Piccola Macchina

While looking at gizmos, whizbangs and gadgets over at Gizmodo I found what may become me and the wife’s next car. The post talked about how MSFT will embed Windows Mobile 5 into the car. While that is interesting (I guess), I fell in love with the bug eyed little car that will house the all that technology. Its small, funky, cute and yells, !I am not, nor will I ever be you fathers Oldsmobile!, I am french, and proud.

With the right engine, this little car should give very good mpg, better than the 31 Ive been getting lately in the xbizzy.. I just hope Fiat doesnt only bring over the Abarth version which comes with something like 150hp. To be sure the Abarth will be hot and plenty fast, but mpg will suffer. Heck, I would take the Multijet diesel that gives about 63 mpg at 75hp. 75hp?!!, Yep. My xB has like 103 and is a bigger car. I think it will do fine, and beat the Prius in mpg. Bring it!!! There is a possibility that the Fiat will be sold under the Alfa Romeo badge when it returns in 2009. Oh man, that sounds like fun. Im hoping they can keep the price under the 19k or so that a new mini costs. Shoot I hope they let me steal it for about 15k.

Here is a internet based promo from Fiat hyping the new car:
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When I was researching the 500 I found out that much like the Mini and New Beetle, the Fiat 500 is a revival of a previously very popular model. The original 500 was born in 1957 and had a two cylinder engine. Very small, it was the original “city car”. It has a huge following in Europe, where Fiat doesnt have the “fix it again tony” stigma.

Original commercial for the 500 in Italian:

Research:
Actual Fiat 500 site. Go build your own.
Autoblog post.
Jalopnick has a lot of posts on the Italian cutie.
Car Magazine article.
A page with all the 500 variants.

P.S.
I just couldnt leave out this comment from the Gizmodo post, about the inclusion of Windows Media into the 500- its too funny.
BY SCHRUTEBUCK AT 04:39 PM
Let’s just get these out of the way:
- No we’re stuck, the Fiat blue screened.
- It says I have 1,000,000 miles left on this tank of gas. No wait, now it’s 7.
- Of course it’s at the dealership, it’s the first Tuesday of the month.
- You’re friends can’t come, I only have 2 passenger licenses.
And so on….