9 replies to this topic

[richw911]

So fiat are at doing big versions of the 500 as well now. :

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Tommyboy12]

Well the 500 has proven popular and Fiat are basically trying to turn it into its own sub-brand. The 500 competes with the Mini, which is doing a similar thing at the moment so it makes sense.

[HarrysMini]

     !!

 

Horrible looking thing, I don't know why Fiat just didn't stick to keeping the 500 a small, fun car. Every car manufacturer just seems to be in competition to make the biggest and ugliest car around.

[mab01uk]

In the same way that BMC and British Leyland created spin off variants of the classic Mini, like the Traveller/Countryman/Clubman/Van/Pickup/Elf/Hornet/Moke/Austin Ant, etc and the Issigonis BMC 1100/1300 range which were also really just bigger Mini's......so todays car manufacturers have to spin-off variants of their best selling selling core products to maximise sales and profits and to maintain market share and ultimately peoples jobs......like it or not the popular variants today are small (relatively!) compact people carriers and SUV's (4x4 style cars). The MINI Countryman for instance has boosted MINI exports in the USA which is now the biggest market for all types of MINI's with the UK second.

There would have been many more variants of the classic Mini if only BMC/BL had had the cash to invest in production, like the ahead of its time prototype fwd MG sports car on display at the Gaydon Museum.

 

Older members of TMF may remember Fiat did produce this variant of the Fiat 500/600 range in the 1950/60's......so nothing is new!   

 

 

Edited by mab01uk, 02 February 2014 - 11:33 PM.

[RedRallyMini]

This is nothing new... they've been building these since 2012...

 

And why are people always like: "It's not as small as it used to be so it must be ugly." I really don't get that... The BINI is a nice looking car, the Fiat 500 is a nice looking car so what's the problem?!

 

If you want a tiny car nowadays just buy this and stop whining!:

 

[richw911]

Very true mab01uk I have never seen those Fiat variants before - awesome! I take it they didn't make many of those?

[mab01uk]

Very true mab01uk I have never seen those Fiat variants before - awesome! I take it they didn't make many of those?

 

The Fiat 600 Multipla (1956-1965) sat six people in a footprint just 50 cm (19.7 in) longer than the original classic Mini. The driver's compartment was moved forward over the front axle, effectively eliminating the boot space of the Fiat 600 saloon. Behind the front seat the vehicle could be arranged with a flat floor area or a choice of one or two bench seats.

Until the 1970s, it was widely used as a taxi in many parts of Italy. I don't remember seeing very many in the UK as a kid but a neighbour in our road had one in the 1960's but there were far fewer foreign cars on UK roads back then anyway.

Edited by mab01uk, 02 February 2014 - 09:01 PM.

[RedRallyMini]

Look at this!   

 

 

 

Edited by RedRallyMini, 02 February 2014 - 09:50 PM.

[Dan]

Very true mab01uk I have never seen those Fiat variants before - awesome! I take it they didn't make many of those?

About 5 million under 6 or more different brands from a few factories around the world. According to Wiki at least. There's a familiar story here!

Edited by Dan, 03 February 2014 - 02:39 PM.

[The Matt]

Yeah, I've seen them before.  Absolutely love them too!