It is always exciting when Fiat brings out a new small car. Only the Japanese can still build such a car more space economically. But Italian design is, also and especially the from Fiat at small cars a class of its own.

The Cinquecento ('500') from 1994 is pretty to look at. After all, it has a good C_d value for this car class. With only 3.23 meters in length, it is certainly very suitable for the city. But only for the city it will maybe purchase not so many people.

Therefore, it will have to ensure certain qualities for longer travelling. After all fit in, at a pinch five people and inter alia two water boxes. Only the engine of the later appearing Sporting version originates from the FIRE generation. At 900 cc, the camshaft still remains down.

But the engine is also economical, requires little maintenance and the vehicle extremely manoeuvrable. Even the springsystem tolerates many things what on the other hand can not be said from the Sporting. One annoyance, however, both have, the tank is still made of sheet metal and in acute danger to rust, unlike the rest of the car.

The equipment is really complete for the price with example rear vent windows, also if a driver airbag (from 96) or ABS are not even to order for an extra charge. But it is well eco-friendly, e.g. its marked plastic components fully recyclable and of course, free of asbestos.

Of the plastic you can also see something outside, eg at the powerful bumpers. The body is galvanized otherwise. If not would be the somewhat unfavorable processing and the littledurable exhaust system, one could be completely satisfied.

There is even a 'Elettra' version (Fig. 10/11) with 14 kW (19 HP). The batteries contribute to 500 kg extra weight and make the Cinquecento to the two-seater with only 176 kg payload for the two remaining people. The are lead-acid batteries that provide 70 to 100 km range with a maximum of 80 km/h.

The electric motor is installed, like e.g. in the former Golf Stromer at the site of the internal combustion engine. Thus you let come the clutch when driveaway and changes through the gears. Can be refueled still, so that a kind of auxiliary heating provides the necessary heat.

The engine of the Sporting version, also appeared in 1994, is to be the better choice. It is said to have less quirks, hardly consume more petrol and naturally runs better despite the long production time of the smaller engine. 10/13