In previous postings we've explored the origins of the Fiat 500 starting with the Nuova Fiat 500 from the 1950's. We've covered the original designer Dante Giacosa and discussed the 2004 Fiat Trepi�no show car. In this installment we'll take a closer look at the New Fiat 500.
Fiat introduced the new Fiat 500 on July 4, 2007 in Torino, Italy, exactly 50 years after the Nuova Fiat 500 was introduced in 1957. It heralded the revival of the new Fiat Automobiles SpA.
The New Fiat 500 is based off of the Trepi�no "3+1" show car that made it's debut at the 2004 Geneva Motor Show. It was designed under master designer Frank Stephenson leadership at the Fiat Style Centre. A world renown designer who previously worked at BMW and designed many well known cars such as the BMW X5, the New Mini and is credited with the Ferrari F430 and the Maserati MC12.
A car created for the people, with the people�s ideas
In an extraordinary move, Fiat openly sought the active involvement of the public in creating the New Fiat 500. Fiat launched operation "500 wants you" 500 days before the launch of the new car. It started as a huge online laboratory, where users discovered the styling concept of the new car and could express their preferences, propose ideas and contribute, for the first time in motoring history, to its creation. The www.fiat500.com site was open to the public�s contributions and expectations, which were assessed by Fiat during the actual development of the product.
It was an unprecedented response with over 3 million enthusiasts submitting ideas through the Internet site. These ideas helped shape the New Fiat 500. It also marked a change of corporate culture, using an open approach to creating a car and marked a new way of a car company interacting with it's customers, to meet their needs and expectations. �The 500, the car of the people, by the people�: this slogan sums up the philosophy behind the development of a project which, in the best Fiat tradition, �democratizes� access to contents and technologies that have never been offered in this segment before.
As the company says:
"For the company, the birth of the 500 represents the start of a new chapter, a declaration of the role that Fiat aims to interpret in the future on the market and in society. The stimulus to a new model of conscious consumption. A model for the exploitation of experience in the automotive field that focuses on quality and emotions, on uniqueness rather than on mass-production, where simplification does not mean doing without. The 500 is the tangible synthesis of these aspirations. With the 500, Fiat smiles at the future."
Undisputed leadership in this category
The New Fiat 500 has won acclaim from all over the world. Among some of the awards it has won are "European Car of the Year 2008" , "World Car Design of the year", and Japanese "Best Compact Car". Fiat is Europe�s leader in the production of compact vehicles, which are by definition the most eco friendly and, for the second year running, it's confirmed that Fiat has the lowest average value for CO2 emissions from the vehicles sold in 2008. Below are some of the awards the Fiat 500 has won.
Awards
CAR Magazine: Car of the Year 2007
EuroCarBody 2007 award
European Car of the Year for 2008
The World�s Most Beautiful Automobile (City Car and Small Car category)
AUTO EUROPA 2008
Fifth Gear: Best Small Car 2007
Top Gear: Best 'City Car' 2007
Auto 1 Europa 2008 - (Auto Bild)
2008 �What Car?� Green Car of the Year Award
Auto Express: "Best City Car" 2008
evecars.com Best Supermini/City Car Award 2008
evecars.com readers Sexiest Car of 2008
Best Compact Car Consumers' Choice Award-Car of the Year in Japan
2009 World Car Design of the Year
The Fiat 500 confirms Fiat Automobiles SpA�s undisputed leadership in small car design - a result of its extraordinary heritage of technical, design and human experience accumulated in over a century - and it takes a substantial leap forward in terms of comfort and safety, technology and equipment for this segment.
Keep an eye on car-evolutioncars as we go for an in depth view of the features of New Fiat 500
Research: Internet and Fiat Press
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