Fiat 500C

Fiat are on a roll. Not only are they currently on the verge of taking over auto giant Chrysler and its various car brands but they're also about to release one of the best small convertibles on the market.

The Fiat 500 convertible has the cool factor. It capitaises on the glamorous past of the 500 name, it shares the classic looks but brings the whole concept right up to date. It is another retro reproduction of an iconic car joining the new Beatle and Mini both of which it under-cuts in price just like the original did 50 years ago.

Behind the classic Fiat styling is a modern, practical city car. Unlike the rear-engined original the engine is now safely at the front, driving the front wheels and leaves the rear of the car as a conventional hatchback. The 500 is also considerably larger than the original due to safety requirements and market demand. It is still small enough to make driving around town a breeze though.

Never-the-less breeze was until now the only thing missing. When launched in 1957 the Fiat Nuova 500 had a canvas roof that folded all the way back to the rear of the car but the new one was very much a standard hatchback. The Fiat 500C puts that right, bringing fresh air and a wewlcome touch of style. It may not be considered by purists as a full convertible but those door pillars pay homage to the original design as well as adding rigidity to the chassis which always suffers when the roof is cut off a conventional car. When folded the roof sits on top of the rear shelf rather than being stowed away and although this may hinder rear vision it means that storage space is not affected.

Unlike many convertibles in its class the 500C seats four adults without too much trouble as well as having generous luggage space. It also proudly sits at the top of its class for safety features.

The same engines and trim packages as the current hatchback lineup will be available for the convertible. These include 69 hp 1.2 and 100 hp 1.4 petrol engines and a 75 hp 1.3 turbo diesel. None of the cars are thirsty and the extra cost of the diesel engine will take thousands of miles to pay for itself. The Pop trim level is the cheapest and offers most of the things you will need. Opt for the Lounge model and you will benefit from alloy wheels, climate control, parking sensors and numurous other additions. A Sport package is also expected but is not specified for the launch cars.

The new 500C incorporates the Fiat’s recently announced Start&Stop system, an innovative device which initiates engine shutdown and re-ignition to save fuel when pausing in traffic. At every complete stop, when shifting to neutral and releasing the clutch, the engine is switched off, and then restarted simply by selecting a gear.

Inkeeping with tradition the 500c is competitivly priced however it is considerably more than the standard hatchback. It is cheap to run too with a low insurance grouping, emissions and fuel consumption. All round it hits the tone of current times perfectly just as the original did in the post-war years. It's practical and economical to own and yet doesn't compromise on style or driving enjoyment.

Never has a budget car been so desirable.

The first Fiat 500Cs will be on our roads by summer 2009 starting at GBP £11,300 on the road.

Specification and wallpaper images of the Fiat 500c can be found in our Buyers' Guide.