2012 FIAT 500 Pop FL

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The new FIAT 500 Pop creates a niche of its own: a tiny, high-mileage, low-cost, four-seat car that has the style and performance of an Italian sports car, with a 5-star crash rating. The Pop represent the base trim in the lineup of 2012 FIAT 500s. It's 6 inches shorter than a MINI, while bringing a fun-factor that similar Asian cars can't match. FIAT 500 Pop comes standard with the air conditioning, AM/FM/CD/MP3 radio with auxiliary input, power windows, power door locks, power heated mirrors, cruise control, vehicle information display, fabric seats, 15-inch steel wheels. A 5-speed manual gearbox is standard; a 6-speed automatic with manual shifting is optional. The FIAT Pop offers consumers a vehicle that is both the lowest cost model and most all-around practical. Compared to the Sport, the FIAT 500 Pop is less aggressive with a better ride. The FIAT 500 was introduced in Italy four years ago, on the 50th anniversary of the 1957 0.5-liter original. Half a million FIAT 500s have been sold in Europe already, spurred by 60 international awards, including European Car of the Year in 2008. Now, as a Chrysler product, the FIAT 500 is being made in Mexico for the North American market.

Driving the 2012 FIAT 500 Pop

The 1.4-liter engine is the same on all models, and is the sole powertrain choice for the FIAT
Pop. It features a reinvention of the cylinder head that's called MultiAir technology, to get 101 horsepower and 98 foot-pounds of torque. MultiAir is a complex system that drives the intake valves by oil pressure actuators, triggered by electronic control: it's truly continuously variable valve timing. Driving the Pop is enjoyable, shifting gears to stay in the powerband makes it fun. The front-wheel-drive 500's 1.4-liter four-cylinder uses FIAT's MultiAir technology, which varies intake-valve lift, not just the valve timing. It's similar to BMW's Valvetronic and Nissan's VVEL. It offers 10 percent greater fuel efficiency and power, FIAT says. Premium fuel is recommended.

'12 FIAT 500 Pop Design

The FIAT 500 Pop is a tidy car in a stylish package. The Pop comes with 15-inch steel wheels, body-colored side moldings and chrome door handles. The face 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. No one in North America remembers, of course; but no matter. It's a winning European design that's been brought to the U.S. after four years. The distinctiveness of the FIAT 500's shape appears from the profile view, more than front or rear. 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 rear 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.  There are five separate wheel designs of 15 or 16 inches, and 14 vivid colors to choose from. These include Nero (black), Rosso (red), Bianco (white), Azzurro (blue), Grigio (gray), Argento (silver), Giallo (yellow), Verde Chiaro (light green), Rame (copper), Verde Oliva (olive green), Rosso Brillante (tri-coat pearl red), Bianco Perla (pearl white), and Mocha Latte and Espresso.

Inside the new FIAT 500 Pop

The cabin of the FIAT 500 Pop is a very neat package, it delivers absolutely everything that is required and nothing more. The seats, in all four upholsteries, are really great. Standard cloth, premium cloth, and sport cloth are available. The top of the dash is vinyl and its design as simple as it gets. There are good armrests for both of the driver's elbows when holding the perfectly sized leather-wrapped steering wheel at 9 and 3 o'clock. The Sport shift knob is about as big and round and chrome as you can get away with. Doors cleverly lock with an inward push of the handles. Although the rear passenger area is not huge, with the front seats slid forward, the rear legroom is not half-bad. The steering wheel tilts to adjust, and there's all the legroom in front that you need, although the driver's right knee nestles against the console. Standard features on the Pop include power windows and locks, remote entry, a CD stereo with an auxiliary audio jack, air conditioning and cruise control. Sport and Lounge models add a Bose stereo with USB input, a leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio controls and upgraded seating fabric.

Conclusions

Safety equipment on the 2012 FIAT Pop includes seven air bags, reactive head restraints, electronic stability control, and ABS with brake-force distribution, brake assist, and brake override. The new FIAT models will compete with other 'small' cars such as the MINI Cooper, Fit, Fiesta, Yaris, and Mazda2. Overall, the 500 Pop is as fun to drive as any of these, if not more. To learn more about this model, visit the official FIAT USA website!

Some information for this review was obtained from NewCarTestDrive.com