Fiat 500

Here's a Fiat 500 that’s got a little bit extra – to boot! The Italian giant is setting its sights on the MINI Club-man with an estate version of its successful small car – and this is how it will look.
Our exclusive pictures reveal the spacious new city challenger,which will hit showrooms in 2010. As you can see, it won’t rely on gimmicks used by its MINI rival, so there are no rear passenger doors, just a practical tailgate.
The extended roofline boosts head-room in the back and frees up more luggage space, making this the most sensible 500 of the range. The compact estate is inspired by the small load-lugger from the Sixties, and could even carry the same Giardiniera badge worn by that model. Fiat will keep development costs to a minimum by using the same front end and wheelbase as found on the hatch. However, a slightly longer rear overhang, a more upright tail and a pair of neat alloy roof rails will set the new model apart.



The Giardiniera won’t be the first 500 estate to appear, though. Italian coachbuilding firm Castagna showed its vision of the load-lugging city car at the Geneva Motor Show last month.The firm has a history of beating manufacturers at their own game, having designed a line-up of MINI estates before the Club-man was officially revealed. The standard 500’s engine range will be carried over to the Giardiniera, so customers will get the choice of an entry-level 69bhp 1.2-litre petrol unit, a more power-ful 100bhp 1.4-litre or a 75bhp 1.3-litre Multijet diesel. Fiat is also believed to be considering a hot Abarth version of the estate if there is sufficient demand. However, the next 500 variant to appear on UK roads will be the cabriolet, as seen in the sketch below. This model is set to be unveiled at the 2009 Geneva expo and hit showrooms late next year. Source

Fiat download kit

A clever gadget will enable Fiat owners to download telemetry from their car – just like an F1 driver.

Rather than help them go faster, however, the data will allow motorists to boost their fuel economy. In a world first, the brand’s EcoDrive system analyses your driving style and suggests ways to improve it. Using a simple USB key, owners can even download plots of consumption and CO2 emissions to their PC.

EcoDrive will be available on the Grande Punto and 500 in September, before being rolled out across the rest of the range. It will be free with Blue&Me – the clever on-board com­munications system co-developed with computer giant Microsoft.Source

Review : Hyundai i10

Driving
Light controls ensure the Hyundai is extremely straightforward to drive. With a tight turning circle and excellent visibility, it has all the key attributes a great city car requires. The 1.1-litre engine delivers keen throttle response, making sure the i10 is nippy through traffic. Combine this with responsive steering, progressive brakes and a tidy gearshift, and the Hyundai is fun and easy to drive. Even so, it’s worth pointing out the engine does get a little coarse at higher revs, and the ride tends to be on the firm side. However, the stiff suspension does mean the i10 is stable at motorway speeds.

Marketplace
The i10 replaces Hyundai’s previous city five-door, the Amica. Built in India, links to the old car are clear, particularly in the unattractive side profile. However, the tidy nose and rear are attractive and modern, similar to the bigger i30. Powered by a single 1.1-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, Hyundai’s baby comes in three trim lines – Classic, Style and Comfort. Rivals come far and wide, and include the Fiat Panda, Toyota Aygo, Peugeot 107, Citroen C1, Volkswagen Fox and Kia Picanto.

Owning
The dashboard design is modern, while the materials used are impressive for a car in this price range. The high-mounted stereo is excellent, with big buttons and a CD player, as well as compatibility with MP3 players. What’s more, the thin-rimmed steering wheel adjusts for height, and the gearlever is perfectly placed on the dashboard. There’s a decent amount of space, with enough legroom in the rear for adults to sit comfortably. Unlike rivals, the i10’s back seats split and fold, while you get three rear belts and a full complement of headrests. Quoted economy of 56mpg is impressive and the low list prices include very good levels of equipment, plus Hyundai’s five-year warranty.Source

• Rating:
• On the road price: £6,495 - £7,595
• For : Entertaining to drive, peppy 1.1-litre, generous equipment and space
• Against : Engine coarse when revved, ride a little firm

First Drive of Hyundai i10

Meet the smart city car that Hyundai wants everyone to pay attention to!On sale next month, the new model replaces the Amica, and aims to offer quality and value in a pocket-sized package, while taking a huge leap forward in finish and design.The newcomer is built in India, and is powered by a 1.1-litre four-cylinder petrol engine. There’s also a choice of Classic, Style and Comfort trims.Equipment levels are good when you consider the low price. Even the £6,495 entry-level Classic model we drove gets side airbags, central locking, air-conditioning and a CD player as standard. And Hyundai’s five-year unlimited mileage warranty guarantees hassle-free motoring. But crucially, the i10 looks well built. Even though it’s very basic, the body and interior feel robust and soundly engineered. Thanks to the narrow track and high roofline, the car looks similar to the i30 hatch from the front, but it’s less attractive in profile. Still, the five-door layout helps practicality. There’s a decent amount of space inside, with enough legroom in the rear for adults to sit comfortably. Unlike rivals, the i10’s back seats split and fold, while you get three rear belts and a full complement of headrests.Up front, the dashboard design is modern, while the materials used are impressive for a model in this price range. The high-mounted stereo is excellent, with big buttons and a CD player, as well as compatibility with MP3 players. What’s more, the thin-rimmed steering wheel adjusts for height, and the gearlever is perfectly placed on the dashboard. Light controls ensure the Hyundai is extremely easy to drive, and with a tight turning circle and excellent visibility, it boasts all the key attributes a great city car requires. The 1.1-litre engine delivers keen throttle response, making sure the i10 is nippy through traffic. Combine this with responsive steering, progressive brakes and a tidy gearshift, and the new Hyundai is fun and easy to drive.Even so, it’s worth pointing out that those buyers who want the ultimate in luxurious road manners could be disappointed. The engine does get a little coarse the higher in the revs you go, and the ride tends to be on the firm side. However, the stiff suspension means you’ll have no reason to avoid the motorway, because the i10 always feels stable and secure.Still, this is another example of the Korean brand’s ever-improving products. It’s a great little city car, offering no-frills motoring at its very best.
Rival: Fiat PandaThe Panda offers interior space on a par with the i10’s, but its ride is more supple. Add great looks and a cheeky image, and the Fiat is a strong choice. The trouble is, it trails the Hyundai for standard kit, and has a dated dash design.Source

Fiat 500

The 500 is a cheeky charmer: Fiat has a sure-fire hit.

Driving
Fiat's reborn 500 is a great city car. The turning circle is tight, steering can be lightened via the City button, all-round visibility is good and dimensions are compact. But it isn’t so eager at higher speeds. The motorway ride isn't perfect, and can be patchy on urban roads too. As a result, the 500 can be tiring to drive over long distances. If you are after the perfect hot hatch handling you will be disappointed, too. It's a decent drive, but the Fiat falls behind its MINI rival on twisty roads. The 1.2-litre petrol engine is sweeter than the 1.4-litre, but not nearly as smooth, refined or flexible as a MINI’s 1.4-litre. The 1.3-litre diesel is torquey, if clattery. All this, however, fails to detract from the feelgood factor of being behind the wheel of such a cute city slicker.

Marketplace
What’s not to love with the 500? It’s so cute, it makes a MINI look bulky. The design is a triumph, with chrome detailing striking the perfect balance between retro charm and modern chic. Based on the Panda, safety is the key and the 500 is unique in this class in having seven airbags as standard. This helps it to achieve a five-star Euro NCAP crash test score. There are three base engines – 1.2, 1.4 and 1.3 diesel – and three trims, labelled Pop, Lounge and Sport. But the array of options is huge, including 12 paint colours, seven alloy wheels designs, two wheel trims, eight sticker kits, 10 different badges… Fiat counts nearly 550,000 combinations in all! The Fiat’s most obvious rival is the MINI, but the Toyota Aygo, Peugeot 107, Citroen C1 and Ford Ka are also competitors.

Owning
While the Panda is far more spacious, the 500 is still practical. The 185-litre boot is fairly practical and there’s lots of floor space, while the rear seat is fair, too. Up front, good seats are welcome, albeit set a little high, but it’s the dash that grabs your attention – the 500 has retro design features throughout. There’s a lustrous finish to the body-coloured fascia, which gives a solid, classy appearance. It all has real charm and character, so we’re prepared to forgive a few weaknesses – such as the steering wheel’s lack of reach adjustment, and a lack of material quality that dents the 500’s well-engineered feel. But it’s Fiat's dealer network that is one of the 500's biggest challenges. Our maintenance checks proved the situation is currently confused, with huge disparities in quotes for routine maintenance jobs. At least fuel economy, on paper, looks strong. Retained values aren’t bad either – if not as quite as good as a MINI. Source

• On the road price: £7,900 - £10,700
• For : Well equipped, surprisingly roomy, cheap to run, highly desirable
• Against : Flawed driving experience, lacks the MINI’s depth of quality