New Fiat 500...

... made by Renault.

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Old news I'm sure but this is the car that Fiat SHOULD have made. Rear engined, quirky engine (3 cylinder turbo), short length and with a great steering lock. Sorely tempted, especially if a way can be found to turn the traction control off.

Tim

Reply to
Tim+
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The traction control is probably essential to keep it safe. ;-)

Reply to
Dave Plowman (News)

I think these retro cars have a problem: Where do you go from here? How do you make a next generation model? This new 500 misses the point of the first 500 retro, now it just looks like a mainstream small car, no hint of the original.

Reply to
johannes

You do realise that the car in the picture is a Renault Twingo, on a platform shared with the Smart ForTwo? - and nothing to do with Fiat at all?

Reply to
SteveH

OK thx spotted it now. I mixed it up with a picture I once saw of the next gen 500.

Reply to
johannes

Well, it is a Renault. ;-)

The problem with these retro small cars is they are no longer small. There's an original Fiat 500 round here which is tiny compared to the retro one. Same as the Mini.

I personally can't see any advantage in a rear engined car in this day and age. But plenty of disadvantages.

Reply to
Dave Plowman (News)

In a city car, one advantage . Steering lock.

Tim

Reply to
Tim+

It's possible to get a very decent lock on a FWD by angling the driveshafts. Triumph did that with the 1300/1500 range.

But are you really saying it's a priority for the average driver?

Reply to
Dave Plowman (News)

There's another big advantage in a short car - no engine to get in the way in a frontal impact.

Reply to
Adrian

There's one thing you forgot from that list.

London Taxi - requirement 8m.

Anyway, are they kerb-to-kerb or wall-to-wall measurements?

Reply to
Adrian

7.6m w2w for a black cab 7.3m w2w Smart 4 2

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Reply to
Mrcheerful

Yes, but I was focusing on the thread subjet line

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This is even further away from likeness to the original500 as Fiat 'sneakely' evolves the styling. Hardly anything left from the original.

Reply to
johannes

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