The 500 family is, without a shadow of a doubt, the most successful asset of the Fiat brand. With the advent of the 2016 Fiat 500S, 500S Cabriolet, and the facelifted Abarth 595, the Italian manufacturer pushed the envelope a little bit further.
What’s in a name, you ask? In the case of the 500S, the letter stands for sporty. Compared to the facelifted 500, the 500S boasts bolder looks and more standard equipment. “Targeted to young motorists who want a car with a strong sporty personality,” the S trim also adds funky paint finishes and a subtle body kit that lowers the stance of the car. For those who love to feel the wind in their hair, the 500S Cabrio is the car for you.
Depending on the engine, the 500S is available with a five- or six-speed manual, as well as the Dualogic automated manual with a shift knob that resembles a sex toy. In total, seven engine options are available, fed by gasoline, diesel or LPG, with displacements ranging from 0.9 to 1.4 liters. The most powerful of the lot is the 0.9 TwinAir with 105 PS (103 ponies), which is not too bad for a car that weighs so little.
At the other end of the 500 spectrum, Abarth presented the 2016 model year 595 lineup. Three trim levels are available - 595, 595 Turismo, and 595 Competizione - each corresponding to unique specifications. The entry-level grade, for example, gets a 1.4 T-jet with 145 PS (143 HP). Moving on up to the mid- and range-topping models, these fellows are enhanced to 165 PS (163 HP) by a high-performance Garrett turbo.
As standard, the Abarth 595 Turismo and Abarth 595 Competizione come with Koni frequency selective damping rear shock absorbers for better handling and improved comfort. Spirited drivers have to opt for the 595 Competizione because this pint-sized bad boy is optionally available with a mechanical limited-slip diff.
Detailed info on the 2016 Fiat 500S and 2016 Abarth 595 family is available in the following releases.
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
Would you like AUTOEVOLUTION to send you notifications?
Google News