hmm, nice, it is the Convertible too, lol. and a 2011 ['11' REG plates] but yeah, I drove the US MultiAir one, and it is SOOOO cheap inside. I showed up in my MINI too, dealership tried not to mention it, but sent me on a testdrive to compare....I am sorry to say, it costs less for a reason. the clutch was wierd, the interior was REAL plasticy, the dash setup is cool, but confusing, and even after testdriving a R53 Justa, I know that would run circles around a 500 on a AutoX, lol. and I tested the Sport with the uprated suspension.

My car next to a FIAT at the dealer, lol


anyone else notice a hint of pre-LCI JCW in the rear?

 

Since 500's were never sold en mass in the US, there is no classic shape for Americans to relate the new ones to as with bugs. While the original mini was never sold en mass in America either, the shape is very familiar to most Americans because of the amount of time they spent on the big screen. Because the 500 is a funny looking unit with no immediate tie to a classic shape for most Americans, I doubt they will do very well over here. I did see them all over the place when I was in France last year though (there were a lot of MINI Coopers as well).

 

Yep when I was there last Sept there were MINIs, 500s, 1 and 3 series BMWs everywhere.

 

From what I've read and seen (at VIR) so far, the relation between the new Fiat 500s and MINIs may be a repeat of the relation between the old ones back in the '60s.

I owned and autocrossed a '64 Mini Cooper 1275 S, and test drove someone's Fiat 600 (which sold better here than the 500s). The 600 was initially fun to drive, mostly because the driver had to work the gear box and gas pedal so hard just to keep up with traffic around town. That kind of fun began to get old, however. While stock Mini Coopers were common place at almost any autocross venue, I don't remember seeing stock Fiats 500s or 600s at such venues.

The Fiat 500 website lists 75 reasons to pick the Fiat over the MINI, but Car & Driver (June, 2011 issue) saw it differently. To them, the Fiat 500 Sport's power train, chassis, and fun-to-drive numbers were just not up to those of the Justa Cooper's.

Thus, I don't think the H Stock MINIs have anything to fear from the Fiat 500 Sport. The question that remains in my mind is what the Abarth version we get will be like.

 

Ah, it's a contender for it's small size:
* http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UpAFi9nIJVQ

- Erik

 

+1

 

I've seen quite a range of hp guesses for the USA Abarth version to be introduced in November; 135, 138, 170, 175, and 185. The Fiat 500 Abarth Assetto Corse (Euro version) makes 190 hp.

According to one site, a 170 hp version with the added weight necessary for the USA would have a power-to-weight ratio of 138 hp per ton, while the current MCS hatch is 136 hp per ton by their math. No mention of the JCW MINI's numbers.