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Which Fiat 500?

stevec67 said:
It's a marvellous bit of design, the video above shows just how clever it is. Not especially comfortable and it wouldn't meet the safety standards that apply 40 years on, but it's a great design. One thing that is apparent is how they manage it with so little material, which helps keep the car weight down.
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In 2019, FIAT showed a concept car called Centoventi ("120"):
Fiat Centoventi 120 Concept - Car Born to be dressed | Fiat UK

Normally I wouldn't bother about concepts, but this was heavily hinted as a production preview, and a revisiting of the original Panda's design of a cheap car with a flexible, user-customisable interior... the panda-bear toy is a nod to its inspiration. (the Panda was actually named for the Roman goddess Empanda, not the bear, but hey...) FIAT also features Centoventi prominently on its website, under the "models" list.

The clever thing about the 120, not shown in the video, was that it was to be sold as a kit: you got the basic car from the factory, with optional parts (instruments, cubbyholes, passenger seat options, etc) delivered separately for assembly at the dealership (or at home - the plug-board dash made it easy to do). Doing this cut complexity out of the manufacturing system, and removed a whole host of accessory parts from the JIT supply chain, reducing the chance of production delays. Also, FIAT had explored partnerships with other brands to make compatible cabin accessories, and would offer the 3d-printer files of the dashboard-plugs for use by the public or specialist vehicle outfitters.

Of course, Centoventi was a concept, so the final car will be nowhere near as cool (those doors, for instance are highly unlikely to appear). The production car is unlikely to have the exchangeable roof (leak prevention costs a lot for user-fitted parts), and definitely won't have the field-expandable battery system: a shame, but FIAT claimed that it wasn't a big positive for potential customers, and it did add cost and weight to the car. What may also go is the "DIY" final assembly, but you never know...

The production version was expected to start production last year, but Covid-19 and the merger with PSA Peugeot-Citroen to form Stellantis has caused a lot of re-jigging of model plans. Dealers were told to expect a cheap car with both an ICE and EV versions, but the ICE might not happen now (at least not in Northern Europe). Interestingly, FIAT's sister-brand within Stellantis, Citroen showed a concept called Oli* this year, which, when you look closely at it, is basically the 120 again, and photo-renders of the upcoming C3 bear a remarkable similarity to the Centoventi concept.

The current Panda is a smaller car, and will be in production until at least 2026, so the new one is not going to be called "Panda".

(* say it in a French accent: it's "all E", yeah, I know...)
 
miktec said:
Done - guy wouldn't budge on price but was too good to miss, pretty good nick for 10 years old - inside is immaculate, some marks on ext.
Test drive went very well - luckily a long stretch of bendy open road nearby with a steep hill to a village.
Absolute hoot to drive and a real comfy sit ..... I love small cars :)

Good deal on insurance (Churchill, £162 fully comp) £35 tax
Pick it up tomorrow .... YAY !!!
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Day 3 of ownership and took a run across town today with various stop offs. Great little city car indeed, nice and tight on the turns for parking etc. and just so pleasant to drive :)

Not sure how the internet myth arose that the 1.2 lacks poke and is crap on hills - (albeit limited) experience so far flattens both assertions into the mud....
 
Your one is fine. It was the later remapping of the 1.2 to meet Euro6 emissions that knocked back the performance. I've driven the newer 1.2 as a rental, and it's nowhere near as weak as people say, but the older 1.2 does have more go in it.
 
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