New Fiat 500 Revealed and Available to Lease

The almost meteoric rise of the FIAT 500 has continued with the arrival of the new FIAT 500 on July 4 to the UK's forecourts and, of course, to the leasing options at Nationwide Vehicle Contracts. Full details of some great offers are available here, enabling you to join the 52,800 people driving a new FIAT in 2014.

The July 4 date is especially significant for FIAT in that it was on that date back in 1957 that the Italian car manufacturer first introduced the world to the FIAT 500. So, eight years on, the torch has been passed on to the FIAT 500 featuring a revised and refreshed interior and exterior, advanced technology, improved efficiency and more customisation options; but with the same spirit and personality as the original which has made it an Italian masterpiece in the first place.

FIAT 500 Versions

Available in two body styles (hatchback and convertible), the new FIAT 500 has been designed with three trim levels: Pop, Pop Star and Lounge. Standard equipment across all three trims includes LED daytime running lights, seven airbags and the Uconnect™ infotainment system with six speakers, AUX-IN/USB ports and steering wheel remote controls. 

The FIAT 500 Pop is the entry level trim with the Pop Star version adding in air conditioning, body-colour mirror caps with defrosting function and 15" alloy wheels, with the FIAT 500 Lounge version benefiting from a bit more sophistication with added panoramic glass sunroof, rear parking sensors, a chrome front grille, front fog lights, a leather-trimmed steering wheel and a Uconnect™ 5” LIVE touchscreen infotainment system with smartphone integration and built-in apps.

FIAT 500 Changes

Incredibly, and more to the point, somehow, FIAT have made no less than 1,800 innovative detail changes to the FIAT 500, all with the intention of not only refining the inimitable style of the model but also enhancing the overall experience that a driver gets.

Without listing all 1,800 of the changes, it is enough to say that they are substantial, especially in the technological arena, yet still manage to stay loyal to the exclusivity and accessibility of the FIAT 500.

Amends to the new front headlights (which have LED daytime running lights now) and the new rear light clusters, along with the revised colour palette (13 hues made up of 5 metallic, 7 pastel and 1 solid) and the revamped dashboard are as obvious as the use of improved materials throughout, but there is so much more to be discovered.

Inside, the revised interior is centred around the designed dashboard which now houses the advanced (and easier to read) Uconnect™ infotainment (touchscreen on the Lounge version) across the range - the reason for the redesigned  dashboard dome and air vents.

Other changes include new remote control buttons on the steering wheel, a circular instrument cluster with analogue dials (in the Pop and Pop Star models), an innovative 7" TFT display (in the Lounge trim), Uconnect™ Radio LIVE and Uconnect™ Radio Nav LIVE, more ergonomic front seats, redesigned interior upholstery in nine colour combinations with other little touches just waiting to be discovered.

FIAT 500 Power

The two-cylinder engine line-up of the new FIAT 500 includes a 0.9-litre TwinAir engine (85hp or 105hp) and a 1.2-litre 69hp unit; both of which boast exceptional efficiency – 90g/km for the 85hp engine and 99g/km for the 105hp unit - and are also Euro 6-compliant. 

The TwinAir 0.9 85hp has an official fuel consumption figure of 74.3mpg on the combined cycle with CO2 emissions of 90g/km, which will soon be challenged by the possible UK arrival of a new ‘Eco’ configuration of the 1.2 litre 69hp which will reduce emissions to 99 grams of CO2 per kilometre.

FIAT 500 safety 

It almost goes without saying in this day and age that the FIAT 500 has not only been engineered to comply with the toughest standards, but also to be one of the safest cars in its segment with the popular 1.2 69hp version equipped with:

• Larger brake discs for even more effective and powerful braking, 
• Seven airbags (front, window and side airbags, plus a driver’s knee airbag) 
• ABS with electronic brake distribution (EBD) 
• Advanced electronic stability control (ESC) 
• Anti-slip regulation (ASR)
• Hill Holder 
• Hydraulic brake assistance (HBA) 

The new FIAT 500 in all three of the trim levels – Pop, Pop Star and Lounge – is available to lease in hatchback and convertible versions from Nationwide Vehicle Contracts.