Fiat is currently building its brand in Australia with just one passenger car model — the Polish-built 500 — and the latest variant to join the range is the Abarth 500C Esseesse convertible.
Powered by the same 118kW/230Nm powerplant as the metal-roofed variant the new convertible model also features the hardtopped car's “race-bred” chassis, bringing appropriate handling and roadholding to a micro car able to accelerate from zero to 100km/h in 7.6 seconds and top 206km/h. Fuel consumption is quoted at 6.5L/100km on the combined cycle, only 0.2L/100km more than a regular Fiat 500.
Less a convertible than an extended-sunroof sedan, the Fiat 500C is able to morph from sealed to sunroof at any speed, while a further press of the control button sees the whole top section of the roof, including the glass rear window, slipping out of sight into a compartment that steals just three litres of boot space. This operation, while opening or closing, requires the driver to keep road speed below 60km/h before accelerating to the legal limit once everything is securely in place. Roof fully open, the tiny Fiat, with its partly exposed, folded vinyl, looks a bit like an under-size New Beetle convertible.
The 500 with attitude features a big roof spoiler (that folds down with the roof), lowered suspension with Koni shock absorbers, cross-drilled brake discs, 17-inch alloy wheels and much of the attitudinal gear fitted to the hardtop Esseesse including side skirts and chunkier bumper panels including dual exhaust outlets at the rear.
The convertible 500 comes with seven airbags, anti-lock brakes with EBD and brake assist, stability control and a five-star EuroNCAP rating. Even though Fiat’s two-mode, five-speed Abarth Competizione gearbox (controllable via steering wheel paddles) is standard, the 500C Esseesse comes with a Hill Holder making for easier up-slope starts.
The 500C Esseesse gets grabby sports seats, a chunky flat-bottomed steering wheel, aluminium-trimmed accelerator pedal, turbo boost gauge, climate-control, Blue&Me hands-free communication system and an Interscope sound system with radio, CD and MP3 player, and sub-woofer. It will do battle with the sounds of the dual exhaust system, particularly with the roof fully open.
A little wallet-stretching is required though: The spunky little Fiat is tagged at $38,990 before on-road costs.
The 500C Esseesse enlivens Fiat's sole remaining passenger car range in Australia. While Ateco Automotive, the local Fiat importer, offers buyers a comprehensive choice of variants in the 500 range — including the non-diesel DIESEL, the 118kW Abarth 500 with the unlikely title of Esseesse and, soon, the $80,000, 135kW, Ferrari-badged Tributo — the distributor is awaiting facelifted Ritmo and Punto models before reintroducing them into the Australian market, where they have not been seen since 2010. Meantime, it’s a one-car affair.
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