The Fiat 500 is back in a new shape. The car industry seems to like relaunches of beloved and classic models. This time it is the iconic Fiat 500 that has been on the operation table of the car designers. I’m not sure I like what I see. Just compare the new one to the original Fiat 500 below:
Fiat was participating at the Milan furniture fair in April where they made a preview (only on drawings) of the car and it made me confused. I love the old Fiat 500. It is one of the cutest cars ever. Simply adorable. So, my first impression was – wow, the Fiat 500 is coming back to the streets! But the new version is not iconic at all like the original Fiat 500. Not in my eyes at least. I see a kind of standardized small car design. Actually nothing more. What happened during the transformation? Compare to the relaunch of the Mini a few years ago. The designers almost made it into a better car (even if the original Mini is great as well). Look at the pictures below and judge for yourself:
Even if the new Beetle isn’t my favourite car it is still a much better example of an interesting development of an original concept. Once again some “proof” below:
So, what happened with Fiat 500? I’m not craving for the new car and that is a problem, not for me but for the Fiat folks. Because unfortunately I’m probably not the only one. Quite a few of my friends feel the same. Fiat is trying to build a community around the new Fiat 500 which is smart, but it gets a little hollow when the product itself is pale. Italian car design has a proud history but this time they misses the target. I think they were just not bold enough. That’s a dangerous mistake because boldness is one of the most important qualities when it comes to product development. What do you think?
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15 comments
Martina says:
Jul 10, 2007
thanks for posting this entry David. It’s very interesting to get your point of view on a car that has (and currently is) so much celebrated here in Italy. When I first saw it I thought it was cute, as it definitely reminded me the my old family car (actually the first car I remember in my childhood). Especially the interior, touched my memories and emotions and I liked it from the first sight.
But… I haven’t put the new 500 in context… I mean, I haven’t compared it, as you have done, to the “new” Mini and the “new” Beetle relaunched in the last couple of years. I see the new 500 as incomplete job. I get a touch of that icon in the “eyes” but the rest of the body reminds me more of a cheap (in every sense) Matiz than of a cool (and expensive in the category) car everyone would like to own.
David Carlson says:
Jul 11, 2007
Martina, I understand that the Fiat 500 is on icon in Italy. A very good Italian friend of mine has two… The best part is the front and the “eyes” as you are saying and also agree that it is missing something of cool. I mean, this could be a dream car and first choice for every young boy or girl that are about to buy their first car. Or for people in crowded cities. Unfortunately it does not really live up to that.
elisa says:
Jul 17, 2007
I love 500!
David Carlson says:
Jul 17, 2007
Elisa, do you like the new messed up Nissan Micra look-a-like version or the old classic one?
Andrew says:
Jul 27, 2007
Thanks for the pics David, but it’s amazing how people see things differently. I think the new 500 is much closer to the iconic original than the new mini is to its original (one of my all time favourites). The new ‘mini’ looks like a truck compared to the original and should not be called a mini at all. The engine designer of the original said that the only thing both minis have in common is the name. The original 500 is adorable but I like the new version. I never cared for the beetle.
David Carlson says:
Jul 28, 2007
Andrew, thanks for comment! I think it is good that we all have personal taste. I have not been looking at the new 500 since I wrote this post. I have to say I’m still getting depressed when I see it. Such a waste of original beauty. An upgrade of an original concept has not necessarily have to be a more or less exact copy, that’s not the problem with the 500 as I see it. I just think the new car it is flat and boring…my personal taste…
Anders says:
Aug 7, 2007
Hi David,
I don’t completly agree with your statement. The new Mini (even though its a nice car) is a completly different concept than the original, larger, heavier and with very bad space utilitization. Ditto the Beetle, which is also moved the engine like the 500. I think the 500 looks like a nicely executed design, but it can can’t compare to the old 500, just like the Mini and the Beetle can’t with their forefathers.
I anyway feel this trend of doing a remake of a famous car is way past its sell date…
anna says:
Sep 20, 2007
hi!
maybe you can help me out. i certainly hope so.
i really want to buy an old fiat 500. i do agree that the new one is not nice (deffinitely not as nice as the old one). however, do you know any websites, where people would sell fiat 500 in Europe and not UK motoring.
thanks
David Carlson says:
Sep 20, 2007
Anna, try http://www.mobile.de , they have a lot of used cars. Good luck!
anna says:
Sep 20, 2007
thank you so much, David. there is a lot of them!!!
Michelle says:
Sep 22, 2007
I totally agree with you- I see a kind of standardized small car design. Compare with Fiat, the designers of Mini and Beetle did great job. But I still prefer the original ones, no matter it’s Fiat 500, Mini-cooper or Beetle…
Garrick says:
Jun 25, 2010
I agree. I like it but LOVE the old 500. They could of done better.
Gabriel says:
Apr 20, 2011
the worse relaunch of an old success model is in my opinion the new Renault Twingo. it has nothing to do with the old one. I’m not an expert, but a relaunch has a core target of customers made of the owners of older versions. the new Twingo is so not Twingo that I guess they lost the core target.
bla says:
Jun 25, 2011
all three car relaunches are a complete abortion
the new cars are significantly bulkier and heaver
fiat and vw have completely different layouts to the vehicles they supposedly commemorate
they are nether mechanically or conceptually similar
the body panels are bloated and cynical attempts to sell a car on brand recognition
mihail says:
Jun 27, 2011
the new ones:
500 > mini >(large margin) beetle
the old ones:
[exact reverse]