Fiat planning new low-cost minicar

Posted Tue Jul 31 2007 8:48 AM by Viknesh Vijayenthiran

Following the success of the new 500, Fiat is considering adding another model to the minicar segment to compete with similar cars expected from Toyota and Renault. If given the green light, the new minicar could arrive on the market by the end of the decade with a price tag close to €5,000.

Back in 2000, Fiat unveiled the Ecobasic at the Geneva Motor Show. The original concept car was designed as a cost-effective urban runabout with a targeted fuel consumption figure of 3.0L/100km and a kerb weight of just 750kg. Though the concept was never meant for production, certain elements such as its plastic construction, low rolling resistant tires and ultra-efficient diesel engine could be carried over to the new minicar.

Reader Comments

Tue Jul 31 2007 1:20 PM
Gus says

I used to think that Buick and Pontiac minivans were the ugliest cars ever concieved.

No more...
Tue Jul 31 2007 2:50 PM
adam says

They wont make much of an impact with that thing. That's about every single automotive design mistake wrapped into one extra-ordinarily ugly package
Tue Jul 31 2007 3:24 PM
MARIO says

plastic construction, ouch...
Tue Jul 31 2007 10:12 PM
HECTOR says

Guys, look up the Fiat Multipla. But, I gotta tell you, it kind of grows on you.
Sat Aug 4 2007 12:12 PM
Gordon says

Remember boys, this is a 7 year old CONCEPT called the Ecobasic, not the actual thing that probably isn't even on the drawing board yet, given Fiat's ability to get a car from design conception to production now in a record breaking 18 months I think it was (see new Fiat Bravo). Fiat's recaptured the core value of being a maker of lovely and Italian cars, like the Grande Punto, Bravo, 500 and even the older new Panda (which technically predates Fiat's comeback of recent times) so they're hardly going to release a new city car that's a dog to look at....

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