 2008″. Organised by German magazine Stern, the judging panel comprised 58 journalists from 22 European countries.

Today, the cute-as-a-button 500 was awarded “Auto Europa 2008″. This award is widely regarded by the Italian media as the highest accolade a car can receive. The prize is organised by the Italian Union of Automotive Journalists (Uiga) and is awarded to the car built and sold in Europe that offers the best combination of technology, pricing and style for the final consumer.

The vote attributed 640 points to the new super-compact from Fiat, placing it ahead of the Kia Ceèd (408) and the Peugeot 308 (325).

To be released in Australia in March 2008, the 500 will be sold in 3 trim levels – Pop, Sport and Lounge. Dealers are already taking orders, however have sold the first two months allocation. 2 petrol motors, and a diesel engine will be offered, and pricing is said to range from the low-mid $20Ks to the upper $20Ks.

Spitfire

To be released in Australia in March 2008, with a price to range from the low-mid $20Ks to the upper $20Ks.

I wish them luck. They are going to need it with pricing like that.
Frugal One

>

Why?

Its less than the non-award winning similar sized MINI?

Cheers

F-0
http://CARADVICE.COM.AU CHRIS PARR

IN EUROPE THEY PROBABLY MAKE SENSE BECAUSE OF THE SIZE
AND FUEL OCONOMY AND ARE PRICE COMPETITIVE..BUT IN AUSTRALIA THEY WILL BE AND OVERPRICED SMALL IRRELAVENT CAR.
http://navelcontemplation.blogspot.com Supercujo

It is also a much smaller car than the MINI. Not like the old days when the 500 and MINI were direct competitors.

The 500 is the same size as a Fiesta or Mazda 2, in fact they even share the same platform. The MINI is the same size as a Focus or Corolla.

If they can get a basic 500 for $19K with absolutely no fruit, they will sell a bundle. Low-$20Ks is a bit too high.
Casey

Like all these retro styled cars (PT Cruiser, VW Beetle, BMW Mini, etc) I’m sure that despite the economy of it, people will still buy them just cos they look different.

Isn’t that what it’s all about? Everything looks the same now days, so I think it’s great that there’s a few products out there defying convention – as questionable as their styling may be (looking at you PT Cruiser).
Martin

what a rip off, “ooh just because it comes from Italy, lets add another 5-10 grand extra”
http://navelcontemplation.blogspot.com Supercujo

Hey Chris, the Caps Lock key is over on the left of the keyboard. Press it once, just once.

Why is this car going to be irrelavent? The small car market is growing at a steady pace while the big car market shrinks at a steady pace. In a few years time, the small ‘shopping trolley’ will be the mainstream car and the Falcadores will be the irrelavent ones.
Bavarian Missile

I agree with Casey………The type of people that buys these cool little numbers aren’t after something that blends in…they want stand out. I don’t even think there as price targeted as say someone thats looking for a small car….these cars fit a different category altogether! Think about what type of people buy Minis NOW ! Most want style and yet small and zippy! Go the little Bambino Baby!
Bavarian Missile

hahaha ,Supercujo……..I like your sense of humor!
golfschwein

People looking for a Getz or yaris wouldn’t even have this on their radar, Spitfire. The reverse is also true.
KC

Are you people nuts? Have you SEEN the interior? Its absolutely fantastic for a small car!

http://www.leftlanenews.com/wp-content/plugins/iimage-gallery.php?idpost=5238&idg=1&idi=7
http://www.leftlanenews.com/wp-content/plugins/iimage-gallery.php?idpost=5238&idg=1&idi=2

Have a look at that! You don’t find such a good looking interior in nearly any car, as well as it winning countless awards. The price is always going to be higher due to importing costs, but if you’re in the market for a small car this is definitely the cream of the crop.
Sexythang

i beleive it will sell out.
http://www.caradvice.com.au tony

cooler than a mini – way cooler
Matt

In response to Supercujo’s comment
“The 500 is the same size as a Fiesta or Mazda 2, in fact they even share the same platform. The MINI is the same size as a Focus or Corolla.”
He should get the figures correct before spouting his mouth off like that, Mini 3699mm, Corolla Hatch 4220mm, half a metre difference, Ford Fiesta 3619mm, Mazda 2 3885mm, hhmmmm, it seems to me Supercujo that the mini in terms of size is comparable to the Fiesta and the 2 not the Corolla as you ignorantly suggest. The Fiats length 3546mm.
http://navelcontemplation.blogspot.com Supercujo

Alright Matt, I went and did some fact checking. Yeah, you were right the MINI’s length is pretty close to the 500. The MINI just looks bigger than it really is. I wonder if that is why it feels cramped inside…

500
Length: 3546mm
Width: 1627mm
Height: 1488mm
Wheelbase: 2300mm
Weight: 865kg

MINI
Length: 3698mm
Width: 1684mm
Height: 1407mm
Wheelbase: 2466mm
Weight: 1065kg

Focus
Length: 4342mm
Width: 1991mm
Wheelbase: 2640mm
Weight: 1229kg

Corolla
Length: 4220mm
Width: 1760mm
Height: 1475mm
Wheelbase: 2600mm
Weight: 1225kg
Ryan

How could this be in the K20′s? It is BELOW the Punto… they sell the new 500 on the road in the UK for 9300 pounds. Way less then the Yaris at 10300 + O.R.C (remember we are talking pounds).

I agree though – it is cool, different etc; and it is also true that people have more money then sense!
Sexythang

hehe. 16k aud for a fiat 500 would be good.
Elitist

This car will sell alot in the city.
Having seen one up close, i am confident this will be a winner. I cannot understand how Fiat could make such a beautifully designed interior and exterior on the cheap.

Guys if you wanna understand this car more, goto the 500 website and configure your own. This car is about fun.
The mini in my books is a 40k+ car for wankers.

BTW the car is larger inside than a clio if that helps anyone.
Elitist

Martin-

Its not Italy that says lets add another 5-10K on the price because theyre Italy…Or Germany for this argument.

Its actually Australias government overpricing these cars with taxes to protect their rubbish cars cause they cant compete with the world. (when I say world I mean EU and japan)

Cars like the Lexus never were sold here in Aus caus ethe government had a law where it states the numberplate space in the bumper didnt fit our larger redneck plates.
Toyota rezalised it wouldnt be feasible to change the whole bumper just for our market thus it was never released.
New Zealand doesnt have an industry to prtect thus they got cars we never saw… Clio V6, Nisan Sentra, GTR, Lexus etc….

In Europe an M3 is 20K cheaper than in OZ… Its because of distance, taxes, laws and aussies dont buy enough cars to warrant a competitive pricing.

Lastly its also due to Australian mentality. I remember a few weeks back some redneck here was having a go at me saying he loves to pity us Euro drivers when he lines us up with his baby mobile Territory FPV whatever and “blow us away”…These guys married their first girlfriends and would never buy a Fiat 500 cause theyre upto their eyeballs with children and mortages in the burbs and Rosebud.

Gladly these guys and their attitudes are dying out BUT hey we all would rather a RS4 audi wagon for a family but the taxes…..ohhh the taxes…..
The Axe

Elitist,
I live in the burbs and drive an XR6 Turbo. Do I fit into your category?
Large cars will always be required for family types. You might be too good for that, but there still is and always will be a market for it.
The Fiat 500 will sell to its target market, but it is far from being for everyone.
Frugal One

The new 500 is in segmant class “A”

Its the first and ONLY car in that group that has reached 5-star rating in the Euro NCAP crash test.

Its engines also already meet Euro5 level, which come into force in 2009

Very very advanced vehicle, how do they offer so much for $20k?

Cheers

F-0
maybach

Face it burbs man, you are a red neck. Defending your falcodore as if it was a personal assult. Do you seriously think the 500 is aimed at you? It’s not “too good” for you, you just wouldn’t buy it. You are part of the shrinking majority that Holden et al are pinning their last hopes on. I’m glad that the world has moved on past you.
Chucky

Ummm, why the hell are Fiat pricing the 500 and the Punto in the same range? That just doesn’t make any sense. Then again, people actually bought those crappy Beetles that are made in Mexico when they could have gotten a Golf instead.
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