The 2017 Fiat 500 Gets a Simplified Lineup
Sales of Fiat’s cute little minicar have been on a downward spiral for the last couple of years in Canada, and the brand is hoping to shake things up by streamlining the range of trim levels and powertrains.
The 2017 Fiat 500 will be available in hatchback and cabrio body styles, and both will offer three trim levels, including base Pop, uplevel Lounge and performance-oriented Abarth. The Sport, Turbo and 1957 Edition models have been discontinued.
The disappearance of the 500 Turbo means the 135-hp version of the 1.4-litre, MultiAir four-cylinder engine is gone. Pop and Lounge trims are still equipped with a 101-hp, naturally aspirated engine, managed by either a five-speed manual transmission or a six-speed automatic.
The 2017 Fiat 500 Abarth is still available with its turbocharged, 1.4-litre four that develops 160 hp and 170 lb.-ft. of torque with the manual transmission, or 157 hp and 183 lb.-ft. with the automatic.
Although the Sport trim level is gone, a Sport Appearance Package is now offered on the 500 Pop. Basically, it’s the same as last year’s Sport, but without the sport-tuned suspension. The package adds body-colour front and rear fascias, a spoiler, side skirts, smoked headlight clusters, 16-inch alloy wheels and a seven-inch TFT cluster display for the driver.
In addition, the 2017 Fiat 500 Pop can be equipped with a power sunroof, a comfort and convenience group, an Alpine sound system and navigation, but they all require the Sport Appearance Package beforehand.
Otherwise, the 500 Pop gets new interior colours, new cloth seat upholstery and a passenger-side armrest. Meanwhile, all versions of the 500 Cabrio now feature much-needed rear park sonar as standard equipment, which is optional on the Hatchback as well.
The 500 Lounge includes leather-faced seating, heated front seats, chromed and heated mirrors, fog lamps, 15-inch alloy wheels, a glass roof on the Hatchback version as well as a few items that are optional on the Pop, such as air conditioning, a seven-inch TFT driver instrument cluster, a power sunroof, navigation and an Alpine stereo. The Lounge’s options list also includes a Beats Audio sound system.
Pricing for the 2017 Fiat 500, which will go on sale this fall, hasn’t been announced yet. However, the base MSRP should stay close to the 2016 edition’s rather high $18,995 entry price, before freight and delivery charges. The 500 Abarth should start at around $28K. In both cases, choosing the Cabrio instead of the Hatchback will cost an extra $4,000.