500

No, this is not the 500th post to this blog (obviously). Nor is it a sequel to the movie 300.

This is a post saying that the Fiat 500 has arrived!


Photo: Fiat.ee

The European car of the year 2008 has hit the Estonian market at last. The prices of the base models vary from 165 000 EEK (the 1,2 Pop) to 225 000 EEK (the 1,3 Multijet Lounge and 1,3 Multijet Sport). This is actually less than I thought. The previous revived style icon, the Mini, starts from 260 200 EEK for the base model and goes up to 311 000 (Cooper D). But enough about the prices.

Everyone in Europe is familiar with the expression Polish/Polski Fiat. This one is no exception, it is indeed being assembled in Poland. But who can blame Fiat for that? The only cars the Italians are willing to assemble are those of Fiat's sister company, the one with the prancing horse logo on the bonnet.

As mentioned before, the engine range starts at 1,2 litres, which seems like nothing, but is actually used in the VW Polo. /pause/ My God, I just did some calculations and it seems like the Fiat 1,2 would leave the Polo wiping up its dust. Some numbers: even though the Fiat is 37cm shorter and 2,3cm more narrow, it is 2,1cm higher than the Polo. But the aspect that makes this a faster car is the following: the Fiat is 149kg lighter (kick two passengers off the Polo), yet the engine has 9 more horses under its bonnet (60 vs. 69). When it comes to the 1,4 litre engines (the biggest the Fiat has to offer), the differences are more or less the same. But who am I to compare a true style icon (like an iPod or a Chihuahua) to an everyday item?


Photo: Fiat.ee

Yes, indeed, the Fiat 500 is a true and pure style icon. Some points to prove it:
¤ It has optional plug-ins for the iPod and other similar trendy devices
¤ The optional extras list features items such as Italian flag stripes running from back to front, various colour stripes across the body, the number 5 on the bonnet in either black, white or red, squares on the roof, the number '500' and the word 'sport' in various colours. Basically, you can pick up a load of stickers for your car and let the people at the factory place them on your car.
¤ Voice activation of various systems (a modern stylish person could not be bothered to press the touch screen on his navigator, can he?). This brings to mind some Italian bloke yelling at his car in the middle of town square. Bueno.

Me? Yes, I am so going for a test drive in this.