2012 FIAT 500 Lounge Ft Lauderdale

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The FIAT brand returns to the United States after a 26-year hiatus, the 500 coupe is the first offering. The 2012 FIAT 500 Lounge represents the FIAT 500 lineup as the upscale model. The FIAT Lounge offers the 6-speed manual automatic, a fixed glass roof that makes it feel bigger inside, premium fabric seats, Sirius satellite radio, 15-inch aluminum wheels with wagonwheel spokes, and more trim and chrome on the outside. It has the same softer suspension, steering, and body panels as the Pop. Safety equipment includes seven air bags, reactive head restraints, electronic stability control, and ABS with brake-force distribution, brake assist, and brake override. There are fourteen exterior colors, as well as fourteen unique seat color and material combination to choose from. Although the 500 is a small vehicle, it doesn't feel small from behind the wheel. The two front seats are plenty roomy. Visibility is unhindered and aided by the exterior mirrors that feature a blind-spot facet. The rear seats are tiny, providing headroom for short adults up to about five-foot, five-inches. The rear seats fold individually to expand the trunk's 9.5 cubic foot area.

Powering the 2012 FIAT Lounge

The FIAT 500 Lounges uses a 1.4-liter engine, as do all of the 500 models. The Lounge comes standard with the automatic. There's a sport mode for the automatic transmission that sharpens and delays the shifts nicely, without too much override, so you'll still have a sporty little car, with the manual automatic Chrysler the Autostick. In the Lounge, the first thing you notice is how much looser and easier the steering is, then the same with the ride, and the brakes. In the city, this is good. The more relaxed steering makes the whole car feel a bit bigger, but the fixed glass roof in the Lounge has something to do with that, too. The electric power steering delivers good road feel and turns with appropriate effort. Steering effort and throttle mapping change when you toggle the Sport button on and off, and in 500s with an automatic, gear shifts are held longer and the speed of the shifts is reduced when Sport mode is active.

2012 FIAT Lounge Design

The FIAT 500 Lounge is just shorter than a MINI. The original 500 had a canvas roof that's legendary, and today's 500 features an optional dark glass roof that copies the style. The front of the FIAT 500, with round halogen projector headlamps and parking lights, combines the family resemblance of other FIAT models sold in Italy, with a modern interpretation of the original Cinquecento, imported to the U.S. as a 600cc model back in the 1960s. It's a winning European design that's been brought to the U.S. after four years. The optional sunroof is available as fixed or powered. The rear view is stylized by a chrome license-plate brow, common in cars today, but true to the original Cinquecento that was inspired by a bicycle seat, believe it or not. The ear taillamps are located between the edges of the liftgate and follow the door's vertical cutline. For a contemporary look, the rear glass spans the width of the liftgate and meets cleanly at the pillar. The Lounge has a chrome rear bumper that adds a touch from the '50s. FIAT's 1.4-liter MultiAir four-cylinder makes a modest 101 horsepower, but that's enough to move the sub-2,500-pound hatchback easily enough.

Inside the '12 FIAT Lounge

The FIAT 500 Lounge includes an impressive list of standard features, in relation to its cost. Bluetooth is standard, and the 500 Lounge offers safety with a 5-star crash rating, sporty performance, fuel economy, technology, cool style and good looks. It features seven airbags, a new 1.4-liter engine with something called MultiAir cylinder head technology, state-of-the-art BLUE&ME hands-free technology and a Bose sound system standard on the Lounge, and a great 5-speed gearbox or optional 6-speed manual automatic transmission that's also fun. Inside, the Italian flair is apparent. The 500 greets occupants with a fun, bright, happy and functional cabin. The instrument cluster presents its key data with a gauge-within-a-gauge arrangement. The speedometer is the largest sweep and the tachometer resides inside the speedometer with a digital LCD cluster nestled inside. The 500 will seat four passengers in a modern and artistic interior thay pays homage to the 50 years of the Cinquecento. Major controls come in black or an appealing eggshell trim, and a glossy dash panel matches the car's exterior paint. The radio, mounted at the top of the dash, is easy to use.

Conclusions

For more on this great model, visit the official FIAT 500 Lounge site! Every model in the FIAT 500 lineup is impressive, and offers excellent style and value. The Lounge is for those who want their Cinquecento to feel more like a real car, with the automatic transmission, softened ride and steering, added chrome, more amenities, and optional leather. Overall, the 500 retains its Italian sense of style that helped make it so popular in Europe. The FIAT/Chrysler team responsible for creating a NAFTA-legal 500 changed only what was required for homologation and North American consumer tastes. Nothing more. This dictated a myriad of tweaks, most of which are out of sight. Careful study reveals slightly different front and rear fascias, different light configurations, and different positioning for the fuel filler door.