The millionth Fiat 500
has just rolled off the Fiat Auto Poland production
line. This model, launched in 2007, is now marketed in
over 100 countries around the world - from Italy to
Brazil, South Africa to Japan and the United States to
the Middle East - and has also been produced at the
Mexican plant in Toluca since 2011.
The record-breaking model
was a Lounge version in three-layer white and fitted
with the 1.2 litre 69 HP engine.
The Fiat 500 has recently
been given some tweaks for the 2013 Model Year, the
saloon and convertible versions both adding six new body
colours and two new trim levels (Street and Colour
Therapy). The range today comprises of two versions
(saloon and convertible), six trim levels (Pop, Pop
Star, Colour Therapy, Lounge, Street and "By Gucci") and
five engine versions (1.2 69 HP, 0.9 TwinAir Turbo 85,
1.4 16v 100 HP, 1.2 69 HP EasyPower and 1.3 MultiJet 16v
95 HP). There are also range topping Abarth versions and
an electric version will go on sale next year.
The 500 has also won over
40 awards internationally to date.
The 500 was the first car in its segment to offer seven
airbags as standard; the first car offering a range of
over 1 million possible customisations; the first car
only 3.55 metres long to win the prestigious EuroNCAP
5-Stars rating; the first to offer ESP on all engines;
the first car to offer 100 original specially designed
accessories; and the first Fiat Group car to carry the
revolutionary two-cylinder TwinAir engine family to its
début.
While Fiat hasn't made
many major changes to the 500 concept since launch there
have been a number of special versions: 500 Abarth
(March 2008), 500 by Diesel (September 2008), 500 Pink
(June 2009), 500C (July 2009), 500C Abarth (March 2010),
500C by Diesel (June 2010), 500 TwinAir (July 2010), 500
Matt Black (September 2010), 500 two-tone (December
2010), 500 and 500C by Gucci (in April and August 2011,
respectively), 500 TwinAir with "byAbarth" pack
(September 2011) and 500 America Limited Edition
(February 2012). What's more, show cars have been
created on the basis of the model, like the 500 Barbie,
the 500 China First Edition, the 500 Why Africa, the 500
Pepita, the 500 Peter Blake, the 500 Arik Levi and the
500 Diabolik.
The 500 was launched in
Turin on 4 July 2007 in front of more than 7,000 people
from 63 countries around the world including 1,000
journalists. While sales have now peaked on the European
market (EU27 + EFTA), in 2008 the Fiat 500 achieved the
13.9% segment share record and the following year it
recorded top sales volumes: approximately 186,000 units.
Launched at the end of
2010 in the United States and produced at the Chrysler
Group's Toluca plant in Mexico, today the Fiat 500 is
the leader in its class. After a shambolic start to the
North American marketing programme, the 500's position
has since greatly improved, helped also by the arrival
of the Abarth version. In October it marked its eighth
consecutive month of US growth. Taking a closer look at
the month, sales of the 500 saloon in North America
increased by 109% while the cabrio version marked an
increase of 21%. In total, more than 73,000 vehicles
were registered in the North American market since 2011,
of which 42,000 came during the first ten months of
2012.
