The Malta Independent 19 April 2024, Friday
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New Fiat 500S

Tuesday, 5 July 2016, 09:44 Last update: about 9 years ago
  • The sedan and convertible versions of the sportiest interpretation of the iconic Fiat are making their appearance in the EMEA region.
  • The model is the ideal answer for customers seeking bold looks and full standard equipment.
  • New sportier bumpers, integrated fog lights, side skirts and specific spoilers.
  • Exclusive "Satin Graphite" painted handles, mirror caps and standard alloy rims, all matching the details of the bumper.
  • Standard equipment includes tinted windows, chrome-plated tailpipe, "black grained" air intakes and an eye-catching honeycomb grille.
  • New exterior colour palette: metallised Italia Blue and new matte Alpi Green.
  • Inside, black seats and roof liner with blue, white or yellow door panels and profiles. Sophisticated Frau leather upholstery with white or blue details is available on request.
  • "Satin Graphite" accents on the dashboard fascia and special sporty steering wheel.
  • Available with 1.3 16v Multijet II 95 HP turbodiesel engine and the 1.2 69 HP, 0.9 TwinAir (with 80 HP, 85 HP or 105 HP according to the markets) and 1.4 16v 100 HP (available only in some markets) petrol engines.
  • Transmissions include five- or six-speed mechanical gearboxes and the robotised Dualogic.
  • Standard is the new UconnectTM 7" HD LIVE touchscreen system with tablet effect, HD display and UconnectTM LIVE services. On request, a digital radio (DAB) and built-in 3D TomTom navigator can also be provided.
  • Appearing for the first time, BeatsAudioTM with eight channel amplifier 440 Watt of total power.

Fiat 500S is the new sportier version characterised by bold looks and full standard equipment. Available in two versions, sedan and convertible, the new model is targeted to young motorists who want a car with a strong sporty personality. This model completes the range of the New 500, the iconic Fiat created to face future market challenges while remaining true to its own deep roots. Developed by the Fiat Style Centre, the car has refreshed exteriors and interiors which make it unmistakably 500 and even more attractive. It has not grown in size but it is packed with more technology and customisation ideas: the icon has evolved and further refined the features that have turned it into a masterpiece. The new "500S" version is a further step forward and completes the range of the New 500, one of the most comprehensive line-ups in the segment, which - according to the markets - features two versions (sedan and convertible), three trim levels (Pop, Lounge and Sport), seven Euro 6 engine versions (the 1.2 69 HP, also bi-fuel LPG/petrol, the 1.4 16v 100 HP, the 0.9 TwinAir with 80 HP, 85 HP or 105 HP and the 1.3 16v Multijet II 95 HP) (the New 500 is the only car of its segment, along with the Fiat Panda, to offer a diesel engine), three transmissions (five- or six-speed mechanical and robotised Dualogic) and 10 body colours amongst pastel, metallised, three-layer and matte shades.

 

Exterior and interior style

Available in two versions - sedan and convertible -, 500S is characterised by sportier front and rear bumpers, the first with integrated fog light and the latter with side skirts and specific spoiler. Another exclusive feature is the "Satin Graphite" paintwork on some parts of the front bumper, the door and tailgate handles, the mirror caps and the rims. Rear tinted windows, chrome-plated tailpipe, "black grained" front air intakes and the eye-catching honeycomb bottom grille complete the look of the 500S.

The 15" alloy rims with special "Satin Graphite" finish and the optional 16" rims with matt diamond black treatment are also new. Finally, the colour palette chosen to enhance the bold appearance of 500S features the new colours Italia Blue and Alpi Green, with a dark ambiance.

Perfectly in tune with the sporty attitude of the new version, the interiors of the New 500S are enhanced by a black seat and roof lining combo with contrasting door panels and seat edging, available in blue, white and yellow. Frau leather interiors with white or blue details are available on request. In addition, embellishing the passenger compartment, are "Satin Graphite" details on the dashboard fascia and special sports steering wheel.

Finally, the convertible Fiat 500S Cabrio inherits all the winning features of the sedan, including compact external dimensions, four comfortable seats and excellent engines in terms of performance, fuel economy and respect for the environment. The silhouette is enhanced by the sliding roof, a marvel of design in its own right. More in detail, the soft top of the Fiat 500S Cabrio stands out for its elegant, electrically controlled movement and its impressively finished and carefully selected technical features, from the glass rear window to the third brake light built into the soft top itself. Additionally, the Fiat 500S Cabrio retains the solid sides of the classic version and can therefore be enjoyed all year round.

Engine versions and transmissions

The New 500S fits brilliant and fuel-efficient engines which are even more environment-friendly, as demonstrated by the Euro 6 type-approval. Paired with five- or six-speed mechanical gearboxes or with the robotised Dualogic, the engine range includes the 1.3 16v Multijet II 95 HP turbodiesel and the 1.2 69 HP, the 1.4 16v 100 HP and the 0.9 TwinAir petrol engines (with 80 HP, 85 HP or 105 HP according to the markets).

In particular, the New 500S can be equipped with the 1.3 Multijet 95 HP engine, which is the best of today's small diesel engineering technology: it emits only 89 grams of CO2 per kilometre and meets Euro 6 standards while guaranteeing outstanding performance. Acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h takes only 10.7 seconds and the top speed is 180 km/h. It is also fuel-efficient and eco-friendly: 3.4 litres of diesel are needed for 100 kilometres. Finally, a little record: the New 500 is the only car in its segment, together with Fiat Panda, to offer a diesel engine.

 

UconnectTM 7" HD LIVE touchscreen

The dashboard incorporates a UconnectTM 7" HD LIVE touchscreen with tablet effect and HD display, the next frontier of infotainment, as standard equipment. This system implements a wide range of functions, including UconnectTM LIVE services as standard, Bluetooth hands-free system, voice recognition and plenty of music options in addition to FM/AM radio. The driver can connect their multimedia devices via USB or using the 3.5mm auxiliary jack, or stream music from a compatible smartphone using Bluetooth.

Available on request on the new UconnectTM 7" HD LIVE are a digital radio (DAB) and the built-in TomTom navigation system.

 

BeatsAudioTM system

The new Fiat 500S complements the 500 range with the latest audio experience from Beats by Dr. Dre, the system designed to revolutionise the way in which music can be heard inside the vehicle. On request, the customer can equip their car with the exclusive BeatsAudioTM system developed in conjunction with Beats by Dr Dre. Specifically, the BeatsAudioTM system boasts a total output of 440 watts and features a digital 8-channel amplifier integrating an advanced equalisation algorithm, which can recreate the entire sound spectrum that an artist experiences during studio recording.

More in detail, the Beats AudioTM sound system consists of: 8-channel amplifier with 440 watts of power; two dome tweeters installed in the front pillars; two 165 mm midwoofers in the front doors; two full-range 165 mm speakers in the rear side panels; and one 200 mm subwoofer in the spare wheel compartment in the centre of the luggage compartment.

With the innovative 7-inch TFT instrument panel - optional on the new 500S - the dashboard of the car delivers a fully-digital driving experience that nevertheless retains the classic 500 instrument layout, complete with circular cluster and round buttons.

 

Safety and comfort

The New 500S is one of the safest cars in the entire segment, as demonstrated by the seven airbags offered as standard equipment (two front, two window bag, two side bags and one knee bag), in addition to state-of-the-art systems for perfect vehicle control: ABS complete with EBD (Electronic Brake Distribution), the sophisticated ESC (Electronic Stability Control), ASR (Anti Slip Regulation), Hill Holder, to help the driver start uphill and HBA (Hydraulic Brake Assistance) to assist in emergency braking.

The New 500S is also packed with dynamic and comfort properties making it perfect to tackle all journeys comfortably and safely. These qualities are enhanced by the suspension layout: the front system is a McPherson independent configuration, while the rear suspension features interconnected (i.e. semi-independent) wheels with a torsion beam. Based on a Magneti Marelli design, both configurations were appropriately revised and developed for the New 500 to ensure great handling and top level driving comfort.

 

FCA Bank

To support the launch of the New 500S, FCA Bank is offering loans and simple, innovative and customisable leasing plans for customers, retail, professional or companies alike, all of which can be combined with a wide array of insurances services made available to protect the car and its occupants. Furthermore, FCA Bank, in partnership with the brand, has created specific loyalty programmes to incentivise 500 owners to replace their car with a new 500S.

Mopar Vehicle Protection

Mopar Vehicle Protection lets car owners keep their cars in optimum condition by offering a wide range of service agreements guaranteed by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles. Designed to ensure cart owners the pleasure of driving their cars worry-free and without any unforeseen events.

Only Mopar Vehicle Protection provides the certainty that all servicing will be performed by highly qualified and specialized professionals at authorised Fiat workshops throughout Europe, where only genuine spare parts will be used.

The Mopar Vehicle Protection product portfolio contains a wide and flexible range of extended warranties and maintenance plans that can be transferred to the new owner if the car is sold. Each designed to accommodate your driving needs, with a series of different coverage tiers, in terms of durability and mileage.

For the New 500S, Mopar Vehicle Protection has planned a wide range of services that keep your vehicle in perfect running order. The Maximum Care warranty extension, for example, is conceived to cover all mechanical and electrical parts of the car, and extends the warranty up to a maximum of 3 years beyond the manufacturer's warranty.

The Easy Care scheduled maintenance plan, fixes the price of your regular servicing for up to 5 years, ensuring our customers vehicle never miss a service interval.

Mopar Vehicle Protection service contracts can be subscribed directly to when purchasing a new car and be included (if desired) in the FCA Bank financial offer (on selected markets). Easy Care can be purchased any time before the first service, whereas MAXIMUM CARE can be subscribed to within 24 months after vehicle registration.


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