Fiat 500 sales have taken a nosedive in recent years
and the company is hoping to reverse that trend by making a turbocharged engine
standard on all models except the 500e.
Set to arrive at U.S. dealerships in the second
quarter, the 2018 Fiat 500 comes equipped with a 1.4-liter MultiAir Turbo
four-cylinder engine that produces 135 hp and 203 Nm of
torque. It is connected to a five-speed manual transmission but a six-speed
automatic is also available.
The turbocharged engine is a significant improvement
over the previously standard four-cylinder which produced 101 hp and 132 Nm of torque. Besides the upgraded engine, the Pop and Lounge
variants now come with body-color fascias, a ground effects package, and a rear
spoiler. The models also have fog lights and “Turbo” badging on the liftgate.
Other highlights include a sport-tuned suspension, a performance braking
system, a rearview camera, and 16-inch aluminum wheels.
Moving up to the 500 Abarth rewards buyers with an
upgraded 1.4-liter MultiAir Turbo engine that produces up to 160 hp and 247 Nm of torque. The model also has a performance suspension,
a dual exhaust system, and a three-mode electronic stability control system
with a torque transfer control function that “maximizes throttle performance
during on-throttle cornering.”
The 500L enters the 2018 model year with redesigned
fascias, updated wheels, and a standard rearview camera. The cabin also sees
some minor revisions including an improved center console, an additional USB
port, and new LED ambient lighting. There’s also a TFT display in the
instrument cluster and a 7-inch Uconnect 4 infotainment system with Apple
CarPlay and Android Auto capability.
The 2018 Fiat 500X largely carries over as the only
change is the addition of the previously mentioned Uconnect 4 infotainment
system. Lastly, the 2018 Fiat 124 Spider receives “more flexible package
content” and an all-new Red Top Edition which is based on the mid-level Lusso.
