Fiat 500 C 1.3 Multijet : RETRO AIR STYLE

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Fiat's 500C is an achingly pretty little convertible but why fit a diesel engine? Steve Walker takes a look.

Some cars suit a nice sensible diesel engine but you wouldn't really group the Fiat 500C amongst them. Would you? This convertible version of the sweet 500 city car isn't a vehicle usually bought following an exhaustive analysis of the facts and figures: it's one that people glimpse and fall in love with. From that fateful nanosecond, a purchase is almost inevitable. So why would you choose an object of desire like the 500C and equip it with an intensely sensible diesel engine? It will probably be something to do with its potential for fuel economy of nearly 70mpg, but that's hardly in the true spirit of this Fiat.

At this stage it's safe to label the Fiat 500 a runaway success. Such an outcome was never really in doubt from the moment the covers first fell from its retro bodywork. MINI had shown what was possible with an old classic updated for the modern era and Fiat had both the perfect design and the ideal platform to pull it off. The 500C is the convertible version of the 500 citycar and if anything, this open-topped model is an even more seductive prospect for the people who go fuzzy with nostalgia at the sight of those rounded lines and circular headlamps. With Fiat's diesel engine, it can even turn in some of the best economy figures you'll get this side of a solar-powered moped. The 1.3-litre Multijet diesel engine appears across the Fiat range and is amongst the best small diesel engines about. In the 500C, it can reach the 60mph barrier in a reasonable 13s, so it's a shade faster than the 1.2-litre entry-level engine. It will also reach a 103mph top speed. In comparison to the other 500 engines, it fares even better around town where torque of 145Nm, the strongest of any non-Abarth 500, gives it useful muscle. There's still a flat spot at the very bottom of the rev range while the turbo gets going but it's brief and can be negated by staying on top of the gears.

"Regardless of the engine, fun should be guaranteed"

The driving experience will be a virtual irrelevance to lots of Fiat 500 C buyers. They'll have already fallen in love with the car in a brochure, on a TV ad or upon seeing one in the street. Nevertheless, the car promises to be fairly adept on the road with the same basic set-up as the hard-topped 500, a chassis that's also shared with the Fiat Panda and Ford Ka. A rear-anti-roll bar stiffens things up and the electric power steering is shared with other 500 models. Fiat's fuel saving StartandStop technology is also available. It's hard not to appreciate the lovable looks of the standard 500 city car. Borrowing its retro design themes straight from the 1950s original, it's undeniably a model with the rare capacity to bring a smile to your face. The convertible 500C version cranks the cute factor up a couple of notches and also has its roots in Fiat's past as we're told it pays homage to the original 500 cabriolet of 1957. It's better to think of the roof arrangement as a huge canvas sunroof rather than a full folding canopy. At the touch of a button, the entire centre section of the roof retracts into a concertinaed bundle just above the boot. It's not the most elegant piece of engineering but the sight of car with its roof retracted adds to the retro appeal and with the roof-up, it's tough to tell a convertible 500 from a hard-top one. The roof itself features a glass rear window and is available in a choice of colours, so buyers can personalise their car. The simple roof arrangement also means that there's a decent amount of room in the rear seats of the 500C. There are some convertible cars twice the size of the little Fiat that are stingier with the legroom they lay on for passengers in the back. Delicious design details drip from the 500's interior. It's like a tiny pearl, especially when the ivory finish is specified. There's a very well-judged blend of retro chic and ruthlessly modern contemporary design inside, with circular head restraints and neat 500C badging on the Panda-sourced dashboard. Chrome-ringed vents and a fascia that can be specified in the same colour as the body are other highlights. The usual Pop and Lounge trim levels are available with the 13-litre Multijet engine but there's no automatic gearbox option. With prices pitched at £3,000 over the hard-top 500, buyers have really got to want that folding roof. The diesel only adds to the expense with a £1,400 premium over the 1.2-litre petrol engine and a £200 one over the 1.4 petrol. In terms of rivals, there are plenty of small cars with folding hard-top roofs but they tend to look a bit gawky. The soft-top MINI is quite a bit more expensive and Citroen's C3 Pluriel should be avoided like the plague. The entry-level Pop models get the electrically-operated roof, air-conditioning, remote central locking, a CD stereo with MP3 compatibility, electric door mirrors and seven airbags. The alternative trim level is the Lounge and these models add ESP stability control, front fog lights, Bluetooth connectivity, climate control and rear parking sensors to make manoeuvring in tight spaces even easier. The Lounge comes at a premium of £1,400, however, and so looks considerably less affordable than the entry-level cars. From launch, there's a choice of 11 exterior colours and Fiat offers buyers a huge scope of optional extras to personalise their 500 C. You couldn't class those upfront costs for the 500C as cheap but the 1.3-litre diesel will be good for those looking to keep running costs under control. The Multijet diesel version gets 67mpg on the combined cycle and emissions of 110g/km and is highly tax-efficient. Buyers can also bank on decent residual values with a look that's stood the test of time since the 50s unlikely to go out of style. Fiat has also taken further steps to boost the car's environmental credentials with its StartandStop technology and a clever system called eco:Drive. Bundled up with the BlueandMe Bluetooth telephone system on the Lounge models, eco:Drive is a computer that monitors your driving style and offers tips on how you can improve your fuel economy. People are going to want the 500C. That much was certain as soon as the designers edged its cute factor into the stratosphere. Will they want a diesel though? The answer to that will largely boil down to the running costs and high mileage drivers will get the real benefit of the oil-burner's superior economy. Totting up your annual mileage and collecting fuel receipts aren't very Fiat 500C things to be doing, but each to his or her own. Regardless of the engine, fun should be guaranteed.

Facts At A Glance
CAR: Fiat 500 C 1.3 Multijet
PRICES: £12,700-£14,100 - on the road
INSURANCE GROUP: 5
CO2 EMISSIONS: 110g/km
PERFORMANCE: 0-62mph 13s / Max Speed 103mph
FUEL CONSUMPTION: [1.4] (urban) 53.3mpg / (extra urban) 78.5mpg / (combined) 67.3mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Seven airbags, ABS
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Heightmm 3546/1627/1488mm