Fiat 500

Salted! Badge shaker for 500

Fiat has delivered its biggest shaker yet in the run-up to the launch of its fabulous baby 500

Auto Express Car Reviews

By Ross Pinnock

27th November 2006

The Italian giant has revealed the badging to be used on the new city car, and chose to show it in its wackiest stunt to date - on the side of a salt cellar. The pot clearly depicts the 500 logo, set to become a common sight when the model goes on sale next year.

Fiat hopes that borrowing inspiration from the MINI will help it to win UK sales, as the British style icon has used Salt, Pepper and Chili packages to boost the appeal of its retro supermini. While the salt shaker illustrates how the new 500 will complement the brand, a pepper pot signifying hot Abarth variants provides confirmation of the scorpion logo's return to mainstream models.

Auto Express has already revealed how Fiat has developed a hi-tech two-cylinder powerplant for its new baby. The turbocharged engine will produce between 90bhp and 110bhp, and boast impressive fuel economy. Buyers will also be able to choose the firm's 1.4-litre turbo, which delivers up to 150bhp. Fiat bosses have also given the cheeky runaround its own mascot, Dante, which was voted for by visitors to www.fiat500.com, the car's website.

The logo is described by its creator, Fabrizio Salmasso from Samarate, Italy, as: "Small, strong, curious and enterprising... just like the beautiful new 500!"