Sporty new Fiat 500S adds a dose of extra style
Extra interior equipment and exterior styling gives a racy look to Fiat’s best-selling city car
The Fiat 500 is already one of the most widely personalised cars on the market, with myriad combinations of colours, decals and trim options to ensure no two are identical. Now, though, buyers can specify the latest, updated 500 in sporty ‘S’ trim, which adds an exclusive paint finish, new alloy wheel design, and plenty of extra kit.
Rather than going for the cute and cuddly approach favoured by many 500 drivers, the new 500S gives an altogether meaner look to the tiny city car, starting with the dark paintwork in either Italia Blue or Alpi Green. Even the car’s bright chromework has been toned down, ditching the polished metal for a darker ‘Satin Graphite’ finish around the front bumper, the door handles and on the tailgate.
A subtle body kit lowers the car’s stance on the road and gives a sportier look. The car is also available as the 500S Cabrio, with a sliding fabric roof giving an almost drop-top feel.
Continuing the dark look of the outside are tinted rear windows and 15” (or optional 16”) alloy wheels with black accents.
Inside is more of the same, as black seats and roof lining combine with contrasting door panels and seat edging in blue, white, or yellow. As an option, full leather is available for a touch more luxury, while all cars get more Satin Graphite detailing on the dash and sports steering wheel.
The 500S comes packed with kit as standard, and all cars benefit from Fiat’s latest 7” Uconnect touchscreen infotainment system. It’s one of the better systems out there in terms of usability, and can be upgraded with DAB digital radio and TomTom sat-nav as a cost option. Music nuts will be happy, though, as the 500S comes standard with an upgraded BeatsAudio system pumping out 440 watts of power – plenty to fill the car’s compact cabin.
The 500S will be available with the same engine line-up as the standard car, with a choice of 1.2 petrol, 1.3 diesel, or the perky two-cylinder TwinAir models with either 85 or 105bhp. As we’ve found with the standard car, the lower-powered TwinAir unit is the sweet spot of the range, pairing decent economy with a hefty dose of fun.
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The previous 500S retailed for around £11,000 – approximately £1,000 more than the standard car at the time. With the upgraded 500 though, prices have risen slightly, so expect to pay around £12,000 for a basic 1.2 500S when it hits the market.
What do you think of this sportier, meaner-looking Fiat 500? Let us know in the comments below...
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