With more than 160,000 orders amassed by the end of last month, Fiat is ramping up production of the 500 up to 750 units per day as it targets annual capacity of 190,000 units to cope with the surging demand.

With more than 160,000 orders amassed by the end of last month, Fiat is ramping up production of the 500 up to 750 units per day as it targets annual capacity of 190,000 units to cope with the surging demand.

Within the next couple of weeks capacity, at the Tychy factory in the south of Poland where the 500 is built, will be increased to 750 units a day reported Automotive New Europe this week.

Initially Fiat planned to build 58,000 units from its launch on 4th July 2007 up to the end of last year, before increasing this target to 120,000 units per year from 2008 onwards. However the huge demand for the car, right from the moment it was launched, has resulted in an order book now standing at over 160,000 units. The deman by customers for the 500, which collected the prestigious European Car of the Year award last November, has forced a rethink by Fiat management and a substantial increase in capacity is being installed at the factory which already builds the Panda, on whose architecture the 500 is based, as well as the venerable 600 (Seicento).

UK-based market research agency J.D. Power Automotive Forecasting is quoted by ANE as saying that 65,535 units of the 500 were eventually built last year, while JATO Dynamics reports that 42,470 of these were delivered to customers.

Demand for the 500 is set to increase further as niche versions arrive on the market. ANE reports that Fiat plans to sell 2,500 units of the new 500 Abarth, which will have a 135 bhp 1.4-litre T-Jet engine, this year with the figure rising to 10,000 annually in 2009. The 500 Abarth will be priced at 18,000 euros adds, ANE, a premium of 3,500 euros over the current top-spec sporting version in the range, the 100 bhp 1.4-litre 500 Sport.

The new versions will build on the heritage of the original 500 which went on to spawn a raft of niche models half a century ago. Fiat has also had a great deal of success by expanding the depth of the Panda range, with addition models such as an SUV and 4x4. ANE also reports that the cabriolet will arrive next year, before a Giardiniera (station wagon) joins the line-up in 2010. The Giardiniera will retain the 500's 3-door format but will sit on a 2380 mm wheelbase, 80 mm longer than the current model.