New cars don’t come any cuter than Fiat’s new 500C soft top , priced from $28,990.
Perfect for summer beach action, the 500C soft top, like the rest of the cute 500C lineup, is comprehensively equipped and technologically advanced with a five-star EuroNCAP safety rating.
The clever roof features a clear glass rear window and folds away at the press of a button.
In keeping with the original 1957 fabric roof Fiat 500 design, the sides of the car remain intact so it is not a convertible. Fiat says this design is perfect for Australian summers as it provides open top driving while keeping the inside cool via the standard climate control air-conditioning.
But thanks to contemporary technology, the new 500C soft top is practical – for example, with the roof open clever parallelogram hinges enable access to the boot and aerodynamic developments, including a wind-stop fitted behind the rear seats, keep turbulence to a minimum even when driving at speed
Inside are four seats with optional Frau leather upholstery and lots of features including Blue&Me telematics and a MP3-compatible six-speaker CD sound system. Surprisingly, the luggage capacity is 182 litres – just three litres less than the 500 hard top.
Styling and engineering changes mean the soft top is not just a 500C with an open roof – even the windscreen is deeper (needed to resize the upper cross member for torsional rigidity).
Power comes from the familiar 1.4-litre four-cylinder petrol engine driving through either a five-speed manual or five-speed sequential DuaLogic automatic. Maximum power is 74kW at 6,000rpm and peak torque is 131Nm at 4,250rpm.
Zero to 100km/h is achieved in 10.5 seconds and the combined cycle fuel economy is 6.3l/100kms.
Safety features are world-class including seven airbags and electronic stability program.
Worldwide popularity for the funky soft top Fiat is enormous so Fiat Australia has only been able to secure limited numbers from the factory in Italy – better move fast to secure your ‘Beach Baby’ in time for summer.
