We’re all feeling the pinch lately and the next 18 months are going to be far worse apparently. But before you start collecting your own firewood and wearing your suits inside out to save on washing, Fiat has a far better solution – learn to drive properly.
SNAP
Unless you were raised like a Walton’s child or had a can too many Red Bulls at lunchtime, you don’t often find yourself smiling and waving at strangers just because they’re driving the same car but the Fiat 500 is proudly Italian and therefore emotion is good!
5,000 Owners and potential buyers of the Fiat 500 have been invited to the car’s first birthday bash at Alexandra Park in North London today. The event will include live music, a picnic, big screen sports coverage, outdoor games and chill out zones. Elsewhere around the world in cities such as Budapest, Copenhagen, Milan, Paris, Rome, Rotterdam, Tokyo and Cape Town a whole community of people will be brought together by this little supermini and be immersed in the cool, carefree, lifestyle it represents. The Fiat 500 has its roots in post war Italy and was built as an affordable, fun, freedom-loving car. It’s iconic looks and nippy way of getting around town captured hearts all around Europe and its revival model is still doing so today.
MONOPOLY
Fiat’s new Eco Bravo has the Monopoly on London driving; from October every time it passes ‘Go’ it will be saving £8 a day on congestion and to tax it only costs £35 a year.
Abarth returns to track racing, and it has chosen to do so with its new ‘500 Abarth Assetto Corse’, the baby supersports car from Abarth, due to be produced in a Limited Edition (49 cars).
Sportier appearance and better handling:
KW coilover suspension V1 for new Fiat 500
- Racing-technology for the road
- Customised lowering of suspension up to 60 mm
- Coilover suspensions produced in stainless steel “inox-line” technology
The Fiat Grande Punto Abarth S2000 is racing in the Italian Rally Championship 2007, driven by Giandomenico Basso, with co-driver Mitia Dotta. The Fiat Grande Punto Abarth S2000 a normally aspirated 2000 cc engine (270 hp) and 4-wheel drive. The Fiat Grande Punto Abarth S2000 develops 270 hp at 8250 rpm and 222 Nm of torque at 6500 rpm.
Early in 2008, the Grande Punto Abarth range will be completed with the “esseesse” (Super Sport) kit. The “esseesse” kit is reserved especially for the Grande Punto Abarth, and can only be installed at the official Abarth service centers.
POWER OF SUGGESTION
It’s beautiful but not overtly flashy, powerful but modestly priced. The question is, are you brave enough to leave the ordinary realm of choices and think for yourself?
LITTLE AND LARGE
The art of looking small on the outside yet spacious within is a highly prized achievement in the supermini segment. The Grande Punto certainly fits this profile as well as having the panache to fill it.
SWEET SIXTEEN
We took Fiat’s first ever SUV on an off-road trail in the Yorkshire Dales to see just how well the new 4×4 lived up to its name.
