autoevolution
 

Body style: Hatchback
Segment: Mini
Production years: 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001

FIAT Seicento 1998-2001 13 Photos
FIAT Seicento (1998-2001)FIAT Seicento (1998-2001)FIAT Seicento (1998-2001)FIAT Seicento (1998-2001)FIAT Seicento (1998-2001)FIAT Seicento (1998-2001)FIAT Seicento (1998-2001)FIAT Seicento (1998-2001)FIAT Seicento (1998-2001)FIAT Seicento (1998-2001)FIAT Seicento (1998-2001)FIAT Seicento (1998-2001)FIAT Seicento (1998-2001)

Fiat introduced the Seicento as a replacement for the Cinquecento model, but with limited market success.

After the 500, Fiat desperately tried to build a car to have the same success on the market. Most of the attempts failed to please the market. The Seicento tried again, with the arguments of being easier to drive and better equipment in the car.

Short, small, and narrow, the Fiat Seicento (600) was a three-door vehicle able to drive well through city traffic. Even if it was offered exclusively with three doors, its attributes were the handling, great fuel-efficiency, and enough visibility around the car. Last but not least, it was small enough to fit in tight parking spaces. The small headlights and the unusually large grille in the lower bumper made the vehicle look like it was smiling.

Inside there was plenty of room for the front occupants but very limited for those in the rear seats. The trunk was smaller than a regular shopping cart but large enough to accommodate a pair of office shoes and a briefcase. The instrument cluster displayed the speed, the coolant temperature, and the fuel level.

Under the hood, the Seicento (six hundred in Italian) featured a 0.9-liter engine, upgraded later on to a 1.1-liter unit (Seicento Sporting). Both versions were paired to a 5-speed manual. For performance, let's say that that was an overstatement, with a 0 to 100 kph (0-62 mph) run in 18 seconds for the lesser version and almost 14 seconds for the higher version.

FIAT Seicento 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001
  2 gasoline engines
  • 0.9L 5MT (39 HP)
  • 1.1L 5MT (54 HP)

FIAT Seicento
0.9L 5MT (39 HP)

ENGINE SPECS - 0.9L 5MT (39 HP)
Cylinders:L4
Displacement:899 cm3
Power:29 KW @ 5500 RPM
39 HP @ 5500 RPM
39 BHP @ 5500 RPM
Torque:48 lb-ft @ 3000 RPM
65 Nm @ 3000 RPM
Fuel System:Monopoint Injection
Fuel:Gasoline
Fuel capacity:10.6 gallons (40.1 L)
PERFORMANCE SPECS
Top Speed:87 mph (140 km/h)
Acceleration 0-62 Mph (0-100 kph):18 s
TRANSMISSION SPECS
Drive Type:Front Wheel Drive
Gearbox:5-Speed manual
BRAKES SPECS
Front:Discs
Rear:Drums
TIRES SPECS
Tire Size:155/65SR13
DIMENSIONS
Length:130.7 in (3320 mm)
Width:59.1 in (1501 mm)
Height:57.1 in (1450 mm)
Front/rear Track:49.6/49.6 in (1,260/1,260 mm)
Wheelbase:86.6 in (2200 mm)
Ground Clearance:6.3 in (160 mm)
WEIGHT SPECS
Unladen Weight:1554.3 lbs (705 kg)
Gross Weight Limit:2535.3 lbs (1150 kg)
FUEL ECONOMY (NEDC)
City:29.8 mpg US (7.9 L/100Km)
Highway:46.1 mpg US (5.1 L/100Km)
Combined:38.6 mpg US (6.1 L/100Km)
CO2 Emissions:146 g/km

FIAT Seicento
1.1L 5MT (54 HP)

ENGINE SPECS - 1.1L 5MT (54 HP)
Cylinders:L4
Displacement:1108 cm3
Power:40 KW @ 5500 RPM
54 HP @ 5500 RPM
54 BHP @ 5500 RPM
Torque:63 lb-ft @ 4 RPM
85 Nm @ 4 RPM
Fuel System:Monopoint Injection
Fuel:Gasoline
Fuel capacity:10.6 gallons (40.1 L)
PERFORMANCE SPECS
Top Speed:93.2 mph (150 km/h)
Acceleration 0-62 Mph (0-100 kph):13.8 s
TRANSMISSION SPECS
Drive Type:Front Wheel Drive
Gearbox:5-Speed manual
BRAKES SPECS
Front:Discs
Rear:Drums
TIRES SPECS
Tire Size:165/55HR13
DIMENSIONS
Length:130.7 in (3320 mm)
Width:59.1 in (1501 mm)
Height:57.1 in (1450 mm)
Front/rear Track:49.6/49.6 in (1,260/1,260 mm)
Wheelbase:86.6 in (2200 mm)
Ground Clearance:6.3 in (160 mm)
WEIGHT SPECS
Unladen Weight:1565.3 lbs (710 kg)
Gross Weight Limit:2535.3 lbs (1150 kg)
FUEL ECONOMY (NEDC)
City:27.7 mpg US (8.5 L/100Km)
Highway:48 mpg US (4.9 L/100Km)
Combined:37.9 mpg US (6.2 L/100Km)
CO2 Emissions:148 g/km
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